Sheila Jenné
@jennelikejennay.bsky.social
Science fiction author & copyeditor. BLACK SAILS TO SUNWARD, THE SEA OF CLOUDS, and BISECTION out now. Support small presses and indie authors. 🚫 AI.
Find my work at https://sheilajenne.com/works
Find my work at https://sheilajenne.com/works
Electronic only. I prefer paper myself but it does get a lot more expensive, especially with indie books that have to be printed on demand.
Thrift bookstores are your best option in that case. Both online and brick and mortar.
You may also be able to get your library to order some.
Thrift bookstores are your best option in that case. Both online and brick and mortar.
You may also be able to get your library to order some.
November 25, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Electronic only. I prefer paper myself but it does get a lot more expensive, especially with indie books that have to be printed on demand.
Thrift bookstores are your best option in that case. Both online and brick and mortar.
You may also be able to get your library to order some.
Thrift bookstores are your best option in that case. Both online and brick and mortar.
You may also be able to get your library to order some.
Oh my god, a WHAT?? tell me more about this brand new invention
November 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Oh my god, a WHAT?? tell me more about this brand new invention
Yeah, I do worry indie books are undervalued. We have to price them cheaply to complete, but we do still have expenses we have to pay for!
The compromise for me is to price them about $5 but put them on sale periodically to generate buzz and give budget conscious readers a chance.
The compromise for me is to price them about $5 but put them on sale periodically to generate buzz and give budget conscious readers a chance.
November 25, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Yeah, I do worry indie books are undervalued. We have to price them cheaply to complete, but we do still have expenses we have to pay for!
The compromise for me is to price them about $5 but put them on sale periodically to generate buzz and give budget conscious readers a chance.
The compromise for me is to price them about $5 but put them on sale periodically to generate buzz and give budget conscious readers a chance.
no I had literally no idea, me mentioning it in the thread was a typo 🙄
November 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
no I had literally no idea, me mentioning it in the thread was a typo 🙄
Generally indie means either self published or small press. Anything but the big 5 publishers.
However some people use it to mean self published only.
However some people use it to mean self published only.
November 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Generally indie means either self published or small press. Anything but the big 5 publishers.
However some people use it to mean self published only.
However some people use it to mean self published only.
Kobo readers also connect directly to Libby!
November 25, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Kobo readers also connect directly to Libby!
I love those things.
November 25, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I love those things.
Exactly. Indie books, because of the way the market works, are priced much cheaper and on sale all the time.
November 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Exactly. Indie books, because of the way the market works, are priced much cheaper and on sale all the time.
I don't like Amazon either. I recommend Kobo Plus instead, not because it pays any better (it doesn't) but because it doesn't tie authors into a monopolistic exclusive contract, as KU does.
But I understand some authors are really into KU, and make a decent slice of their income that way.
But I understand some authors are really into KU, and make a decent slice of their income that way.
November 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I don't like Amazon either. I recommend Kobo Plus instead, not because it pays any better (it doesn't) but because it doesn't tie authors into a monopolistic exclusive contract, as KU does.
But I understand some authors are really into KU, and make a decent slice of their income that way.
But I understand some authors are really into KU, and make a decent slice of their income that way.
I don't know a lot about the book market outside the US or languages other than English, so I would love to hear ideas (this is what it sounds like when I ask for advice) about sourcing discounted books elsewhere.
November 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
I don't know a lot about the book market outside the US or languages other than English, so I would love to hear ideas (this is what it sounds like when I ask for advice) about sourcing discounted books elsewhere.
To get free review copies (ARCs) people also suggested BookSirens and BookFunnel. NetGalley is another. Accounts at these places are free for readers, and all they ask you to do is write an honest review for each free book you get.
November 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
To get free review copies (ARCs) people also suggested BookSirens and BookFunnel. NetGalley is another. Accounts at these places are free for readers, and all they ask you to do is write an honest review for each free book you get.
And this is true, libraries are my top choice for reading trad books (which are not available free or discounted as often) but they aren't enough if you want to read large numbers of indie books, unless you are on hoopla or another service like BorrowBox.
November 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
And this is true, libraries are my top choice for reading trad books (which are not available free or discounted as often) but they aren't enough if you want to read large numbers of indie books, unless you are on hoopla or another service like BorrowBox.
Adding on because of comments I've received:
Yes obviously I know about libraries, I assumed everyone else did too. But every time I mention libraries someone says:
-but we don't have libraries in my country!
-but my library refuses to carry indie books!
-I can request books but only 5 a year!
Yes obviously I know about libraries, I assumed everyone else did too. But every time I mention libraries someone says:
-but we don't have libraries in my country!
-but my library refuses to carry indie books!
-I can request books but only 5 a year!
November 25, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Adding on because of comments I've received:
Yes obviously I know about libraries, I assumed everyone else did too. But every time I mention libraries someone says:
-but we don't have libraries in my country!
-but my library refuses to carry indie books!
-I can request books but only 5 a year!
Yes obviously I know about libraries, I assumed everyone else did too. But every time I mention libraries someone says:
-but we don't have libraries in my country!
-but my library refuses to carry indie books!
-I can request books but only 5 a year!
If they are available there. A lot of indie writers don't list on Ingram because it's a pain in the butt and indie readers don't often buy from there.
November 25, 2025 at 1:46 PM
If they are available there. A lot of indie writers don't list on Ingram because it's a pain in the butt and indie readers don't often buy from there.
So I don't find out after publishing that my idea has been done a thousand times 😅
November 25, 2025 at 1:45 PM
So I don't find out after publishing that my idea has been done a thousand times 😅
They still do have to buy a copy though. And if it's an ecopy, they're priced higher for libraries.
November 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
They still do have to buy a copy though. And if it's an ecopy, they're priced higher for libraries.
Now that, I don't know. Perhaps someone else will know? I do know ebook retailers tend to vary from country to country.
November 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Now that, I don't know. Perhaps someone else will know? I do know ebook retailers tend to vary from country to country.
I do that a lot! Especially at the beta reading stage.
November 25, 2025 at 1:37 PM
I do that a lot! Especially at the beta reading stage.
While this is true, authors are pretty happy to have you read that way all the same, if they choose to be listed in KU. Though if you really want to make their day, write a review! Worth more than the <buck or so you get from KU.
November 25, 2025 at 1:36 PM
While this is true, authors are pretty happy to have you read that way all the same, if they choose to be listed in KU. Though if you really want to make their day, write a review! Worth more than the <buck or so you get from KU.
It's so obvious I didn't bother listing it. Especially because, if you want to read 100 indie books a year, the library probably doesn't have more than 3 of them and won't purchase all the other 97 of them. (It might not even purchase one, if the book isn't on ingramspark, as many indies aren't.)
November 25, 2025 at 1:27 PM
It's so obvious I didn't bother listing it. Especially because, if you want to read 100 indie books a year, the library probably doesn't have more than 3 of them and won't purchase all the other 97 of them. (It might not even purchase one, if the book isn't on ingramspark, as many indies aren't.)
In the indie creator scene, it always feels like we live on taking in each other's laundry. Our most faithful audience is each other, but we haven't got any money 😩
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
In the indie creator scene, it always feels like we live on taking in each other's laundry. Our most faithful audience is each other, but we haven't got any money 😩