"What the hell am I reading? I kind of love it..."

The world of indie books can be a dangerous place. Much has been said lately about the quagmire that is Amazon's Kindle store, which is riddled with unedited, poorly written nonsense, many of which have shoddy covers. A lot of this nonsense ends up in my review query inbox, and it's a nightmare wading through them to pick out something I'd actually want to spend hours of my time reading and reviewing. Unfortunately, these hastily slapped together vanity projects have given self-publishing a bad name, creating the impression that going indie is the easy or lazy way out.

I must protest! A lot of self-published writers are the hardest working people in the world. They don't just throw things up on Amazon; they independently publish themselves. They find editors, proofreaders, and cover artists to create a well put-together product, then go forth and market their creations. And the results can be awesome. A lot of these writers have unconventional or hard-to-define books, which is probably why mainstream publishers turned them away. I've come across some books where I've been reading and thinking, "What the hell is this? I've never seen anything like it! But... I kind of love it!"

So here's to those brave souls who aren't afraid to be different. Who believe in their brainchildren enough to fix them up and put them out there even if no one else will. Who would love to turn a profit, I'm sure, but who ultimately serve a far more compelling purpose.

Here are some of the "What the hell am I reading? I kind of love it..." books (that is, unconventional but kind of awesome) I've reviewed on this blog:

The Book of the Forsaken by Yannis Karatsioris Three outcasts with supernatural powers pursue an ancient tome across Europe, brought together and manipulated by a mysterious godlike figure  
Click here to read an interview with the author.  

Cyberfreak Debt by Stuart Wilson A teenage boy faces dangers real and imagined when he receives performance-enhancing nanobots and joins the Directorate of Metanormal Defense.   
Click here to read an interview with the author.

Dead Size by Sawney Hatton A mild-mannered loner finds a race of miniature people living in his walls.

The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club by Duncan Whitehead
The residents of a picturesque American suburb harbor secret pasts and passions. 
Click here to read an interview with the author.         

Red Sand by Ronan Cray
Survivors of a shipwreck are trapped on a mysterious and dangerous island, facing both man's and nature's brutality. 
Click here to read an interview with the author  

Royal Flush by Scott Bartlett In a outrageous, over-the-top realm, an incompetent king searches for love and tries to hold on to his throne. 
Click here to read an interview with the author

Smudgy in Monsterland by Paul Rasche A twelve-year-old boy, alone in a twisted and unfriendly world, finds an ally in a supernatural rabbit who promises him immortality. Click here to read an interview with the author.