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.
Threads of Kindness: The Transformative Tale of Theo of Golden
Literary Fiction
The story takes place in the fictional town of Golden, Georgia, and starts when Theo, an 86-year-old widower, arrives. His goal is simple and thoughtful: he buys 92 pencil portraits from a local coffee shop and gives each one back to its subject, asking for their story in return. These gentle meetings help Theo bring out the hidden feelings and stories of Golden’s people. The book is made up of connected short stories, each focused on one of these ‘bestowals,’ painting a picture of the whole town.
Colleen Hoover’s Woman Down: A Thrilling Dive into Obsession and Ambition
Psycho-Thriller
Petra Rose, a once-revered author of romantic suspense, finds her career in shambles after a disastrous film adaptation of her hit novel A Terrible Thing. When the movie cuts a beloved character, and rumors swirl that Petra supported the decision, the internet erupts in outrage. Branded a sellout and a traitor to her fans, Petra faces death threats, plummeting sales, and a crippling case of writer’s block. Desperate to save her career and her home, she retreats to a secluded lakeside cabin to finish her next book.
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:
- C. L. Sonnier and the World Beneath Under Martian Moons
- In the Hand of Dante
- From Page to Screen — A Look at Julia Whelan’s Bestselling Romance, My Oxford Year, and Its Netflix Adaptation
- A Changing Environment: The Indie Publishing Quality Crisis
- Voices of the Divine Feminine: Meet The Book of the Goddess Author Amber Hamilton Devlin
- State of the Industry: An Overview
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
In the Hand of Dante
Julian Schnabel returns with In the Hand of Dante, a 2025 drama he co-wrote alongside Louise Kugelberg, loosely adapted from Nick Tosches’ 2002 novel of the same name. The story kicks off with a discovery: a handwritten copy of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, buried for centuries in a Vatican cellar, suddenly finds itself moving through the hands of New York mob figures before landing with Tosches himself. It’s the kind of premise that sounds unhinged on paper, and absolutely is, in the best way. The film made its debut out of competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival in September 2025, hit US theaters in June 2026, and is now streaming on Netflix.
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.
