INDEPENDENT LITERARY REVIEW
Celebrating books, authors, and the world of publishing — with particular love for independent voices that defy the ordinary.
In-depth profiles of writers who defy
the ordinary, especially indie voices.
Honest, thoughtful, independent — fiction,
non-fiction, poetry and beyond
The business, the craft, and the brave
world of independent publishing.
FRESH FROM THE NOOK
RECENT BOOK REVIEWS / FEATURES
Book Review:
Hanneh by Gabriella Nøhr
Literary Fiction
The world in Hanneh, a novella by author Gabriella Nøhr, isn’t just simple; it’s picture-perfect on the outside while stifling everything that makes us human. The setting is a happy little country, particularly an even happier little town called Vejle, where a woman named Hanneh struggles to recall how she came to be there.
Holes In The Somewhere: The Strange Places Grief Leaves Behind
Short Stories
There are short story collections you admire for their range, and then there are collections that feel as if they were built around a private wound. Richard R. Brown’s Holes In The Somewhere belongs firmly to the second camp. The debut is speculative fiction in form: weird, unsettling, occasionally cosmic.
Project Hail Mary: Andy Weir’s Sci-Fi Triumph
Science Fiction
Project Hail Mary starts with a familiar Weir scenario: one person facing an impossible challenge. Ryland Grace, a middle-school science teacher with a PhD in molecular biology, wakes up alone on a spaceship far from Earth. He doesn’t remember how he got there, his crewmates have died, and now he’s responsible for saving humanity.
BOOK FEATURE
Fading Away: A Journey Through Mafia, Love, and the Power of Storytelling
The prologue set the tone right away. This was not going to be a happy story. This was going to be a difficult one. Chapter 1 opened like a faded film reel, something between Malèna and The Godfather Part II, where everything begins in dust and memory. A dusky little town. Donkeys roaming the streets. Roosters are tearing open the morning with their cries.
INSIGHT: PUBLISHING WORLD
The Uncharted Territory: How Indie Authors Are Redrawing the Literary Map
In the overlooked corners of the literary world, far from the unrelenting pace and grand traditions of established publishing houses, a quiet revolution is taking shape. This movement is powered not by business tactics or sales projections but by the fervent commitment of storytellers. Welcome to the indie author’s realm, a setting in which creative autonomy dominates, and authors build their own publishing routes. For years, books traveled a predictable route from writer to reader through traditional publishing, but today, new narratives emerge—ones that change what literary achievement truly means.
RECENT POSTS
PREVIOUS POSTS:
- State of the Industry: An Overview
- The Book-Reader Buying Cycle: A Strategic Framework for Authors in the Modern Publishing Landscape
- Book Review: Hanneh by author Gabriella Nøhr
- Holes In The Somewhere: The Strange Places Grief Leaves Behind
- Fading Away: A Journey Through Mafia, Love, and the Power of Storytelling
- Colleen Hoover’s Woman Down: A Thrilling Dive into Obsession and Ambition
FEATURED AUTHOR
Collings MacCrae on Crafting Crime, Embracing Indie, and Redefining Neurodiverse Heroes
Collings MacCrae is a name that stands out in the world of crime fiction. A former healthcare consultant with over 40 years of experience, MacCrae brings a unique blend of professional expertise, personal insight, and creative passion to her writing. Her Fox Argall Mysteries series has fascinated readers with its dark, atmospheric storytelling, richly developed characters, and authentic portrayal of neurodivergence.
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT
FROM BOOK TO FILM
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: A Blend of War, Love, and Literature
Set in 1946, the story follows Juliet Ashton, a London-based writer struggling to move past the wounds of war. Juliet, known for her lively writing in the form of newspaper columns during WWII, is on the cusp of significant personal changes—caught between her charming albeit possessive fiancé Mark Reynolds (Glen Powell) and her own desire for creative fulfillment.
Her life takes a turn when she receives a letter from Dawsey Adams , a farmer on the Channel Island of Guernsey, who stumbles upon a book she once owned. Dawsey’s note sparks a correspondence about a group he’s part of—the oddly named Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society—a book club formed as an alibi during the Nazi occupation. Curious, Juliet travels to Guernsey to meet the society members and uncover their history.
FILMS and TV SERIES
BOOKS & ARTS
Wander into the whispers of history and stories untold. Museums and bookstores beckon with treasures that ignite curiosity and stir the soul. Each visit is a doorway to a world waiting to be discovered.
– Dr Seuss
Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks.
