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Tough Love for Indie Authors: An Honest Look at What it Takes to Win in Self-Publishing
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 10, 2026
A terrific resource for any author considering the indie route, as I am with my WIP memoir. Highly recommended!
March 24, 2026
Keri-Rae Barnum has written a concise, easy-to-understand, no-nonsense explanation of how to succeed as an indie author. She covers everything indie authors need to know to write and market their books and build a successful career. I think every indie author should read this book!
March 15, 2026
An efficient, concise guide for authors planning to engage in self-publishing. Though Love for Indie Authors cuts through the fluff and goes straight to the practical details.
The information is easy to find, organised in bullet points and tables whenever possible, and illustrated with practical case studies. This guide looks like a collection of business school case studies (in a good way), presenting the reader with actual strategies and real life choices.
Full disclosure, I never wrote a book with publication as a goal. My approach to publishing is adjacent: I graduated with a BA in literature / linguistics, briefly worked in a bookstore and spent a large part of my career working as a software developer in the gaming industry. I do read a lot of books, though. There are lots of parallels between edition and gaming, especially since a lot of games are "indie" aka self-published.
A common misconception is that developing a game or writing a book is a hobby project, a "fun job". This book (manual ?) is gently reminding authors that if they want to make a living, they need to treat writing as a business. Marketing is important, just as much as accounting, networking, and sticking to a schedule in order to produce more content. This is the kind of manual that provides a reality check to dreamers willing to live off their passion. Writing the book is only a part of the journey. If they want to succeed as indies, authors need to essentially set up their own publishing company.
I did not rate this book as "5 stars" because it was very US centered, which was not obvious from the description. I was also expecting a bit more content about accounting / finance, since neglecting cash flow and treasury can kill a business very fast. For useful advice about that part, reading an entry level guide to accounting for small businesses would help aspiring indie authors a lot.
Thank you #NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book (an ARC), in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Sibylline Press (the editor), Keri-Rae Barnum and Amy Collins (the authors) and all the people who made this book possible.
The information is easy to find, organised in bullet points and tables whenever possible, and illustrated with practical case studies. This guide looks like a collection of business school case studies (in a good way), presenting the reader with actual strategies and real life choices.
Full disclosure, I never wrote a book with publication as a goal. My approach to publishing is adjacent: I graduated with a BA in literature / linguistics, briefly worked in a bookstore and spent a large part of my career working as a software developer in the gaming industry. I do read a lot of books, though. There are lots of parallels between edition and gaming, especially since a lot of games are "indie" aka self-published.
A common misconception is that developing a game or writing a book is a hobby project, a "fun job". This book (manual ?) is gently reminding authors that if they want to make a living, they need to treat writing as a business. Marketing is important, just as much as accounting, networking, and sticking to a schedule in order to produce more content. This is the kind of manual that provides a reality check to dreamers willing to live off their passion. Writing the book is only a part of the journey. If they want to succeed as indies, authors need to essentially set up their own publishing company.
I did not rate this book as "5 stars" because it was very US centered, which was not obvious from the description. I was also expecting a bit more content about accounting / finance, since neglecting cash flow and treasury can kill a business very fast. For useful advice about that part, reading an entry level guide to accounting for small businesses would help aspiring indie authors a lot.
Thank you #NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book (an ARC), in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Sibylline Press (the editor), Keri-Rae Barnum and Amy Collins (the authors) and all the people who made this book possible.
February 23, 2026
Some writing guides wrap you in a blanket and tell you everything will be fine. This one hands you a mirror and says, kindly but firmly, “Let’s get serious.”
What I appreciated most about this book was the no-nonsense tone. Barnam doesn’t circle the point. She doesn’t over-explain or pad things out to make you feel clever. She tells you what’s working, what isn’t, and why. It’s refreshingly direct.
And it truly does what the title promises. This is a practical guide for indie authors, without the sugarcoating. The advice is grounded in reality. There’s no vague “follow your dreams” energy here. Instead, she talks strategy, risk, positioning, and the actual business of being an author.
The case studies were a highlight for me. Barnam draws from a wide range of indie writers and breaks down why their particular gambles paid off. Not just what they did, but why it worked in their context. It sparked my curiosity and made me think more critically about my own assumptions.
I also valued her clear-eyed discussion of common pitfalls. If you’re starting out, you’ll likely recognise yourself in at least one of them. I certainly did! The advice feels practical and grounded, with just enough tough love to steady you rather than deflate you. She comes across like the wiser older sister who wants you to succeed and refuses to let you sabotage yourself.
If you’re looking for reassurance, this may not be your book. If you’re ready to sharpen up and treat your writing like the serious pursuit it is, it’s well worth your time.
What I appreciated most about this book was the no-nonsense tone. Barnam doesn’t circle the point. She doesn’t over-explain or pad things out to make you feel clever. She tells you what’s working, what isn’t, and why. It’s refreshingly direct.
And it truly does what the title promises. This is a practical guide for indie authors, without the sugarcoating. The advice is grounded in reality. There’s no vague “follow your dreams” energy here. Instead, she talks strategy, risk, positioning, and the actual business of being an author.
The case studies were a highlight for me. Barnam draws from a wide range of indie writers and breaks down why their particular gambles paid off. Not just what they did, but why it worked in their context. It sparked my curiosity and made me think more critically about my own assumptions.
I also valued her clear-eyed discussion of common pitfalls. If you’re starting out, you’ll likely recognise yourself in at least one of them. I certainly did! The advice feels practical and grounded, with just enough tough love to steady you rather than deflate you. She comes across like the wiser older sister who wants you to succeed and refuses to let you sabotage yourself.
If you’re looking for reassurance, this may not be your book. If you’re ready to sharpen up and treat your writing like the serious pursuit it is, it’s well worth your time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So I have mixed feelings about this book.
As I was reading it I thought this is amazing. I love how easy it is to read. The chapters are short but very easy to understand. The book also gives lots of really good information with great case studies and data. The information seems well researched for the present writing and publishing market. The bullet points make it easy to follow with nice key takeaways and actionable steps. To be very clear I adore this book and planned to buy a copy and recommend it to all my writer friends. However....
Where my mixed feelings come in though is when I went to go write my book reviews. This book does not show up on two of the three book review websites I regularly use. The website links for additional information and added freebie resources also did not work. A third concern I found was that information about release date is inconsistent from Barnes and Noble and Goodreads. Somehow the print copy is available at Barnes and Noble but the e book copy isn't available for another few days. This wouldn't be anything that would raise any concerns for me except for the fact that the writers are giving advice on how to publish and some of the steps for that aren't done for this very book. It does make me question if the information enclosed is information I can reliably trust.
As I was reading it I thought this is amazing. I love how easy it is to read. The chapters are short but very easy to understand. The book also gives lots of really good information with great case studies and data. The information seems well researched for the present writing and publishing market. The bullet points make it easy to follow with nice key takeaways and actionable steps. To be very clear I adore this book and planned to buy a copy and recommend it to all my writer friends. However....
Where my mixed feelings come in though is when I went to go write my book reviews. This book does not show up on two of the three book review websites I regularly use. The website links for additional information and added freebie resources also did not work. A third concern I found was that information about release date is inconsistent from Barnes and Noble and Goodreads. Somehow the print copy is available at Barnes and Noble but the e book copy isn't available for another few days. This wouldn't be anything that would raise any concerns for me except for the fact that the writers are giving advice on how to publish and some of the steps for that aren't done for this very book. It does make me question if the information enclosed is information I can reliably trust.
February 11, 2026
Indie-publishing, like most book industry facets, is romanticized, often to its detriment. Authors get burned out, readers get confused, and the culture suffers when books don’t reach the public.
So what better than a book to clear up these bookish myths? The authors refuse to coddle, apologize, over-explain, or accommodate. Hence the very apt title!
It delivers a strategic assessment of publishing, teaching you how to build a platform, market well, understand distribution, treating your writing like a career worth investing in. Because it is!
As someone who’s still (and never will stop) learning about how to navigate publishing, I appreciate how practical this gets! It’s apparent the authors have seen what works and what tanks.
This won’t make you feel warm and fuzzy, but it’ll help you put in the work and achieve your goals.
I received an early copy courtesy of the publishers via Netgalley. All opinions are mine alone.
So what better than a book to clear up these bookish myths? The authors refuse to coddle, apologize, over-explain, or accommodate. Hence the very apt title!
It delivers a strategic assessment of publishing, teaching you how to build a platform, market well, understand distribution, treating your writing like a career worth investing in. Because it is!
As someone who’s still (and never will stop) learning about how to navigate publishing, I appreciate how practical this gets! It’s apparent the authors have seen what works and what tanks.
This won’t make you feel warm and fuzzy, but it’ll help you put in the work and achieve your goals.
I received an early copy courtesy of the publishers via Netgalley. All opinions are mine alone.
April 15, 2026
This is an excellent book, it is so thorough! I would describe it as an instruction manual for how to publish and market a book successfully. This book can be read through but can also be used as a reference book that you can return to during each step of your publishing and marketing journey.
I love that many of the chapters feature a checklist of recommended actions for the author to complete. Some examples of checklists included are a social media checklist and a website checklist. I also like that there are some real-life examples of authors provided in the book. These examples help to further illustrate the book’s concepts and provide inspiration to me.
I appreciate that the author doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges that are inherent with book publishing. Publishing a book is not an easy path. However, this book provides lots of guidance that, if followed, will help maximize your chances of success.
I love that many of the chapters feature a checklist of recommended actions for the author to complete. Some examples of checklists included are a social media checklist and a website checklist. I also like that there are some real-life examples of authors provided in the book. These examples help to further illustrate the book’s concepts and provide inspiration to me.
I appreciate that the author doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges that are inherent with book publishing. Publishing a book is not an easy path. However, this book provides lots of guidance that, if followed, will help maximize your chances of success.
February 20, 2026
I enjoyed this new writing craft book! It was easy to understand, and the short chapters made it enjoyable. It had a lot of information I didn't know (and stuff I didn't know I didn't know, if that makes sense), and I felt like it was helpful for both indie authors and trad pub authors. I'm mostly pursuing trad, but it was still useful to know all the things that go into the publishing process so I can position myself when/if the time comes. Definitely recommend to authors wanting to take their publishing journey seriously!
𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏 ✮⋆˙
𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏 ✮⋆˙
March 17, 2026
I'm relaunching my series, and I have spent the last six months trying to learn everything there is to know about self-publishing. I wish I had had this guide before I started! It's a comprehensive resource that touches on everything you need to know. Very accessible for beginners, but also has enough meat that there are things you'll pick up even if you know the basics.
For me, the best part was the mindset shift: "Successful authors are not waiting for perfect timing or a perfect plan. They apply what they know. They fix what breaks. They build as they go. They treat missteps as tuition. But you cannot succeed if you never start." I wish I had heard that advice a year ago!
For me, the best part was the mindset shift: "Successful authors are not waiting for perfect timing or a perfect plan. They apply what they know. They fix what breaks. They build as they go. They treat missteps as tuition. But you cannot succeed if you never start." I wish I had heard that advice a year ago!
April 26, 2026
Since I have high aspirations to become an Indie author I was immediately attracted to this title. There's way too much information out there on self-publishing and the different iterations and I was driving myself nuts. So, this book is all you really need. Ignore the rest. The author knows her topic and she knows how to write about it. It is readable, practical, and ... well, let's just say that after taking notes on my ARC, I ended up buying my very own copy because this is USEFUL! I also went to a webinar that Barnum gives and it was a pleasure. So, color me a huge fan. If you're a writer, you should just go out and get this book. Worth every penny!
March 17, 2026
I have read dozens of books that teach you about writing and character development. These books serve a purpose, but do not tell you what to do once an indie author is published. Keri-Rae Barnum fills that void. She, too, touches on the quality of writing but expands the horizon with "what sells," and "sustainable growth." She then dives into the marketing segment, using her extensive experience in the field. This book is crucial for indie authors, and any author who wants to take a role in promoting themselves.
April 23, 2026
I wish this book had existing when I was starting out in indie publishing! It would have saved me several hours of research and podcast listening, as it condenses all the basics into one easy-to-read book. It guides you through deciding whether indie publishing is right for you, through book production to marketing to working with retailers. I read it to see whether much of what I'd learned years ago was still relevant, and luckily, it seems like it is. But this book also expanded my knowledge on areas I hadn't explored before. Definitely recommend for anyone considering self-publishing.
Read
February 11, 2026I am told I need to write a book all the time. I feel like many of us are (or perhaps I know really interesting people!). This book jumped out at me as one that makes the concept of taking this on much more manageable. It had practical advice and tips, and seemed to be very well researched.
Thank you Sibyl Writing Craft and Netgalley for the ARC!
Thank you Sibyl Writing Craft and Netgalley for the ARC!
March 31, 2026
A thorough and insightful guide; not only for indie, self-published authors, but any author seeking to understand the changing pace of publishing. This is my go-to for a practical approach to both basic and complex publishing plans. I will reference these resources time and again. Thank you Sibylline Press for the advance copy.
February 23, 2026
This book have many practical advice and tips and it's well researched.
Thank you Sibyl Writing Craft and Netgalley for the e-ARC.
Thank you Sibyl Writing Craft and Netgalley for the e-ARC.
May 6, 2026
If you have ever wondered whether indie publishing might be right for you, and you are serious about treating your self-publishing journey as a small business venture, Tough Love for Indie Authors is an indispensable resource. This book walks through every step of the self-publishing process, offering practical real-world advice about what indie authors need to do to find success. I'm a hobby writer myself, for the most part, and I didn't love the somewhat condescending tone this book took toward writers who don't want to spend the money and time to publish and market books for considerable profit. But even for me, the information in this book was useful because it confirmed my confidence in my decision to continue making my writing a hobby. Still, the intended audience is really those authors who have chosen the indie path and are ready to get down to business. Authors who are especially sensitive or idealistic might struggle with the no-nonsense tone of this guidebook, but truly, if you need someone to tell you like it is in the self-publishing world today, Keri-Rae Barnum and Amy Collins do an excellent job.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews