Four steps to purchasing Indie books successfully.

I’m so excited to celebrate Indie authors this coming Fourth of July!

But first we have to find them. Read on to find out how!

 

It doesn’t matter what forums I go to the debate of self publishing is there, constant, whining like a mosquito in my ear.

“I stay away from free books.”

“Writers self publish because they couldn’t make it traditionally.”

“It’s all crap.”

This might be true in some cases. But the Indelibles wanted a way to change the stigma, to show that great Indies or Self Publishers – whichever you prefer – exist. So we created this INDIEpendence Day event to showcase these high quality books.

You can read all the rules and sign up at the Indelibles. We’d love for you to join us! And it can be a self published or small press book. What a great way to pay it forward and show the love!

How to sift through all the books and find the nuggets.

  1. Go to a traditional or self published book you love on Amazon. Click on the customers also bought and scroll through. Usually the self published books are 4.99 and lower but not always. I’ve also found some on Pixel of Ink, my Twitter feed, book bloggers, the Amazon free lists and paid lists…etc.
  2. Download a sample to preview later or click on the book and read the first pages. You know your tastes and the style you like.
  3. Read the reviews – specifically the 3 and 4 star ones. Look for the constructive criticisms not the rude ones. Are the downsides something you don’t mind?
  4. Purchase or don’t purchase. It’s that simple.

Of course, no matter how a book is published we might love opening pages and the reviews and then halfway through the book lose that lovin’ feeling. But in the opening pages you should be able to tell if the writing is up to par and a style you’ll enjoy. I know this process is really simple but by following it I’ve enjoyed almost every single self published and/or small press and/or traditionally published I’ve purchased.

So if you’ve recently read a small press or self published book I invite you to join us in paying it forward. Sign up here. And everyone who participates will be entered in for a prize. There’s a nifty Linky Link way to sign up!

How do you find books?

 

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13 Responses to Four steps to purchasing Indie books successfully.

  1. Natalie Aguirre June 7, 2012 at 10:58 am #

    I’m sorry not to sign up Laura but I’m already doing an Indie book giveaway hop next week. All my favorite Indie authors, including you, will be choices in the giveaway. And I’m booked in July already. But I think this is a great idea.

    • Laura June 7, 2012 at 11:41 am #

      Thanks anyway! Isn’t it amazing how fast the blog fills up? 🙂

  2. Alex J. Cavanaugh June 7, 2012 at 11:40 am #

    A lot of my blogger buddies have self published and many of their books are just as good as any put out by a traditional publisher.

    • Laura June 7, 2012 at 11:42 am #

      I agree, Alex. By using my process, which many use, I am usually very happy with what I find. I do download freebies on a whim just as I might sample pages and sometimes I like them, sometimes I don’t.

  3. Donna K. Weaver June 7, 2012 at 11:58 am #

    What a fun blogfest. Go indies!

    I download freebies all the time.

  4. Matthew MacNish June 7, 2012 at 2:10 pm #

    I don’t have a book of my own to sign up, but I have plenty of friends (like you) who prove that not all Indie/Self books are crap! In fact, some of them are better than traditionally published novels.

    • Laura June 7, 2012 at 2:39 pm #

      Hey Matthew – you don’t have to have a book of your own to sign up. It’s about promoting others – not ourselves. In fact, Indelible books are not allowed at all! 🙂

  5. Laura Diamond June 7, 2012 at 3:39 pm #

    Great tips and what a neat idea to celebrate Indies!!!!

  6. Karen Strong June 7, 2012 at 7:08 pm #

    I used to find books through bookstore browsing but now I find out about books through blogs and recommendations. Since I have an e-reader, I also browse online and download sample chapters. I’ve found some great books this way.

    • Laura June 7, 2012 at 7:37 pm #

      I find a lot through my library and recommendations on blogs. I don’t think I’ll ever run out of reading material! Ever! 🙂 That’s a good thing.

  7. Susan Kaye Quinn June 9, 2012 at 1:58 am #

    This is great! Simple, easy, no-fear approach.

  8. Leslie Rose June 11, 2012 at 3:08 am #

    Great guide to e-browsing. I always check out the sample pages. There is gold out there.

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