Cyber Monday: Shop Small, Read Indie

Support the Humans Behind the Art

’Tis the season to shop small, buy indie, and lift up the humans behind the art. People whose names you know. People who answer their own emails. People who pack their own mailers, do their own social media, and write their stories squeezed between day jobs, caregiving, exhaustion, and hope.

We need your support now more than ever — and we feel every single sale, share, and review in our bones.

When you support an indie author, you’re not adding pennies to a billionaire’s rocket fund — you’re literally helping someone pay rent, buy groceries, commission a cover, or write the next book that might carry someone through a really hard season.

So today, I want to spotlight five indie authors I adore — writers who are out here making magic, building community, and giving us stories that matter.

These are the people whose books deserve to be wrapped in cozy blankets, handed to friends, and whispered about over coffee.

5 Indie Authors to Support This Cyber Monday

K. Iwancio — You can buy K’s books directly from her. Including a five-book set for only $60: Behind the Pages, Bed & Breakfast, Spellbound in the Stacks, The Gift Across the Street, and Romancing the Pages. She also has cute merch, signed editions of her other titles, and more.

Elm Jed — You can support both the author and a small indie bookshop at the same time when you order the My Dear Watson series from Salient Books. Elm also has a Patreon where you can support the author directly, buy signed and special edition books, and more.

Saz Vora — On her website, you’ll find links to buy all of Saz’s books. Bonus! She has a members-only area for newsletter subscribers where you can read bonus short stories.

Rena Sapon-White & Ella Schaefer — Their website Smokeshow Entertainment has signed copies of both their books The Christmas Pic and Sweet Talk. Plus, bumper stickers, Criminalize Men collection, embroidered hats, Oligarch Era collection, tops, and tote bags.

Irene Bahrd — If you’re attending a book convention this year, check her website to preorder books and merch direct from Irene. Her next two events are Readers of the Valley in Arizona in January and Flirty in Kansas City in February.

Why This Matters

Big companies won’t notice your purchase today. Small businesses will. Indie authors will. I will.

Every time you buy direct, leave a review, share a post, or recommend a book, you change the trajectory of an artist’s month. Sometimes their whole year.

So if you’re shopping today, choose the creators. Choose the stories. Choose the humans whose work makes the world softer and brighter and braver.

And if you’re not shopping today? Sharing this post helps, too. You’re already supporting indie art just by being here.

Thanks for being part of this small-but-mighty little corner of the bookish universe. I’m grateful for you — today and always.