Booksellers, publishers, librarians, and agents are encouraged to look at the 60 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
Creole Moon the Betrayal
S.T. Holmes. Toplink Publishing. $10.99 paper (224p), ISBN 978-1-947620-07-0
Amazon, BN.com
Explore the world of fantasy in the Louisiana swamp during the 19th century. George Genois uncovers a dark side of love and marriage.
The Cruel Romance: A Novel of Love and War
Marina Osipova. iUniverse. $20.99 paper (343p), ISBN 978-1-4917-8547-8
Amazon, iUniverse
In World War II, Serafima and Vitya, a young German violinist and a Russian intellectual, rise to the challenge of agonizing moral choices and learn to forgive and love again.
Dear Mom and Dad: You Don’t Know Me, But...
Georgia Lee McGowen. Toplink Publishing. $15.99 paper (290p), ISBN 978-1-947938-85-4
Amazon, BN.com
This novel considers the ultimate understanding of God’s will for both George and Georgia—a single soul at times divided, at times united—and its unusual conclusion in a story of struggle and self-acceptance.
The DeLuca Furlough Brides, Book 1: The Ones They Left Behind
Alan Simon. Alan Simon Books. $14.95 paper (456p), ISBN 978-0-9994665-1-3; $3.99 e-book, ASIN B07792YC33
Amazon
In the earliest days of World War II, hundreds of thousands of young American women hastily married their sweethearts before those young men went off to war. This is the story of two of those women.
A Dress the Color of the Sky
Jennifer Irwin. Glass Spider Publishing. $27 hardcover (322p), ISBN 978-0-9990096-5-9
Amazon, BN.com, Books-a-Million, IndieBound, Powells
Prudence Aldrich is a wife, mother—and sex addict. Her world of deception and adultery is disguised behind the pretense of an ordinary life.
Duty Bound: A Wounded Warrior Battles Back from PTSD to Coach the High School Team He Once Starred On
Bob Larrañaga. Robert D. Larrañaga. $3.99 e-book, ASIN B078Q9KCH4
Amazon, Bowker, Ingram
Wounded warrior Ron Canfield battles PTSD to coach a racially divided basketball team. With the first game a week away, a racist stalker threatens to strike in the crowded gym.
From Whence We Come
Maurice W. Dorsey. Xlibris. $19.95 paper (257p), ISBN 978-1-5434-6291-3
Mauricewdorsey.com
The novel underscores the struggles of an African-American gay man whose mother tells her son she never wanted to have him.
The Last Homecoming
Dan Chabot. CreateSpace. $16.95 paper (400p), ISBN 978-1-5480-2601-1
Amazon
Four strangers return to say goodbye to the doomed old house that gave them shelter over the course of 90 years and discover that their safe old refuge is not yet done giving.
My God! My Country, My Son
Peter Ford. Ford Publishing. $14.95 paper (154p), ISBN 978-0-692-93842-3
Amazon, BN.com
Sergeant Wanton confronts several battles: with his son, Will; his conscience; and racism. Armed with the word of God, Will stands against his father with a personal battle. Along the way, they learn several lessons.
Potlatch: A Comedy
Bruce Hartman. Swallow Tail Press. $12.95 paper (286p), ISBN 978-0-9889181-9-1
Amazon
Alice Coggins, 24, battles the Potlatch—a vast conspiracy of conspicuous waste directed by the powers that be to keep her and her fellow millennials from doing anything useful.
A Prophet Without Honor: A Novel of Alternative History
Joseph Wurtenbaugh. G Realist Ink. $7.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-64008-232-8
Amazon, Kobo
Written in epistolary form, this novel focuses on the one great unrealized opportunity of the 20th century.
QL 4
James Garrison. TouchPoint Press. $15.99 paper (378p), ISBN 978-1-946920-00-3
Amazon, BN.com
Set in the Mekong delta during the Vietnam War, this is a tale of intrigue, betrayal, and crime among soldiers on the same side in an unpopular war.
Sardinian Silver
A. Colin Wright. Toplink Publishing. $11.99 paper (196p), ISBN 978-1-947938-83-0
Amazon, BN.com
To assimilate into the strange and belong to a society different from his own has always been young Englishman Arthur Fraser’s desire.
Unleashed
Skye Blaine. Berkana Publications. $18 paper (324p), ISBN 978-0-9779483-6-9
Amazon
After a rollover car accident in which Zephyr is pitched from the van and bolts into the wilds of central Oregon, Carolina’s, Rowan’s, and Zephyr’s lives collide with Afghan vet Moss Westbury.
The World Explored, the World Suffered: The Exeter Lectures
Michael R.D. James. Paragon Publishing. $12.99 paper (280p), ISBN 978-1-78222-548-5
Amazon
The first volume of a trilogy of philosophical/educational lectures embedded in a fictional narrative of human drama/tragedy.
Poetry
Mom’s Poetry
Kathleen Dunleavy. Xlibris. $15.99 paper (82p), ISBN 978-1-5245-9095-6; $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5245-9094-9
Amazon
Throughout her years as a mother, Dunleavy has written poems relevant to her experiences as she moved along the path of her life.
Peace in Pieces: A Memoir Told Through Poetry
Peggy Belles. Peggy Belles. $15 paper (102p), ISBN 978-0-692-93656-6
Amazon, BN.com
This is a collection of 41 poems that grapple with the complexity of living. It is a story of trading impenetrable armor for real power and courage in vulnerability.
The Unravelled Heart
Kathy Parker. Balboa Press. $14.99 paper (196p), ISBN 978-1-5043-1097-0
AbeBooks, Amazon, BN.com, Book Depository, Booktopia, Kobo
Parker offers a reflection on trauma, abuse, love, loss, and healing. These poems seek to piece together the heart torn by sorrow and empower it.
Mystery/Thriller
The China Connection: A Lieutenant Morales Mystery
A.J. Basinski. A.J. Basinski. $2.99 e-book, ASIN B07863PNKF
Amazon
When Lieutenant Morales is accused of trying to murder his wife, Sun Li, he searches the world for the real attacker.
The Consequence of War
Brian Oldham. Brian Oldham. $9.95 paper (360p), ISBN 978-0-9994748-1-5
Amazon, Ingram
Elijah McCoy was trained to kill. He returned from the war in Afghanistan and must overcome his demons or become the monster he fears he may be.
Force of Impact
Bryan Cassiday. CreateSpace. $16.99 paper (392p), ISBN 978-1-5483-0766-0
Amazon, BN.com
Hired by a horror novelist, tormented L.A. PI Ethan Carr becomes enmeshed in a conspiracy involving an elite clandestine club of masked members in Hollywood who like to play deadly games.
The Torch Betrayal
Glenn Dyer. TMR Press. $15.99 paper (345p), ISBN 978-0-9991173-0-9
Amazon, Ingram
When confidential directives for Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, go missing, OSS agent Conor Thorn must recover the plans before the Nazis thwart the crucial mission.
Untethered
John Bowie. SilverWood Books. $13.49 paper (192p), ISBN 978-1-78132-667-1
Amazon, Book Depository
Seeing a case file left out at her station, an undercover police constable grabs an opportunity: use John Barrie (ex–Special Air Service and nightclub doorman) against her drug-dealing boyfriend.
SF/Fantasy/Horror
Dragons, Kings, and the Blazing Slicklizzard Heart Trees, Book 1: Scindinvian Battles and the Black Magic Draco Ice Dragons
Lynn A. Dalton. Dorrance Publishing. $18 paper (244p), ISBN 978-1-4809-5236-2
Dorrancebookstore.com
To become a lady, Grace needs the magical Heart Tree, but the tree’s help requires an evil heart and blood sacrifice. A fantasy of good and evil, sorcerers and dragons.
Ghost Bully
Brian Corley. Brian Corley. $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5323-6218-7
Amazon
The story of a haunting gone wrong for the haunter, or what happens when a ghost unintentionally creates a better ghost. A paranormal coming-of-age story.
Romance/Erotica
The Last Sunset
Daniel Jay Paul. Xlibris. $31.99 hardcover (240p), ISBN 978-1-4010-3426-9
Amazon, BN.com
A restless college student discovers new meaning for life and love through friendship with an 83-year-old man confined in a nursing home.
The Sea Wolf: Blood Boon
Melony Malsom. CreateSpace. $14.99 paper (325p), ISBN 978-1-977779-07-6
Amazon
A pirate captain battles a vampire over possession of a beautiful Irish woman. Taking on her troubled past, he must risk everything to save her.
Seeds of Intention
Andrea Thome. Andrea Thome. $14.95 paper (312p), ISBN 978-0-9978504-2-0
Amazon, Ingram, Smashwords
Is it more important to have roots or wings? This destination romance, set in the beautiful mountains of Tennessee and Colorado, examines that question.
Sky’s the Limit
Elle Aycart. Elle Aycart Productions. $9.99 paper (342p), ISBN 978-1-981987-44-3; $3.99 e-book, ASIN B078LFDCGK
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Kobo
A contemporary romance about a cosmopolitan girl who ends up “trapped” by accident in a Minnesota town full of doomsday preppers.
Talon (Rise of the Pride, Book 1)
Theresa Hissong. Theresa Hissong. 99¢ e-book, ASIN B01CF3NCA4
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Kobo, Smashwords
In the backwoods of Mississippi, a pride of panthers learns how to live among humans after being discovered.
Nonfiction
8 Steps to Starting a Business: How to Quickly Gain the Skills You’ll Need
John B. Vinturella. iUniverse. $20 paper (274p), ISBN 978-1-5320-2152-7; 99¢ e-book, ISBN 978-1-5320-2153-4
Amazon
An entrepreneur for over 40 years, Vinturella explores how to sharpen business skills, identify opportunities, and approach business planning in this guide for entrepreneurs.
Beyond the Black Stump of Eternity: A Toolkit for Understanding the Deeper Meaning to Life, Its Existence and Global Issues
David Shaun Larsen. David Shaun Larsen. $14.99 paper (354p), ISBN 978-0-648-19971-7; $9.99 e-book, ISBN 978-0-648-19972-4
Kobo
First in a series of three, this book interweaves stories from the author’s personal journey in life to viewing important global issues through a philosophical, political, and spiritual lens.
The Big Squeeze: Hugs & Inspirations for Every Grown-Up Who Loves Teddy Bears
Susan Mangiero. Happy Day Press. $9.95 hardcover (96p), ISBN 978-0-9975023-2-9
Amazon, Baker & Taylor
Combining photos with motivational messages, this book invites readers to laugh, smile, and take a happiness vacation from everyday stress.
A Dialogue with Depression: Heart/Mind Disconnect
Om Devi. iUniverse. $22.99 paper (148p), ISBN 978-1-5320-2890-8; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5320-2891-5
Amazon
If she couldn’t stop it, would it be enough to try to understand it? Devi shares the journey through her husband’s struggle with clinical depression.
Famous Poets: A Photo Essay
Lawrence Schwartzwald. Oddi Press. $85 paper (80p), ISBN 978-1-5323-5455-7
Amazon
This collection features photographic portraits of notable poets and photos of artists (Woody Allen, Cindy Crawford, Dustin Hoffman, Courtney Love, and others) reading books of poetry. First edition of 200.
Finding Myself Again
Dena Olson. Dena Olson. $8 e-book, ASIN B00IFDDGKA
Amazon
Olson writes about her 20-year struggle to reinvent herself after suffering traumatic brain injury and how she built confidence in a new self.
Flannery O’Connor and Me
James Mcleod. Xlibris. $40.31 hardcover (154p), ISBN 978-1-5434-0237-7
Amazon, BN.com
This is the story of the famous Southern writer brilliantly teaching the author at a young age how to write. He passes on some of the knowledge and humor she shared.
Get to Be Happy: Stories and Secrets to Loving the Sh*t Out of Life
Ted Larkins. Get To Principle, The. $14.95 paper (254p), ISBN 978-0-9995140-0-9
Amazon
The author tells of his journey through life, from meeting Mother Teresa to partying with Bon Jovi to the tragic experiences of the death of his business partner and the loss of his daughter.
Hal Moore on Leadership: Winning When Outgunned and Outmanned
Mike Guardia. Magnum Books. $14.95 paper (168p), ISBN 978-1-5483-0510-9
Amazon, BN.com, Books-a-Million
Lessons in leadership from the star of We Were Soldiers. Winning strategies for any leader in any organization—business or military.
How to Live from Your Heart: Deepen Relationships, Develop Creativity, and Discover Inner Wisdom
Nanette Hucknall. MSI Press. $16.89 paper (274p), ISBN 978-1-942891-24-6
Amazon
This practical book not only teaches you how to live from your heart but also provides scads of activities to practice doing so.
It Is About You: How American Government Works and How to Help Fix It
Deborah Cupples. Delphinium. $14.95 paper (186p), ISBN 978-0-9996777-0-4
Amazon
A nonpartisan and plain-language guide that covers basics about American government and includes a copy of the U.S. constitution.
Liberate Yourself: Your Past Is Not Your Prison
Luz Avila-Kyncl. Luz Avila-Kyncl. $14.95 paper (282p), ISBN 978-0-9992139-0-2; $2.99 e-book, ASIN B074LZZ1Q4
Amazon
This book is about breaking the chain of bad habits, suffering, trauma, and dysfunction.
Loving Good Food from the Heart
Doreen Barnett. Xlibris. $31.99 paper (52p), ISBN 978-1-5144-8068-7; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5144-8067-0
Amazon
Barnett has cooked for many. Just by seeing their faces, she can tell how well pleased they are. She wants every bite to fulfill your inner being.
Microvita: Exploring a New Science of Reality
Hans-Joachim Rudolph. AuthorHouse. $33.99 paper (112p), ISBN 978-1-5246-9113-4; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5246-9114-1
Amazon
The book portrays the concept of microvita in a physics framework. It also presents various microvita models and illustrates the material with narratives as well as the author’s own experiences.
Miss Right for Mr. Right: A Good Man Is Not Hard to Find
Lee Speights. AuthorHouse. $13.99 paper (108p), ISBN 978-1-5246-5656-0; $7.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5246-5655-3
Amazon
This book explores and analyzes women’s unique qualities and advises women—and sometimes men as well—on how to find and sustain a successful relationship with someone of the opposite sex.
The Other Side of the Mic
Cecil Miller. Xlibris. $19.99 paper (278p), ISBN 978-1-5434-2618-2; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5434-2609-0
Amazon
Miller’s book is about aviation history and the pilot, and goes behind the scenes of the air traffic controller.
The Relativistic Rocketeer: Vol. 1
James M. Essig. Xlibris. $39.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5245-5346-3
BN.com
The book explores far-ranging techniques for future relativistic rockets and the notion of converting a baryonic standard model spacecraft into a neutrinolike state.
Take Back Your Life: A Caregiver’s Guide to Finding Freedom in the Midst of Overwhelm
Loren Gelberg-Goff. Well Within Publishing. $14.95 paper (202p), ISBN 978-0-9994011-0-1
Amazon, Apple iBooks, BN.com, Book Depository, Google Play
Learn to take as good care of yourself as you do of others in your life. Reconnect to a loving connection, stop arguing, and get cooperation from others so you can take back your life.
The Transition, Initiated by Copernicus and Galileo, from Religion to Science: The Beckoning Bridge Many Find Difficult or Impossible to Cross
Lawrence H. Wood. iUniverse. $28.99 paper (444p), ISBN 978-1-5320-2457-3; $3.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5320-2458-0
Amazon
Wood introduces the brilliant investigators who resolved the mysterious illusions that formed religion. The solving system termed science led to discoveries that turned supernatural belief to the laws of physics.
The Universe Green Door: Why Are We Here?
Andrey Cherepanov. Andrey Cherepanov.
$8 paper (96p), ISBN 978-1-973390-04-6
Amazon
This book examines key metaphysical questions such as an origin of the universe, Earth and humanity’s place in it, the mystery of evolution, the role of consciousness, and others.
Children’s/YA
Cakewalk
Neil Ruttenberg, illus. by Abigail Wilson. Double Dragon Publishing. $5.39 e-book, ASIN B077Q7LYPL
Amazon
Two sisters cross an America ravaged by an extraterrestrial ecosystem that threatens to devour Earth and all its occupants.
GAAK: Groovy Ass Alien Kreatures
Darryl Hughes, illus. by Monique MacNaughton. Brand X Books. $19.98 paper (244p), ISBN 978-0-9903936-7-2
Amazon, BN.com, Ingram
Four misfit teens defend their small suburban town and the world from invasion by kooky aliens.
I Can Read
Doris L. Hicks. Xlibris. $21.99 paper (26p), ISBN 978-1-5434-2345-7; $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5434-2346-4
Amazon
This book is designed to help children increase vocabulary, think critically, develop reading skills, and learn the Christian story of God and creation.
Li’l Booger Buddies Inventors Help Out a New Friend
Heather Konet. CreateSpace. $9.99 paper (26p), ISBN 978-1-979068-17-8
Amazon
The Li’l Booger Buddies go on a mission in space to find junk for building their inventions. They discover a planet where they use their invention skills to help a new friend.
The Little Pine Tree
Ricarda Bush. Ricarda Bush. $8.65 paper (35p), ISBN 978-1-973408-74-1
Amazon
A young ponderosa pine has grown to just the right size to become a holiday tree in the Joneses’ home.
The Love of a Bingle Lancer
Paul Gullen, illus. by Rachel Korsen. Golden Bell Studios’ Polar Press. $17.95 hardcover (28p), ISBN 978-1-946185-06-8
Amazon
Prince Bandini is on a quest to show his father that nothing is stronger than the power of true love. A story for dancers, lancers, and romancers.
Peppercorn’s Magic: A Live Stage Comedy or Story Book for Children
Florence Novelli. Florence Novelli. $8.50 paper (60p), ISBN 978-1-5499-4497-0
Amazon
The jolly old king of Not-at-All and his daughter, the princess, prepare to celebrate the princess’s wedding to a handsome young prince.
Presenting Princess Solei on Her First Birthday: The Magic in Her Smile
Shangri-La Durham-Thompson. AuthorHouse. $20.99 paper (48p), ISBN 978-1-5246-8853-0; $4.99 e-book, ISBN 978-1-5246-8854-7
Amazon
Narrated in poetry style, this story emphasizes the lengths we will go to celebrate birthdays, yet the gift of a simple smile is the greatest gift of all.
Snowy’s Adventure
Elaine Souter. Elaine Souter. $3.99 e-book, ASIN B0782TS7SD
Amazon
One day when the author was taking her little dog, Snowy, for a walk, he had a reaction with a magpie. From then on, she got inspired and started writing about Snowy’s adventures.
Whisperings
Julie Halliwell, illus. by Andrea Costantine. Off the Porch Press. $13.95 paper (236p), ISBN 978-0-692-88340-2
Amazon
Archangels have watched over Earth for millennia with the hope of peace. Peace has remained a dream until three children demand an end to the violence, and the response is earth-shattering.