#ReadItMD2013 - Self Publishers and Indie Publishers Rock!

"Garbage, Monster, Burp" by Tom Watson. A cracking example of a brilliant self-published e-book

For the #ReaditMD2013 campaign week this week, we thought we'd take a dip back into the archives to look at some of the self published and independently published books we've read and loved over the past few years.

There's a quiet and steady revolution going on as more families buy tablet PCs and start to look around at what's available in e-book form. The Amazon Kindle Publishing Service is one route to go down, as well as other e-publishing portals like CreateSpace.

Some folk, such as Hazel Nutt (with the brilliant "Secret Life of Squirrels" trilogy of books), even go as far as offering a complete site with books available in print form.

We've taken a look at Beachy Books in the past too and the message that comes across from self-publishers is that if you've got the passion and drive to put your book out there, and promote it as widely and as far as possible, it can be really rewarding.

We get a steady stream of self-published authors contacting us with books. Some are absolutely amazing and of the highest quality like the recent "Great Reef Race" by Leyland Perree and Stuart McGhee. Books made for the love of sharing stories and great sites like "Stories For My Little Sister" and "Once Upon a Slime" are also well worth a visit for even more booktastic fun. 

Most self-publishers are under no illusion that it's a route to riches but from time to time some books become so popular and sell so well that it gives their authors enough of a raised profile to secure them a deal with a major publisher. Looking outside children's books, the massive book-industry-rebooting "50 Shades of Grey" started out as a piece of fan fiction, so you never know what might happen with your book or collection of stories.

We have a lot of admiration for folk who have the sheer guts to put their work out there into a public forum for others to take a look at. Long may they continue to do so!

Got a great indie or self-published book recommendation? Let us know in the comments below!