Tag: SPAAW Page 2 of 4

On July 22, 2026

Visit the SPAAW 2026 Hub to see what other Self-Published Appreciation Posts are out there.

I had a longer intro written for this series of posts, but it ended up too long. (If you’re curious, it makes up a couple of paragraphs in my Welcome to Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week post). Here’s the compressed version:

One of the things that’s impressed me over the years is seeing the way that Self-Published Authors all tend to support each other. They don’t come across as competitors, you’re colleagues—teammates, almost. Once again this year for SPAAW, I’m exploiting that.

As an expression of that, I’ve asked some authors to promote 1-3 self-published works by someone else—to just give me a quick elevator pitch for them to help get the word out. Several of them replied with those lists (a few have resisted the call for particular titles and have just talked about some other authors–which is close enough for me). Naturally, I’ve asked them all for a quick bit about one of their books/series, too—they should get some attention as well, don’t you think?

An image of a pair of speech bubbles. The upper one reads 'JCM Berne Engages in:' and the lower reads Shameless Other-Promotion' with the Self-Published Author Appreciation raven circle in the upper left corner, and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow Icon in the lower left corner.

Other-Promotion:

The Prophet of Edan

by Philip Chase
An epic fantasy that seems to do what you expect until it absolutely doesn’t. The kind of deliberate pace, lavishness of description, and extensive worldbuilding you see in epic fantasy but with stunning twists that will knock your socks off.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Buy the Book on Bookshop.org

The Execution of Rooker Flynn

by AR Witham
This is a pirate adventure inside a portal fantasy that won’t let you go. Wonderful characters, fascinating story. The prequel novel (Legend of Black Jack) is almost YA but the Rooker Flynn trilogy definitely isn’t.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Buy the Book on Bookshop.org

Discovery

by J.A.J. Minton
Cosmic horror near-future story with incredible characters operating across a broad swath of a story. Jerry Springer meets Chthulhu. You won’t regret it.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Buy the Book on Bookshop.org

A Bit of Self-Promotion by JCM Berne

Hybrid Helix

Rohan just wants a peaceful life after a decade of combat, acting as a living weapon of mass destruction for the il’Drach Empire. Of course, that doesn’t happen, because that wouldn’t be much of a series, would it?

Website ~ Linktree ~ Buy the First Book on Bookshop.org

Be sure to check out these books and show these Self-Published Authors some appreciation! They’re available at the links above or at the retailer of your choice!

Feel free to head over to my Bookshop.org page to see all the books I’m featuring this week (this may spoil some of the other lists, you’ve been warned). At least as many of them that Bookshop.org sells, anyway.

Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week circle logo and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow in front of an open book

Image by OpenIcons from Pixabay
The 2026 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

SPAAW ’26: A.J. Calvin Engages in Shameless OTHER-Promotion

On July 22, 2026

Visit the SPAAW 2026 Hub to see what other Self-Published Appreciation Posts are out there.

An image of a pair of speech bubbles. The upper one reads 'A.J. Calvin Engages in:' and the lower reads Shameless Other-Promotion' with the Self-Published Author Appreciation raven circle in the upper left corner, and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow Icon in the lower left corner.

Other-Promotion:

Far Removed

by CB Lansdell
One of the most unique sci-fantasy books I’ve read in a long time. It’s dark and dystopian, but not without hope, and not a single character in the duology is human. There’s some pretty cool science/magic involved too. The second book just came out in June, and it’s excellent.

Website ~ Instagram ~ Buy the Book on Bookshop.org

Metal

by J.F. Lawrence
I actually read this one a couple years ago, but it has stuck with me. It’s an apocalyptic story, where societal collapse occurs due to a metal-consuming strain of bacteria. Metal is a crucial component of our infrastructure and so many devices…imagine if all of that suddenly failed. It’s a book that makes you think, but also one that tells a great story.

Website ~ Twitter

A Black Dragon on Red

by P.L. Stuart
Usually when a series gets to book 6, I have a good idea of how the story is going to go. But this one surprised me (in a great way!) I fell in love with the series during book 1 – the Atlantis-inspired story drew me in, but the character work kept me coming back for more. A Black Dragon on Red wasn’t at all what I expected it to be going in, but it might be my favorite of the series so far.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Buy the Book on Bookshop.org

A Bit of Self-Promotion by A.J. Calvin

The Caein Legacy

The Caein Legacy is a complete, 4-book series that begins with Exile.

Andrew and Alexander both harbor secrets that, if exposed, would land them in line for the headsman’s axe. The kingdom’s laws regarding both magi and dragon-kind have rarely been enforced, but when the new king ascends the throne, the lax policy quickly begins to change. The king is uncompromising in the enforcement of the laws, even when those affected are blood relatives—his brother, Alexander, and his half-brother, Andrew.

When Alexander’s secret is revealed, Andrew must find a means to save him. The only option he is left with is making his own secret—that he is half-dragon—known to the world. When the kingdom learns the truth of their origins, the brothers are forced to flee. Their exile sparks a war, as others like them begin to fight for their right to exist.

Signed copies available at my website: https://ajcalvin.net/shop/

Website ~ Bluesky ~ Buy the Book on Bookshop.org

Be sure to check out these books and show these Self-Published Authors some appreciation! They’re available at the links above or at the retailer of your choice!

Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week circle logo and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow in front of an open book

Image by OpenIcons from Pixabay
The 2026 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

SPAAW ’26: Shannon Knight Engages in Shameless OTHER-Promotion

On July 22, 2026

Visit the SPAAW 2026 Hub to see what other Self-Published Appreciation Posts are out there.

Shannon Knight couldn’t limit herself to an elevator pitch (there’s always one)–unless you want to think of this as a lumbering frieght-elevator pitch in a very tall-building. But hey…I can roll with that.

An image of a pair of speech bubbles. The upper one reads 'Shannon Knight Engages in:' and the lower reads Shameless Other-Promotion' with the Self-Published Author Appreciation raven circle in the upper left corner, and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow Icon in the lower left corner.

Other-Promotion:

The Seaglass Blade

by J.C. Snow
For fantasy lovers, I suggest J.C. Snow’s The Seaglass Blade, which uses a cultivation-style (xianxia) magical system in a setting reminiscent of the California coast.

Lush and lyrical, The Seaglass Blade tells a layered tale of love, family, and fighting for what you believe in.

The Seaglass Blade is somewhat of a departure from Snow’s previous duology, and, therefore, Snow fittingly wrote it as an entry book for new readers. There is a large cast of characters, and everyone has goals and backstories–some of those backstories are available in the prequels. The Seaglass Blade opens with an older woman, the First Master of the Crane Moon cultivation sect, preparing to meet her love, whom she has been living separately from for several years. We establish that the two women are not human and neither are their two adult children. In fact, none of these family members are the same type of fantasy entity, and the children are adopted. The Crane Moon sect is a school full of live-in students, and the other masters are also a couple (M/M). So, on one layer we have a love story dealing with all different types of love. On the romantic front, we have a long-established F/F couple with some relationship issues, but we also have the younger generation experiencing first love (M/M and F/F) and, a bit in the background, the other long-established couple (M/M). There’s also family responsibilities in all different directions and mentor-mentee relationships. A core theme is the concept of starting over represented by sea glass, which begins as one thing and becomes another. You can also see how the idea of being broken relates to this metaphor.

Aside from the emotional layers focused on interpersonal relationships, there is a great big adventure with attacking demons, demonic corruption, mysterious spells, and life-and-death consequences threatening our heroes at both the personal level and at a much more epic degree. Phoenixes, dragons, demons, and cultivational magic collide. The Seaglass Blade delivers many memorable characters to care for as they strive to reach their goals on personal and epic scales. After reading, you can carry this story in your heart as a reminder that we, too, are like seaglass.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Buy the book on Bookshop.org

A Bit of Other-Promotion on behalf of Shannon Knight
(okay, Knight didn’t want to do this part “There’s no need to advertise any of my books alongside it. I don’t want to water it down. Everything does not have to be about me. 🙂 You can drop a link to my website and call it good.” Which is awfully nice of her, but…)

Wish Givers

I haven’t read this one yet–which is odd, as it’s been at the top of my list longer than books by her that I have read. It’s a Fantasy title, summed up on her website as: “Wish Givers is an epic fantasy with a tropical island setting and themes of freedom, found family, and the pursuit of dreams.” This one looks good–as do all of her non-horror books (and probably those are good, too. But I’ll likely never know).

Website ~ Bluesky ~ Universal Book Link

Be sure to check out these books and show these Self-Published Authors some appreciation! They’re available at the links above or at the retailer of your choice!

Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week circle logo and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow in front of an open book

Image by OpenIcons from Pixabay
The 2026 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

Manitou by Glen Gabel: It Went Badly

Visit the SPAAW 2026 Hub to see what other Self-Published Appreciation Posts are out there.

In Fantasy, Fiction, Literary Locals, Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week

Manitou

by Glen Gabel

DETAILS:
Publication Date: March 21, 2026
Format: Paperback
Length: 367 pg.
Read Date: June 23-25, 2026

Roy glanced at Tahney. He looked feeble in the firelight, but his eyes were sharp and knowing, flashing a final warning that gave Roy pause. Even with every assurance and every answer in place, an icy dread still pricked at him. As they slowly pulled away from the cabin in Jess’s jeep, he could hear Tahney’s final warning linger in his mind.

“It will go badly.”

What’s Manitou About?

A (mostly) functional alcoholic forest ranger interrupts his attempt at ending his life to go to the site of a small plane crash in the forest. What he finds when he gets to the crash site is a pile of cocaine and a severed arm from the pilot. It’s never easy to see a human like that—but something strikes Roy Farmer as odd about the scene.

It doesn’t matter, the local sheriff chases him off so he and his people can take care of things until the DEA shows up. Roy can’t let it go, though, he believes the sheriff is corrupt and that the drugs may not end up with the DEA. So he starts to do some unofficial digging by talking to a local drug dealer.

It turns out that there’s a local motorcycle club that seems to be trying to expand its business and take on partners from south of the border. But there’s another source for narcotics in the small mountain town, too.

And then more people start dying deaths as grizzly as the pilot did (if not more so). It almost seems impossible for a human to do what the killer is doing—but the only other option isn’t one that Roy Farmer is prepared to believe possible.

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

I picked this up because I keep running into Gabel at local events and he seems like a good guy—one that I want to read. And he’s been talking about working on this since we first met, so when it was in front of me finally, I had to try it.

I kept at it because it moved fast and I couldn’t stop asking “what’s next?” Either one of those is generally enough to keep me invested—you add both together—along with a subtle garnishing of “is Character X going to make it?”—and of course I’m staying with it.

What does this book tell us about humanity?

I’m not sure it has a lot to say about humanity or the human condition, really. The book isn’t quite focused on that sort of thing.

But there is a strain of—where did it go wrong? (well, with a couple of the characters that’s not the question, they’re very aware). This marriage, that career, this lifestyle, this dream…something happened that turned it from something good, positive, successful into a struggle to keep going. Into crime, addiction, corruption, or something worse.

Something similar could be said of the small town that this all takes place in. Once it was a thriving—or at least healthy—community where people could raise kids, see them start their adult lives, maybe start families of their own—and so on. Now, it’s a place that kids want to leave when they can. It’s a place that adults want to leave if they could. Or just to wait until their eventual death, stuck in one place because of inertia or loss of hope.

I’m not going to say that anyone comes out of this book whole and ready. I’m not going to say that anyone comes out of this book at all. But somewhere along the line some of these characters realize that they need to make a change, they might even have a glimmer of an idea how to fill that hole in their lives that was created when things started to go wrong.

So, what did I think about Manitou?

This one is a little out of my genre-preferences. It’s near the border of Fantasy and Horror. I think maybe half a foot crosses the border into Horror (maybe more). But it also feels like something that someone trying to C.J. Box would come up with. Actually, replacing the Manitou with a drug-crazed serial killer (or cult of them) would make it look like someone trying to do Joe Pickett, but edgy.*

I joked in a WWW post that there were too many characters in the book, but given the mortality rate, I expected it to get to a manageable level soon. It’s actually not much of a joke—that’s a pretty good way to think of the book. It was too, too crowded with promising characters that would be killed shortly (or several chapters) after their introduction. Some took me completely by surprise when and how it happened. But most were clearly coming from miles away—that didn’t make them less horrific, it just made it easier to take.

I will note that there is one death that I think I understand the reasoning behind, but I will be chastising Gabel about next time I see him.

If the criminal activities in the book were more of a focus, I think I’d have a quibble or two about the depiction of it—it seems a little too easy and obvious. But given the role of them is just to propel certain characters along—and to provide a red herring (for the characters, not the readers) into what’s going on. I’m going to hold my fire on them. Again, if you take out the Manitou, there’s a decent crime novel here after a couple of editing passes.

From the beginning, Gabel focuses on two characters—and it’s pretty obvious that he’s doing so. They’re clearly the protagonists and are going to survive the novel—or at least up to the climactic scene so that you’ll be extra outraged when they meet a violent end. I’m not going to say which way(s) that Gabel goes with them in the end. But keep your eyes on them, everything that Gabel wants to say is there.

Well, at least everything he wants to say about people is there. The overall message of the book—be careful who you don’t give several pounds of cocaine to—comes through without them. And really, who doesn’t need to hear that? Yes, it’s stupid to feed a deer; it’s dangerous to feed a bear—but it’s asking for wanton destruction when you give coke to an unknown.

I’ve gotten off the path here—this is a solidly entertaining novel. The story moves quickly, the action is fierce, and the twists are enough to keep you near the edge of your seat.

* Actually, I think the book might belong in Horror if only because it violates a “rule” that I’ve heard even hard-core noir and/or serial killer novelists won’t touch.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week circle logo and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow in front of an open book

Literary Locals logo

Image by OpenIcons from Pixabay
The 2026 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

SPAAW ’26: M.K. Felix Engages in Shameless OTHER-Promotion

Visit the SPAAW 2026 Hub to see what other Self-Published Appreciation Posts are out there.

An image of a pair of speech bubbles. The upper one reads 'M.K. Felix (aka Madelyn Smith) Engages in:' and the lower reads Shameless Other-Promotion' with the Self-Published Author Appreciation raven circle in the upper left corner, and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow Icon in the lower left corner.

Other-Promotion:
M.K. gets a couple of other picks because she’s speaking for two (her other penname, Madelyn Smith, too). She opted to focus on authors rather than particular titles, but we did get some of those.

For the Fantasy genre:

Hunting Sirens

by Mary Mecham
Mary Mecham – she writes villain origin stories while keeping the books no spice but high swoon. My favorite of hers is Hunting Sirens and Assassins of Fire and Sacrifice.

Website ~ Facebook

A Dragon Inside

by Anabelle Raven
Anabelle Raven – writes Fairytales and Romantasy with emotional depth. My favorite of hers is A Dragon Inside and A Dragon Outside which is a Duology focused on forgiveness and empathy as they uncover political intrigue and battle the darkness threatening to destroy their kingdoms

Website ~ Facebook

Bounty Hunter

by Kaylee Jarvis
Kaylee Jarvis – writes clean Romantasy with high stakes and high swoon while keeping it clean. I love her worldbuilding and magic systems. Her first book, Bounty Hunter is amazing.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Buy the Book on Bookshop.org

For the Romance genre:

Truly Medley Deeply

by Kate Watson
Kate Watson – she writes witty romantic comedies that have you laughing while also feeling like you free therapy. I’ve cried while reading each of her books. I just reread one called Truly Medley, Deeply that was fantastic

Website ~ Instagram ~ Buy the Book on Bookshop.org

Officially Yours

by Jen Atkinson
Jen Atkinson is another romantic comedy author who I adore. She’s been releasing soccer RomComs that got me excited for the world cup, specifically Officially Yours.

Website ~ Linktree ~ Buy the Book on Bookshop.org

A Bit of Self-Promotion by M.K. Felix & Madelyn Smith

Winning My Queen

My Bolts of Love series written under Madelyn Smith takes your favorite tropes from romantic comedies and puts a Christian spin on them. With the small town heart, faith, and love you’d expect to find in Hallmark, just with added depth to the stories. Embracing the Storm is book three and is skated to release this fall.

Website ~ M.K. Felix’s Linktree ~ Madelyn Smith’s Linktree ~ Buy the the First Book in That Series on Bookshop.org

Fairest Hunter

The Favored’s Curse series written under M.K. Felix is all about classic Fairytales combined and then twisted for a fresh take as each kingdom discovers how to break a dark curse that threatens to over take them. Charmed Beast, a genderswapped Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast retelling releases on September 3rd and just finished a very successful Kickstarter campaign.

Website ~ M.K. Felix’s Linktree ~ Madelyn Smith’s Linktree ~ Buy the the First Book in That Series on Bookshop.org

Be sure to check out these books and show these Self-Published Authors some appreciation! They’re available at the links above or at the retailer of your choice!

Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week circle logo and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow in front of an open book

Image by OpenIcons from Pixabay
The 2026 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

SPAAW ’26: Glen Gabel Engages in Shameless OTHER-Promotion

Visit the SPAAW 2026 Hub to see what other Self-Published Appreciation Posts are out there.

An image of a pair of speech bubbles. The upper one reads 'Glen Gabel Engages in:' and the lower reads Shameless Other-Promotion' with the Self-Published Author Appreciation raven circle in the upper left corner, and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow Icon in the lower left corner.

Other-Promotion:

The Last Champion of Earth

by Donald I. Templeman
Going in, I expected something closer to Frank Peretti, but it turned out to be something entirely different. It’s essentially a dystopian story set in a hedonistic world stripped of faith and morality, forced to reckon with the arrival of an alien harbinger prepared to unleash God’s wrath upon humanity.

It’s definitely a slow burn with multiple intersecting storylines, but everything ties together in a unique and satisfying way by the end. Templeman explores themes of sin, death, justice, and the meaning of life in a way that never feels overly preachy or simplistic, and the alien antagonist is deeply unsettling. In terms of world-building, it reminded me somewhat of Brave New World, though with a more redemptive arc.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Buy the Book on Bookshop.org

In the Lair of Legends

by David Buzan
The novel follows a Native American soldier during the Civil War era who must survive a train robbery involving Union gold by a renegade general in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains and fight his way to freedom. Along the journey, he encounters a cryptid threat that adds another layer of tension.

What I enjoyed most about Dave’s writing was the strength of the premise and his cinematic storytelling style. His action sequences are genuine white-knuckle rides and feel like they belong on the big screen.

Website ~ Twitter ~ Buy the Book on Bookshop.org

A Bit of Self-Promotion by Glen Gabel

Manitou

The crash was only the beginning. When a cartel plane goes down in North Idaho, forest ranger Roy Farmer finds a severed limb in the wreckage—and a growing trail of brutal deaths through the wilderness and nearby town. Corruption festers, a cartel war erupts, and something in the forest is hunting them all.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Buy the Book on Bookshop.org

Be sure to check out these books and show these Self-Published Authors some appreciation! They’re available at the links above or at the retailer of your choice!

Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week circle logo and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow in front of an open book

Image by OpenIcons from Pixabay
The 2026 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

SPAAW ’26: DB Rook Engages in Shameless OTHER-Promotion

Visit the SPAAW 2026 Hub to see what other Self-Published Appreciation Posts are out there.

An image of a pair of speech bubbles. The upper one reads 'DB Rook Engages in:' and the lower reads Shameless Other-Promotion' with the Self-Published Author Appreciation raven circle in the upper left corner, and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow Icon in the lower left corner.

Other-Promotion:

Hall of Bones

by Tim Hardie
An incredible cast, woven together with dark, slow-release poison. Hall of Bones, takes us on a gritty, viking inspired journey through heart lifting family bonds, through turbulent fractured nations under the threat of war, and out the otherside into malevolent sorcery and emotional carnage! Absolutley fantastic!!

Full review: fanfiaddict.com/hall-of-bones-brotherhood-of-the-eagle-book-1-by-tim-hardie/

Website ~ Twitter ~ Books2Read

The Scroungers

by Thomas J Devens
Devens’ ability to throw you into the mud and blood of true war is a visceral and filthy experience. A rare thing in the fantasy genre, The Scroungers lands the reader in a time and place seldom explored. What happens to the allegiances and hierarchy after the battle when the blood-soaked land is no longer something to fight for but something to survive on?

The filth doesnt let up, and neither does the blood and bile of hard men and women as theyre thrown violently into a new cause.

Full review: fanfiaddict.com/review-the-scoungers-vermin-of-the-old-empire-by-thomas-j-devens/

Linktree ~ Buy the book on Bookshop.org

The Godslayer

by Robert D. Jones
Superb muskets and mayhem! This incredible and action packed story follows a splendid range of characters through familiar gunpowder-blenished war zones and beyond, into the realms of malevolent gods and divine, esoteric hunger. Emotions and war wounds are high as each protagonist makes their mark in a thrilling battle for survival and a race to discover the origins of who they’re actually fighting. Military, eldritch, character-driven and immensely enjoyable.

Further reading: fanfiaddict.com/best-reads-of-2025/

Website ~ Instagram

A Bit of Self-Promotion by DB Rook

Residuum

Galactic refugees, Charlus and Mirrin Vaughn escape the devastation of genocidal robots as they flee into the arms of a new found family. Determined to outrun the AI threat, they stumble into webs of the past and unwittingly discover new threats and old secrets.

Space pirates, robot genocide and gigantic spiders for those hungry firefly fans amongst us.

mybook.to/ResiduumDBRook

Website ~ Twitter ~ Buy the book on Bookshop.org

Be sure to check out these books and show these Self-Published Authors some appreciation! They’re available at the links above or at the retailer of your choice!

Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week circle logo and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow in front of an open book

Image by OpenIcons from Pixabay
The 2026 Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week Logo was made by Witty and Sarcastic Book Club

The Irresponsible Reader On…Self-Published “General” Fiction

Visit the SPAAW 2026 Hub to see what other Self-Published Appreciation Posts are out there.
Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week circle logo and the Irresponsible Reader Pilcrow in front of an open book

On July 20, 2026

In Books, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, Miscellany, News/Misc., Self-Published Authors Appreciation Week

(updated 7/20/26)

From the first moment that people did the strange thing of asking me to talk about their books on my blog, I’ve been impressed by the quality of a lot of what’s been published by authors going out on their own, taking all the risks, shouldering all the responsibility, and doing all the work to get their words, their dreams, their blood, sweat, and tears on to the page (paper or electronic). This should be celebrated—it’s definitely appreciated, as we’re trying to show this week.

As part of this week-long celebration, I’m continuing my habit of highlighting the self-published works that I’ve blogged about over the last few years (or meant to blog about, but at least read)—just a sentence or two. Hopefully, this’ll be enough to make you click on the link to the full post. Beyond that, it’d be great if I inspired you to add a few of these to your TBR. Also, be sure you check out the other posts over at the SPAAW Hub.

Today I’m focusing on General Fiction (for lack of a better term)—there’s some Lad Lit, a dash of historical fiction, some humor, a couple of things I don’t know how to categorize beyond “Fiction”, and a bit more. Hopefully, you can find something that tickles your fancy.

bullet Dispatches from a Tourist Trap by James Bailey—Jason (see below) and his mother move from Seattle to a small town in the middle of Washington to stay with her parents as she establishes a life away from her husband. Hilarity and conflict ensue. (my post about it)
bullet The First World Problems of Jason Van Otterloo by James Bailey—an epistolary novel (through emails) from a 13-year-old whose life is turned upside down in 2003 Seattle. A lot of heart and a few laughs. (my post about it)
bullet This Is Who We Are Now by James Bailey—he doesn’t just write YA, Bailey attacks coming-of-Middle-Age, too. This not-so-young man, deals with changes to his parents’ lives, his younger siblings’ successes (and struggles) and coming to grips that his life may not end up just the way he wanted it to.
bullet The Glamshack by Paul W. Cohen—A lifestyle reporter’s obsessive love for a woman and the havoc it wreaks on his life. (my post about it)
bullet Ways And Truths And Lives by Matt Edwards—this is tough to summarize in a sentence, but let me try, because this is more about the internal life. James Dall is a struggling writer and reporter, who is still trying to figure out what he thinks about life, love and meaning. This is about him on the verge of making a big move for his life and career, and those things that move him to it.
bullet The Chronicles of Iona: Exile by Paula de Fougerolles—The first novel in a series about the founding of Iona. Some historical fiction with a hint of Fantasy. (my post about it)
bullet Love Stories by Robert Germaux—based on actual events, the story of a love that might have been, and one that is. (my post about it is forthcoming)
bullet Not Awkward by Matthew Hanover—a young man attends the funeral of his ex’s father and gets roped into staying during shiva in the days leading to his wedding. Nah, not awkward at all. (my post about it)
bullet Not Dressed by Matthew Hanover—Hanover’s (seemingly) effortless charm makes this “romantic comedy of how love goes wrong—and right—when you’re a twenty-something still figuring out how to adult” a real winner. (my post about it)
bullet Not Famous by Matthew Hanover—Hanover’s first novel is about a guy who falls for a socially awkward musician. It will steal your heart. (my post about it)
bullet Not Prepared by Matthew Hanover—a bachelor takes in his eleven-year-old-goddaughter when her mother skips town, and maybe finds love, too. Great stuff. (my post about it)
bullet The Flight of the Pickerings by John Grayson Heide—a heart-warming story about an older couple dealing with dementia and the end of their life together get their world turned upside down when their rebellious teenage grandson comes to live with them. (my post about it)
bullet Didn’t Get Frazzled by David Z. Hirsch, MD—a bildungsroman following a 20-something through his 4 years of medical school: from Gross Anatomy to the verge of residency. (my post about it)
bullet Love and Other Monsters in the Dark by K. B. Jensen—I could probably put this on most of my Self-Published Fiction lists, so I’ll limit it to this one. It’s sort of the same genre as The Twilight Zone—SF, Fantasy, Horror, Crime. Sudden Fiction and Short stories that’ll knock your socks off. (my post about it)
bullet XYZ by William Knight—A mature, old-school programmer has to start his career over at a 21st Century Startup as his family life falls apart in every way imaginable. Clearly a comedy. (my post about it)
bullet Dirt Road Home by Alexander Nader—A lot of charm fills this YA(ish) Coming of Age story about a teen forced to move from Detroit to a small town in Tennessee before graduation. (my post about it)
bullet Coffee and Condolences by Wesley Parker—A widower tries to begin recovering from the deaths of his wife and children by reconnecting with his step-sister and maybe finds love. (my post about it)
bullet Detours and Do-overs by Wesley Parker—A sequel to the next on the list. This follow-up had a lot of heart. (my post about it)
bullet Headphones and Heartaches by Wesley Parker—A teen finds home, safety, and love in a Foster Home, but is torn about leaving his mother behind. One sentence doesn’t do it justice, I simply loved this one. (my post about it)
bullet The Worst Man by Jon Rance—Ollie’s desperately in love with the girlfriend/fiancée of the man who’s been his best friend since childhood. And now he has to be the best man at the wedding he wants to derail. (my post about it)
bullet The Summer Holidays Survival Guide by Jon Rance—an out-of-shape teacher tries to prepare for a half-marathon while surviving the summer with his three kids, a marriage on the rocks, and his father (with dementia) moving in. (my post about it)
bullet However Long the Day by Justin Reed—A Depression-era take on The Prince and the Pauper, an impressive debut (my post about it)
bullet The Crescent and the Cross by Kurt Scheffler— the story of The Battle of Tours (in 732) and events leading up to it, told through the lives of people close to Charles Martel and Charles on the one hand and a couple of the leaders of the Muslim forces involved in the Arab invasion of France. (my post about it)
bullet In Ten Years by Ian Shane—The reductionist description is “A 21st Century When Harry Met Sally“. We watch a couple of college friends over 18 years start to figure out that they’re in love. Hilarious and sweet. (my post about it)
bullet Postgraduate by Ian Shane—When your life falls apart, why not take your college radio show and turn it into an Internet radio show? And then, why not attend a reunion with the old college radio gang, including “The One That Got Away” (because you foolishly dumped her)? (my post about it)
bullet Radio Radio by Ian Shane—A maverick DJ is forced to get creative when a corporate radio management team takes over his station. A love letter to what radio used to be as much as anything else. (my post about it)
bullet The Museum Guide by Nicole Sharp—”A snapshot of life, love and third grade field trippers” in a natural history museum. (my post about it)
bullet The Jackals by Adam Shaw—A local band on the verge of making it big/big-ish falls apart after high school due to a love triangle that shouldn’t have happened. When one member of the band dies, the group has to get together for a funeral and to clean up his stuff. (that’s a bad summary, but best I can do in a sentence) (my post about it)
bullet KA-E-RO-U Time to Go Home by B. Jeanne Shibahara—I’m so glad the blurb contains a one-sentence description because I couldn’t write one: “Desert-dweller Meryl travels to Japan, returns a WWII flag, and brings home an understanding of life that opens her heart for the unexpected.” (my post about it)
bullet Lingering by Melissa Simonson—It’s sort-of SF, sort-of a Thriller, but not really either, so I put this here. This is a novel about grief, about dealing with death—while telling the story about an effort to design an AI to mimic a dead loved one in order to help a survivor cope. (my post about it)
bullet We Be Dragons by Michael Weitz—It’s a trip back to the mid-80s in an Idaho small town. A group of boys spend the summer playing D&D, working, and thinking about girls. A local woman succumbs to Satanic Panic and tries to shut them down. As a bonus, we get several chapters from the game’s POV. (my post about it)
bullet Leveled Up Love by Tao Wong & A. G. Marshall—It’s LitRPG-ish, it’s also a Rom-Com. You mash the two of those together and you get this entirely entertaining and sweet read. (my post about it)

If you're a self-published author that I've featured on this blog and I didn't mention you in this post and should have. I'm sorry (unless you're this guy). Please drop me a line, and I'll fix this. I want to keep this regularly updated so I keep talking about Self-Published Authors.

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We Be Dragons by Michael Weitz: A Nice Bit of 80s Nostalgia