It’s February! Which means today is the first day of Reading Independent Publishers Month, an event being co-hosted by Lizzy and myself. We hope you’ve all been raiding your TBR piles or madly spending all your hard-earned dosh on lots of lovely indie press books, ready to share them with everyone – it should be great fun!
In the run up to the month, the question has arisen as to what in reality counts as an Independent Publisher. That’s actually a difficult question to answer; some are obvious, when we’re talking about a smaller outfit printing and issuing their own works, like Renard Press. However, what about University presses? How can you tell whether a publisher is part of a bigger conglomerate. It *isn’t* straightforward, and so we thought we would offer a few hints or guidelines.
First off, here are some useful links:
Independent Publishers list: http://www.indiepublishers.co.uk/independent-publishers
The Independent Alliance: https://www.faber.co.uk/independent-alliance
Northern Fiction Alliance: http://northernfictionalliance.com
List of Scottish Independent Publishers: https://booksfromscotland.com/publishers
A small press directory: https://contemporarysmallpress.com/press
International Sites: https://www.alliance-editeurs.org/-reseaux-linguistiques,017-?lang=en
Publishers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland: https://www.indiebook.de
American Presses: https://medium.com/the-nonconformist/the-big-big-list-of-indie-publishers-and-small-presses-5e83e9522b5c
It’s worth noting that none of these are a complete listing, and some may contain publishers who aren’t indies! But they may well provide guidelines, particularly if you have a particular book in mind.
Another way to check is to have a look at a publisher’s website – many will proudly proclaim their independence, and their About page may give you more info on their status.
However, none of this is necessarily definitive, so we guess the best advice is to go with your gut. If a book is from a name which doesn’t seem to be connected with one of the main publishing giants, and you want to read it, go for it! The main point of this month is to read as many wonderful books as you can as well as supporting the smaller publishers who produce them. Lizzy has created a Mr Linky for you to let us know what you’ve been reading and you can find this here:
https://readindies2021.blogspot.com/2021/01/our-indie-bookshelf.html
Enjoy and share your reading for #ReadIndies during February – we can’t wait to see what you come up with! 😀
Julie's Book Cave
Feb 01, 2021 @ 09:08:30
I’d love to join in. I think it’s time to raid my bookshelf.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 01, 2021 @ 09:24:33
Excellent! Happy hunting! 😀
heavenali
Feb 01, 2021 @ 11:22:47
I am looking forward to joining as much as I can. I will be reviewing, a Persephone book, a handheld press book and a Dean Street Press book over the next couple of weeks that I read in January. Then, I still have lots of other Indie publishers to read the rest of the month. Great idea for a reading month.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 01, 2021 @ 11:33:30
Wonderful! Some great publishers you have – there are so many to choose from! 😀
Janakay | YouMightAsWellRead
Feb 01, 2021 @ 12:19:01
Thanks for the guidelines, as I’ve been puzzling over whether certain entities are in fact “independent” in the strict sense of the word. Even the “about” page on the websites don’t always make this clear, as I’ve gathered that many smaller publishers have joined printing/distribution consortia or some such. The big question for me is NYRB, so beloved of independent bookstores! (it has to qualify in spirit, if not literally!). Also what about the British Museum and all those lovely reprints? Questions, questions and such delightful dilemmas! The month has already been fun!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 01, 2021 @ 13:37:47
It’s complicated, definitely. I’ve seen NYRB listed as indi in some places and not others. Pretty sure the British Library is. Handheld Press were of the opinion you should think about the money aspect and where it comes from or goes to – is there a bigger parent company publisher? At the end of the day, though, go with what feels right and what you want to read!
Annie Cholewa
Feb 01, 2021 @ 14:54:37
Given where I’m seeing NYRB Classics listed as an independent – e.g. forbes.com, Independent Publisher Magazine (and that the actual Review declares itself to still be independent) – I’m going to happily assume that that’s what they are.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 01, 2021 @ 14:59:15
Excellent! That’s good news as they publish some great books!
Jim Henderson
Feb 01, 2021 @ 13:25:25
My search for interesting authors worth reading has led me into the independent press area from time to time.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 01, 2021 @ 13:36:11
There are certainly some marvellous authors and imprints out there – until we started planning this, I hadn’t realised just how many I have!
JacquiWine
Feb 01, 2021 @ 14:29:55
I’m hoping to have a least two reviews that will count towards this, all being well. As you say, we’re hardly going to be short on choice!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 01, 2021 @ 14:59:43
No, there are *so* many riches to choose from. I’m starting to think I could easily to 2 months!!
Jane
Feb 01, 2021 @ 14:57:48
many thanks for the links
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 01, 2021 @ 14:58:54
It’s a knotty subject but hopefully they’ll help a bit!
Julé Cunningham
Feb 01, 2021 @ 17:34:31
Here’s another list for you and @LizzySiddal that might be helpful for your American readers. It includes university presses too, but it has some independents that the Medium big list doesn’t. https://www.newpages.com/books/publishers
Looking forward to adding a couple of posts along the way!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 01, 2021 @ 18:50:43
Brilliant, thank you – any help gladly appreciate and look forward to seeing what you read! 😀
Cathy746books
Feb 01, 2021 @ 19:09:26
Looking forward to this!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 01, 2021 @ 20:39:45
It should be fun – some amazing publishers to choose from!
1streading
Feb 01, 2021 @ 20:02:45
Looking forward to joining in, though technical problems may delay this slightly!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 01, 2021 @ 20:39:32
Oh dear! But hope you join in eventually!
Elle
Feb 01, 2021 @ 20:40:42
Yessss! I am committing to this. I want to read more translations and most of them come out from small indie presses anyway, so should be doable!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 01, 2021 @ 20:42:27
Hurrah! 😀 There will certainly be several translations featuring here and I’ll look forward to seeing what you read! 😀
chrisharding53
Feb 01, 2021 @ 21:40:31
Read the comments, and still a little confused as to what exactly constitues an independnet publisher, but I shall join in and people can shout at me if I get it wrong!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 02, 2021 @ 11:20:21
It *is* quite complex because there are really tiny independent presses and then bigger publishers who are really quite commercial but not attached to one of the big conglomerates. No worries and no-one will tell you off – as long as we enjoy the books, that’s what matters!
cirtnecce
Feb 02, 2021 @ 04:35:14
This so awesome! I will of course join, though I may go with an Indian Indie publisher…hope that is ok?
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 02, 2021 @ 11:14:59
Absolutely fine! Indies from anywhere are very welcome!!
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Feb 02, 2021 @ 07:06:48
Vishy
Feb 02, 2021 @ 08:24:56
Thanks so much for hosting this with Lizzy, Kaggsy! I missed out last year, but this year I’m hoping to participate. So excited! Trying to put a bookstack in place now 😁
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 02, 2021 @ 11:14:39
Excellent! Making piles of books is always such fun! 😀
Vishy
Feb 02, 2021 @ 13:56:18
Yes 😁
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 02, 2021 @ 14:12:20
;D
Simon T
Feb 02, 2021 @ 15:43:31
Gosh, I had no idea there were so many indies! I’ve read one already – a graphic novel. Plenty of other options about!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 02, 2021 @ 15:54:48
There are absolutely tons! So much scope for exploring and reading!
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Feb 02, 2021 @ 16:41:37
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Feb 02, 2021 @ 17:01:58
Reese
Feb 03, 2021 @ 03:02:34
I currently have a stack of books at home from Canadian Indie presses. They’re all from the library, so I haven’t spent my hard-earned dosh on them (or at least not directly) but nevertheless this is very timely. I hope to get a couple in over the next few weeks.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 03, 2021 @ 08:34:12
Wonderful! There are indie presses all over the world so it will be great to see people reading their books!
#ReadIndies: What is indie on my shelf? – findingtimetowrite
Feb 03, 2021 @ 16:59:03
Dark Puss
Feb 03, 2021 @ 21:32:34
One of my very rare ventures into writing fiction was published by a press (publisher actually, no press involved I am sure) that describes itself as an “illegal press” 🙂
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 04, 2021 @ 11:32:22
LOL, very indie then! 😀
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Feb 03, 2021 @ 22:24:45
Kirsty
Feb 04, 2021 @ 10:12:51
This is a wonderful idea, and I can’t wait for the wealth of excellent recommendations sure to emerge! I’d love to have taken part, but don’t have any TBR books which fit the bill, unfortunately.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 04, 2021 @ 11:31:41
Not to worry! Hopefully you can get some good ideas for when you can go book shopping again!!
Kirsty
Feb 11, 2021 @ 10:25:47
I almost certainly will!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 11, 2021 @ 11:39:08
😀
Caroline
Feb 05, 2021 @ 07:23:38
I have a nice list on my sidebar. Not that I’ve read from all of them but from many. It’s a great idea to host a month. I will join if I can but currently seem to read more books in German and French.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 05, 2021 @ 08:28:48
Well, it doesn’t matter if your books are in German or French (or any other language!) as long as they’re from indie publishers! 😀
Caroline
Feb 05, 2021 @ 17:25:49
Very good. One of them is.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 05, 2021 @ 21:06:11
Yay! 😀
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Feb 05, 2021 @ 20:37:55
Liz Dexter
Feb 06, 2021 @ 15:57:55
Useful links thank you! I’ve done a Persephone so far and need to check the publishers of the NetGalley books I’m reading this month – a small horse and pony book reprint publisher and an indie author coming up as well.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 06, 2021 @ 16:17:53
Excellent – there are so many great publishers to choose from. Look forward to seeing what else you read!
Miss Pettigrew lives for a day – I read that in a book
Feb 06, 2021 @ 16:56:07
Emma
Feb 06, 2021 @ 19:25:53
I have a book from Pereine Press on the shelf! I’m in! 🙂
(I also have books by French indie publisers, of course)
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 06, 2021 @ 20:15:56
Hurrah! Yes, French indies are welcome too! Indies from everywhere!
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Feb 10, 2021 @ 17:49:48
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Feb 13, 2021 @ 07:31:04
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Feb 13, 2021 @ 09:31:16
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Feb 14, 2021 @ 22:33:37
buriedinprint
Feb 19, 2021 @ 18:31:00
It’s wonderful to see that you’ve had so many readers alongside throughout this month to date. I’ve got a post planned for the end of the month!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Feb 19, 2021 @ 18:50:35
Wonderful! So glad you can join in! It certainly seems to have been a popular initiative – I think people do love indie presses!
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