Indie April Suggestions - Part 6

 James Vincett

A few years ago, I read that 3,000 new books appeared on Amazon every day. That is quite a number, and I bet it has only gone up.

The other week, someone wrote that there are 8 million books available on the Zon. Eight Million. That is absolutely incredible.

If you’re a writer, the question you’re probably asking is: how do I get people to find my books? And that is a very good question, but one I hope to address in a different post.

If you are a reader, you’re probably asking: how do I find my next good read? And that is a very good question, especially since Amazon has started polluting our search results with sponsored ads.

Nearly half of our search results aren’t search results — they’re advertising.

It is getting to the point where I don’t like searching for books on Amazon anymore. There are just too darn many ads. In fact, I’ve started searching for books on Google. And then I see where they are being sold, and often end up buying the book someplace other than Amazon. The Zon might want to take a new look at their over zealous ad pollution of book pages.

I am both a reader and a writer. And since becoming an independent author-publisher, I’ve consistently sought out those excellent books that aren’t in the top 300,000 on Amazon. And I’ve found quite a few, which I then go on to promote. Hoping they get a wider audience.

One of those serendipitous finds was James Vincett’s highly imaginative Hominin Universe.

Vincett has set three series in his future the universe. I would broadly class his books as space opera, with hefty side servings of military SF and action & adventure. And they will all wet your whistle for more.

Hominin Union

The first series is his Hominin Union trilogy, of which volumes 1 and 2 are out. They are top drawer, first class reading. He combines, space opera, military SF, political intrigue, with lots of action and adventure. Having just finished book 2, The Borrega Test, I’m champing at the bit for book 3.

This series is every bit as good as The Foundation, Star Wars, or Battlestar Galactica. Loads of characters to love and hate, and a tense storyline that has you biting your nails. I’m all in on this one.

You can find The Anuvi Incident and The Borrega Test on Amazon.

The Far Frontier

Two books are out in the episodic Far Frontier series. These are classic SF novellas of space exploration. They are very imaginative and highly inventive. Filled with curious humans, strange aliens, and fantastic worlds.

You can get Hope’s Surprise and The Dreaming Oceans of San Miguel (man, do I love that title) on Amazon.

The Independencies

This series is brand new. Slalom, Inc was just published in March. It’s a longish novelette, or shortish novella, that is the perfect vehicle for telling an ongoing story in easily digestible nuggets.

Slalom, Inc reminded me a lot of Firefly. So if you’re a Browncoat fan, I think you’ll like this first tale of The Independencies in Vincett’s Hominin Universe. And you can get Slalom, Inc at Amazon!

What I like most about James Vincett’s books, and I’ve read them all, is that they are set in a universe that pulls me in. I want to know more about it. I’m intrigued by it. A major plus is that Vincett knows how to people his universe with believable humans, near humans, and aliens.

The science incorporates classic SF tropes that are informed with current day understanding. So you get the best of both worlds: classic and modern SF. All wrapped up in a masterfully told story.

I’d love to see Vincett’s books on the big or small screen. And I’m not much of a movie or TV person!

If you read science fiction, James Vincett is an indie author you just have to meet.

Get his books, read them, and review them. Support this super indie writer. You won’t be sorry.

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

Some Very Good Reads

Last week I talked about being a reader. I love reading and can’t talk enough about the joy of books. They truly are fab friends.

This week, I thought I’d talk a bit about some of the great books and stories I’ve been reading of late. I’m an advocate for the underdog. For those writers who are good and just can’t seem to get any traction for their books. I like to promote those writers whenever possible.

Two of my recent reads I mentioned last week: Mark Carnelley’s The Omega Chronicles and RH Hale’s Church Mouse: Memoir of a vampire’s servant. So let’s take a look at what else I’ve been reading over the past couple months.

Entangled by J. Evan Stuart

This one I’ve started re-reading: Entangled by J. Evan Stuart. The book is part police procedural mystery, part coming of age novel, and partly a YA/NA read. 

The novel is Stuart’s debut work and it is a real winner. Exceptionally well-written, with characters you’ll fall in love with (well, there are one or two you won’t; but then you aren’t supposed to), and mucho suspense. I’m very much surprised this one isn’t jumping off the charts. But it isn’t. It’s in Amazon’s sub-basement. Which is too bad.

And Stuart has seemingly disappeared as well, which is also too bad. I hope he returns to bring us more Detective Sonya Reisler adventures. And who knows? Maybe a few sales and reviews would do the trick. I hope so.

Don’t pass this one up. It’s a keeper and exclusive to Amazon, so KU folks read for free.

The Stone Seekers by Jack Tyler

I just finished Tyler’s foray into epic fantasy. And it is amazing. Tyler is normally a steampunk writer, which makes this work a surprise — and a very pleasant one.

There is no hint of Tolkien in The Stone Seekers. And I like that. This work is plowing fresh territory. The Tolkien pastiches put me off of epic fantasy. Tyler, if he writes more, could bring me back.

This one is only 99¢ at Amazon. Snarf it up today!

Off Grid by Simon Osborne

A fabulous post-apocalyptic novel that made me sit up and take notice was Off Grid by Simon Osborne. It’s a great survival story. And aside from the aliens, is very realistic. Harry Lennard survives the initial invasion and now he has to survive day to day. A well-written adventure. Part Earth Abides and part Day of the Triffids.

Given the rising prices of indie authored books, this one is a steal at $2.99 on Amazon. Get it today!

The Anuvi Incident by James Vincett

James Vincett is another writer who’s seemingly disappeared — and that’s too bad for us. Nevertheless, his The Anuvi Incident is excellent. If you like military sci-fi, you don’t want to miss this. And if you don’t, that’s okay because The Anuvi Incident is also about what it means to be human. A fast-paced sci-fi war story that is also a little philosophy. A dynamite combo.

Give The Anuvi Incident a try. Vincett has created a fabulous universe.

Tales of Horror: Macabre Monsters of Michigan by Bryan C Laesch

I like horror. Not the blood and guts, hack and slash, splatter punk kind, but the slow burn psychological kind.

Bryan C Laesch’s Tales of Horror: Macabre Monsters of Michigan is a collection of three stories that are a bit slow burn and a bit on the violent side. But there is no gratuitous violence for the sake of violence. Which for me is good storytelling.

Laesch has succeeded in giving us monster stories (and who doesn’t like monster stories?) that are a touch out of the ordinary, perhaps even a touch unique. There is no reason his book should be gracing Amazon’s sub-basement. It is too good for that.

So do yourself and the author a favor and pick up a copy.

The Argolicus Mystery Series by Zara Altair

Argolicus, that Roman public servant living in Ostrogoth Italy, was a delightful find. Sometime ago I asked in a Facebook group for books to read that were not in the top 300,000 on Amazon. Zara Altair stepped forward and volunteered her mysteries — and I’m glad she did.

If you like mysteries, good ol’ Whodunits and not these repetitively boring thrillers, and you like history — than Argolicus is for you.

The stories are set in Ostrogoth Italy 20 years after the fall of Rome, which is a period of time rather neglected by historians. Argolicus has retired and finds himself involved in solving murder after murder — in a time when murder wasn’t a crime!

These are well-written and interesting books. Take a look at Zara’s Amazon page. All are good. Pick one. Any one! You won’t be disappointed.

Next week I’m going to take a look at the man who saved Weird Tales magazine and what that means for us readers today.

Comments are always welcome! And until next time, happy reading!