Booksellers, publishers, librarians, and agents are encouraged to look at the 47 self-published titles below. Each appears with a list of retailers that are selling the book and a description provided by its author. Some of these writers are waiting to be discovered; others have track records and followings and are doing it on their own. If you are a self-published author interested in listing titles in this section, please visit publishersweekly.com/pw-select for more information.
Fiction
20/20
B. Shawn Clark. First Run Books. $24.95 hardcover (235p), ISBN 978-1-73430-830-3; $2.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-73430-831-0
Amazon, BN.com, Better World Books
A story told by a man of the future, who reminisces about his life as a boy suffering Steinbeck-esque travails during the environmental and economic turmoil of the 2020s.
Big Red
Robert Liddell. Austin Macauley Publishers. $10.50 paper (88p), ISBN 978-1-78878-833-5
Amazon
Follow Big Red and her family as they struggle for survival in the vast Australian landscape dealing with both mankind and nature, from the northern forests to the grasses of the inland.
Exposure: Unnecessary
Adam Cliff. Dyna-Form Publish. $27.95 hardcover (404p), ISBN 978-1-73450-890-1; $17.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-73450-891-8
Amazon
A Midwestern family faces peril at every turn as they attempt to deliver photos taken near Dealey Plaza on Nov. 22, 1963, to a researcher.
Flagstaff’s Forgotten Cowgirl: The Journals of Lizzie Hoffman
J.K. Hoffman. Xlibris. $19.99 paper (282p), ISBN 978-1-984541-10-9; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-984541-09-3
Amazon
Follow Lizzie Hoffman as she navigates untrodden paths and unsavory people, finding new friends and romance along the way, leading to one last tragic encounter.
My Little China Girl: A Blottoblogography
Gordon MacRae. Gordon MacRae. $3.47 e-book, ASIN B083WDZ42V
Amazon, BN.com, Google Play, Indigo
Over the course of a decade, a young man traipses about Asia on a series of benders and blowouts, making friends and mistakes, in search of the stability of love.
The Ninjans Omnibus
Dave Kwan. Dave Kwan. $21 paper (249p), ISBN 979-86-12-48832-3
Amazon
In this collection of a three-book series, the ancient East meets the Wild West as the “Ninjans”—Native Americans trained in martial arts and ninjutsu—overcome challenge and adversity in the Wild West, the American Northwest, and modern Japan.
An Unsilent Partner: An Original Screenplay
Nathaniel H. Echols Jr. AuthorHouse. $14.99 paper (146p), ISBN 978-1-5049-1039-2
Amazon
This story follows business executives Royce Donovan and Michael Ridgeway. When Royce approaches Michael regarding a partnership deal, Michael is faced with a monumental decision.
Waiting for Someone?
Stan Davies. Balboa Press. $8.99 paper (74p), ISBN 978-1-5043-1855-6
Balboapress.com, Amazon, BN.com, Eurobooks
This book is an account of two people’s lives, from age 17 to mature adulthood.
Wish upon a Tree
Naomi Schulz. AuthorHouse. $17.23 paper (232p), ISBN 978-1-72839-467-1; $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-72839-466-4
Amazon
Following the death of her parents, Blair moves back home, where she discovers a family riddle that leads to gold, but she must also deal with an abusive ex-boyfriend with violent intent.
Mystery/Thriller
Delusions of Clarity: A Novel of Intrigue and Perception
Vern Bryk. Mando Forte Books. $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-73204-963-5
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Kobo
A police psychologist struggles to disentangle contrary views of a tragic shooting. As he pursues the truth, he risks everything, and rediscovers his own past along the way.
Hypnosis: A Return to the Past
Maria Inês Rebelo. I Am Self-Publishing. $14.33 paper (332p), ISBN 978-1-912145-57-7
Rebelomariaines.com, Amazon
Marcus Beling has practiced hypnosis and past life regression for many years. One day, a young woman named Anne Pauline Roux comes into his office and shakes his convictions.
Passage: A Time Travel Thriller
S. Mandel Joseph. S. Mandel Joseph. $10.80 paper (289p), ISBN 978-1-65525-876-3
Amazon, BN.com, Indiebound
In this time travel thriller, a woman is sent into the past through hypnosis to prevent the murder of her mother, only to become the killer’s next target.
The Privilege of Men
Judith Mazzucco. Judith Mazzucco. $5.99 paper (67p), ISBN 978-1-70913-670-2; $2.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-70913-670-2
Amazon
The relationships between men, women, and animals can be reprehensible, especially when ego and money are involved. When several girls go missing, Kendra discovers that it’s not the sex trade that's responsible, but an interspecies factory farm.
The Procurator Fiscal
Viktoria King. URLink Print & Media. $9.99 paper (176p), ISBN 978-1-64367-400-1
Amazon
Some jobs put good people in bad situations. This is what happens when horrid things happen to good people.
Reclaiming Our Own
Christopher Irons. Pants-free for Life. $10.99 paper (300p), ISBN 978-1-73349-760-2; $2.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-73349-762-6
Amazon, BN.com
When his nephew is kidnapped, former Army Ranger Brett tries to intervene. When he is also taken hostage, he and his former Ranger team discover it’s all part of a deeper conspiracy.
Resurrection: A Supernatural Thriller
Rob Lockett. KDP. $6.99 e-book, ASIN B08693BMQ4
Amazon, Kobo
A supernatural thriller that sees the tragic downward spiral of a young man into madness and a world of terror.
SF/Fantasy/Horror
The Brotherhood of the Wone
Len Stage. Newman Springs. $7.48 paper (194p), ISBN 978-1-64531-245-1
Amazon
This is a story about a handyman who lived in a small town and was in just the right place when destiny came knocking on his door.
Canny Danny
Gerhard Dennis. Gerhard Dennis. $14.99 paper (492p), ISBN 979-86-21-51052-7; .99¢ e-book,
ASIN B085HSQ7SH
Amazon
In this erotic horror novel, a desperate writer teams up with a serial killer and his harem of otherworldly sex slaves.
Into the Labyrinth: An Isandra Mayham Adventure
Edwina Darke. Written House Publishing. $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-949408-01-0
Amazon, Kobo, Payhip
Little sisters: can’t live with them, can’t let them sell their souls to evil faerie kings.
STAZR—The World of Z: The Dawn of Athir
Anay Ayarovu. STAZR. $6.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-73455-650-6
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Google Play
A naive writer, his talking swine, and a deceitful troupe of powerful mystics come together to hunt an ancient prophecy.
Unfathomable
Thomas Pryce. Thomas Pryce. $14.99 paper (347p), ISBN 978-0-9846691-3-4
Amazon, BN.com
Environmental peril and adventure on the high seas with eco-defender Jake Chee.
Romance/Erotica
No Romance Allowed
Kana Wu. Booklocker.com. $18.95 paper (314p), ISBN 978-1-64438-977-5
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Books-a-Million, IndieBound, Kobo
Rory learns to coexist with roommate Peter, only to learn he has a secret that could be used to ruin her life.
Triple Attraction: A Love Story
Duke Dupree. Knight Books Press. $16.99 paper (220p), ISBN 978-0-578-63755-6
Amazon, BN.com, Books-a-Million
Ben and his sister Linda each discover the love of their life, but roadblocks and drama threaten to get in the way of love for both.
Nonfiction
Bankruptcy Didn’t Break Me! How to Learn the Keys to Success to Increase Your Credit Scores
Kassondra R. Lewis. KGSL Enterprises. $9.99 paper (36p), ISBN 978-0-9986769-1-3; $2.99 e-book, ASIN B06XR6CP74
Amazon
This book is about how to recover more quickly from life events such as foreclosure and bankruptcy, offering steps to rebuild one’s life and credit.
Bridging the Gap: A Spiritual Journey to Heaven and Back
Calvin Cassady. Inspiring Voices. $14.99 paper (202p), ISBN 978-1-4624-0495-7
Amazon, Google Play, Ingram
After a fiery car crash, Cassady uses his newfound spirituality to help troubled teens.
The Christian Man and Pornography: Why Most Fail But Can Succeed
Norman Hardman. AuthorHouse. $13.99 paper (110p), ISBN 978-1-72830-812-8; $6.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-72830-811-1
Amazon
This book is intended to encourage men from all walks of life to take control of their minds and bodies in order to reach their full potential.
Contemporary Issues in the U.S. Healthcare Debate
Elisha Caldwell. AuthorHouse. $15.99 paper (116p), ISBN 978-1-72830-944-6; $9.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-72830-943-9
Amazon
This book discusses the nature of the U.S. health-care system, including offering an alternative view of the health-care debate in Washington and detailing the underlying costs of health care.
Contentment Through Mindfulness (2nd ed.)
Robert Leihy. Xlibris. $15.99 paper (48p), ISBN 978-1-984528-33-9; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-984528-32-2
Amazon
This book elaborates on contentedness, delving into how one can achieve deep relaxation, calm, and still awareness of the immediate moment.
Girl with a Blue Diamond
Ashok Tamhane. Outskirts Press. $17.95 paper (298p), ISBN 978-1-977221-01-8
Amazon, BN.com, Outskirts Press
The book depicts the culture of New York City in the 1970s.
A Glass Half Empty?... or Half Full? A Children’s Book for Grown Ups
Dan Schuck. Archway Publishing. $15.99 hardcover (48p), ISBN 978-1-4808-6736-9; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4808-6737-6
Amazon
In this self-help book, readers follow a fish living in a glass of water and attempt to emulate how it navigates life no matter what’s in its glass.
Life
Richard Houdershell. Richard Houdershell. $17.66 paper (254p), ISBN 978-1-70913-476-0
Amazon
At 18, Houdershell killed a man and was sent to prison, not leaving a cell again until he was 33. Those years changed him, as demonstrated in this memoir.
Life Operated from Within
Rajdeep Umesh. AuthorHouse. $12.90 paper (72p), ISBN 978-1-72839-518-0; $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-72839-517-3
Amazon
This philosophical study considers the ways in which people think about the events of their lives, and presents exercises designed to change those thought processes.
A Natural Mistake: Why Natural, Organic, and Botanical Products Are Not as Safe as You Think
James MacGregor. James MacGregor. $14.99 paper (244p), ISBN 978-1-73338-800-9
Amazon, BN.com
An authoritative discussion of the risks and benefits of natural foods, herbal medicines, and conventional products, including examples of unanticipated health issues.
Neither Do I Condemn You
Marie A. Tombow. Marie A. Tombow. $15 paper (86p), ISBN 978-1-08-272260-8
Amazon
The author’s journey from a life of confusion to her newfound connection with God. It narrates how an early rejection led her to find acceptance with people outside family.
No One Has More Love Than This: Why We Remember
Warren Robinson. AuthorHourse. $13.99 paper (188p), ISBN 978-1-72834-552-9; $3.99 e-book, BO84WRNHX2
Amazon, BN.com
This is an eyewitness story of a veteran of the war in Vietnam.
Racism, Hypocrisy and Bad Faith: A Moral Challenge to the America I Love
Julius Bailey. Broadview. $25.95 paper (212p), ISBN 978-1-55481-498-5
Broadviewpress.com, Amazon, BN.com
Bailey’s latest book discusses the hypocrisy and mistrust he perceives in the American political system, particularly how they affect ethnic minorities and low-income groups.
Research Sub-contractor: Models for the Decline of the National Research and Innovation System
Mohammed Ahmad Al-Shamsi. Mohammed Ahmad S. AL-Shamsi. $8.99 e-book, ASIN B0855ZDNJH
Amazon
This book attempts to analyze and discover a unique national R&D system from within, unlike any other national system in the West or the East.
The Secret of Nature’s Alchemy: Unlock the Hidden Power Within You
Menete Hashipala. Austin Macauley Publishers. $16.63 paper (122p), ISBN 978-1-5289-3355-1
Askthesecretkey.com, Amazon
Hashipala attempts to tackle the quotidian problem of poverty by appealing to arcane secrets and the wisdom of the ancients.
The Sensory Compounding Workbook: Using Your Five Senses to Create Inner Peace and Calm
April Nelson. Balboa Press. $8.99 paper (66p), ISBN 978-1-982242-16-9
Balboapress.com
Based on conditioning (learning) theory, this workbook aims to engage readers to use all five senses in order to trigger peaceful and calm reactions.
Was Michael Jackson Murdered? You Be the Judge.
Everett Watson. Dorrance Publishing. $26 e-book, ISBN 978-1-4809-5567-7
Dorrancepublishing.com, Amazon, BN.com
Watson uses trial evidence as a basis for his argument that Michael Jackson’s death was in fact a premeditated murder.
We Got This: Solo Mom Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor
Marika Lindholm. She Writes Press. $17.95 paper (353p), ISBN 978-1-63152-656-5
Amazon, BN.com, Books-a-Million
Seventy-five solo mom writers discuss their lives—their hopes and fears, their resilience and setbacks, their embarrassments and triumphs.
Children/YA
Ella’s Umbrella
Courtney Shannon Strand, illus. by Jennica Lounsbury. Kicky Cane Press. $18.99 hardcover (32p), ISBN 978-1-73427-890-3; $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-73427-892-7
Apple iBooks
Ella hustles outside with her new umbrella and listens to the rain fall a cappella. Join Ella on her jazzy journey through the rain.
A Glow in the Forest
Jude Perera. Jude Perera. $2.99 e-book, ISBN 978-0-648-77060-2
Amazon, BN.com, Kobo
Five teenagers and a child living in a forgotten time embark on a journey of a lifetime, one in which they are ambushed by the wickedness and beauty of nature and man.
The Haunted Hanging Tree
David and Michael Krumboltz. Austin Macauley Publishers. $10.18 paper (162p), ISBN 978-1-5289-1923-4
Amazon
Two kids seek the truth behind the hanging of their grandfather in 1873. They’ll look for answers as they revisit Dry Gulch, Calif.
Time Machine Emergency
Dan Busby. Xlibris. $19.99 paper (182p), ISBN 978-1-79605-753-9
Amazon
A genius 22-year-old student makes an astounding discovery while working for a college professor.
Tru Untrue
Rachelle Jones Smith. Keepin’ Up Wit Press. $21.99 hardcover (184p), ISBN 978-0-578-62544-7; $14 paper, ISBN 978-0-578-61884-5
Amazon, BN.com, Books-a-Million, Onemorepagebooks.com
Tru could have it all: a new home, school, and identity. Then he meets Nell. While saving her will cost him, it would mean everything for her, and he’s willing to risk it.
The Wonders of the Peculiar Parasol: A Dragonstone Story
Mark Even, illus. by Anna Canfield. Cresting Wave Publishing. $6.99 paper (150p), ISBN 978-0-9889048-2-8
Amazon
Three young cousins discover they descend from a powerful wizard. Upon activating an enchanted parasol, they are transported to a fantasy world, where they discover their innate magical abilities.
