Putting aside all the negativity lately regarding indie authors, I want to celebrate the fun side to this form of publishing. My first post on the subject is fitting since I published two very different books this week.

The first was a dark novella for my Bijou Hunter pen name. Violent, sexy, first person POVs in present tense (my 1st attempt at that), Gator will likely sell well. While it’s different than my Damaged books in some ways, I don’t have anyone telling me I can’t write outside of my brand. True, readers could hate it and say I shouldn’t write outside of my brand, but that’s a whole different matter.

My second book published this week is part of my Christian fantasy series. Scattered has a dozen third person POVs. The sexual stuff is fade-to-black and there’s no cussing. The audience for my Dakota Shepherd books is much smaller. If the series was traditionally published, it likely would be dropped before the final book. In indie publishing, I can finish my series for those readers who need to know how it all works out. Sales aren’t my only focus as compared to a traditional publisher who has a fixed number of bills to pay to stay in business.

As an indie, I can write whatever the hell I want. That doesn’t mean people will buy whatever the hell I write. It just means if I have an idea then I can turn it into a short story, novel, series, etc. Only my imagination limits me.

I’m not the only author who genre hops. This month, my girl Marcy published her first NA romance as Blythe Santiago. She’s already built a fan base with her Grace zombies series, published under M. Lauryl Lewis. This Side of the Sun started with a suggestion from me (yep, taking full credit) that she might try a straight romance because the romantic elements of her Grace series were so well received.

Marcy isn't limiting herself to romance and zombies either. She has a haunted house style novel planned for later in the year along with a non-fiction book about the death of a relative at the hands of a serial killer. If she can imagine it, Marcy can publish it as an indie.

We’re not the only authors using the opportunity to try different genres. Many indies I’ve promoted on my blogs are doing the same. There’s freedom in indie publishing that isn’t always found in traditional publishing. Whether authors use this freedom is up to them.

The last day of the year is a good day to recap what I have read. I was blessed in more than one way. More books I have read I liked than I have disliked. I have found friends in them. It´s a little overwhelming to opt only for those books mentioned. Impossible, really, but in the end I decided to go for this five since I am (almost) sure those gave me the most pleasure, reading wise. So here you go, make of it what you will. *smile*

Kane X. Faucher - The Infinite Library

There is mystery, there is thriller and all kinds of book-related enigmas, stories within stories, conspiracy theories. But there is more to it, especially as the series continues. Based on a vast intellectual foundation it is a philosophical-political journey about art, media and the question of identity with a broad background in history. Kane has created the mountain without a valley.

Marisha Pessl - Night Film

A bastardized novel of sorts, a Michael Haneke/David Lynch movie-alike book, that is truly haunted. A crime noir, absorbing, incredibly rich in detail, full of depth and clarity, even at times overly crafted. The nightmarish, rigid atmosphere of darkness however is an experience on its own. Love also the multimedia aspect of the novel, the webpage and film for the book Marisha Pessl has created to enrich the reading.

Edward J. Rathke - Ash Cinema

Another book with a background on film and arts. About loving and dying, about creation and destruction, about chasing ghosts and making them real. Full of parables about emotions via films where the lines are blurred between reality and a different kind of reality, which is nevertheless as real. Quirky and metaphysical ´Ash Cinema´ is one of the finest pieces of lit I have read this year, even the writing itself is often drunk on its own importance. I have had to adjust my thoughts about it more than once, but with every re-reading parts of the novel I became more and more intrigued.

Berit Ellingsen - The Empty City

A novel without a plot per se, and probably/most likely the only Zen-alike book I have ever read. A nameless narrator wanders through an empty and silent city, close to insanity before he finally starts his journey to enlightenment. Extremely sensual, subtle and poetic, but also precise and controlled. There is a calmness in the writing that I enjoyed, which spoke to me with every senses of my body. 

Andra Brynn - Where I End And You Begin

Technically speaking ´Where I End And You Begin´ falls under the ´New Adult´ category, but it´s definitely not your typical angsty drama and ´damaged h needs to be saved´ type of book. It´s more about overcoming pain and grief and inner demons that everyone carries around in a way. Ghost stories neatly intervowen with the story itself also gives a different perspective on the narrative. An emotional rollercoaster that touched me deeply and often unexpectedly. 

I also wanted to give several books a honorable mention, which I love as much. I am certainly biased about them, mostly because I found a true friend in Angela which I would have never dreamed of just one year ago. For me those books became as important as the ones I have called favorites now. Not only because of my friendship with the author *smile* but because they remind me what a journey 2013 was, with ups and downs, negatives and positives. For this I will ever be grateful. It has taught me alot, and I am happily embracing every minute of it. Mentioning these books is also a way of saying ´Thank You´ for being a friend.

Angela Horn - The Moon Rises

Bijou Hunter - Damaged and the Cobra
Dakota Shepherd - Micah

Happy New Year and Happy Reading in 2014!