Monday, December 28, 2015

Best Books of 2015 by Jacqueline Seewald


As 2015 quickly draws to a close, let’s take a bit of time to recall some of the best books of 2015. However, I’m requesting that readers and writers comment on the best Indy books published this past year, books that were likely overlooked because they weren’t out with the Big Five publishers but rather small publishers or even self-published. Let us share together and give these books some recognition before the year ends.

Here are a few of the Indy authors I read this year, whose writing I liked and reviewed: Nancy Cohen, Susan Coryell, Allan Emerson, Patricia Gligor, Karen King and Nancy Means Wright. Each of these authors is with a small publisher. On the self-publishing side, I recently read and reviewed Larry Spinrad’s first novel, a political thriller.

Two of my own novels were published this year as well:
DARK MOON RISING from Luminosity, a gothic romantic mystery thriller for adult readers in all ebook formats and print.


STACY’S SONG from Clean Reads Press, a YA romance/coming-of-age novel follows THE DEVIL AND DANNA WEBSTER, also a YA novel published by Clean Reads.



So what books do you like? It doesn’t matter whether or not they received just a few reviews, little recognition, promotion or publicity. A lot of talented writers remain virtually unknown. Help fellow readers discover them. Authors are welcome to mention their own books.


Posted by

31 comments:

  1. Patricia Gligor's Writers ForumDecember 28, 2015 at 5:45 AM

    Jacquie,
    Thanks so much for including my name on your list! You make an excellent point. We small press authors need all the help we can get in promoting our books. We don't have the resources authors with the Big Five have.
    BTW, I loved "Dark Moon Rising" and I wish you much success!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 28, 2015 at 6:32 AM

      Pat,

      Thanks for commenting. I've read each of the four novels in your mystery series and enjoyed them very much. Keep writing!

      Delete
  2. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 28, 2015 at 6:30 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Molly MacRaeDecember 28, 2015 at 2:50 PM

    This is a great idea, Jacqueline. Here are four small press books I really enjoyed this year:
    Murder on the Bucket List by Elizabeth Perona (Midnight Ink)
    Death on the Prairie by Kathleen Ernst (Midnight Ink)
    The Devil's Music by Pearl R. Meaker (Promontory Press)
    Murder Miscalculated by Andrew MacRae (Mainly Murder Press) This last one is by my brother. He writes a good book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 29, 2015 at 3:36 AM

      Molly,

      Thanks for stopping by and telling us about these fine new mystery novels. Folks, in case you don't know already, Molly's mystery novels draw excellent reviews!

      Delete
  4. UnknownDecember 28, 2015 at 3:16 PM

    Thanks, Jacqueline! My steampunk book, A Flaw in the Mechanism, the sequel to Clockwork Heart, received 5 star reviews. It will be followed in 2016 with A Bequest of Time. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 29, 2015 at 3:34 AM

    Jeff,

    Thanks for telling us about your novels. Best wishes for your success in the coming year.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pamela S ThibodeauxDecember 29, 2015 at 3:46 AM

    Great to list books not published by the "big 5" Thanks!
    PamT

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 29, 2015 at 5:07 AM

    Thanks, Pam. Hope you'll list your favorites of this year.

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownDecember 29, 2015 at 7:16 AM

    Gods of Anthem by Logan Keys and the Soultakers by Christina L. Rozelle were a couple that stand out in my mind. If you enjoy dystopian adventure, check them out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 29, 2015 at 9:18 AM

      Aria,

      Dystopian are very popular. Thanks for the heads-up!

      Delete
  9. Elizabeth DelisiDecember 29, 2015 at 7:26 AM

    Thanks, Jacqueline! Here are two self-published books I enjoyed:

    "Haunted Hearts" by Kim Cox, Book One in the Lana Malloy Paranormal Mystery series.

    "My Fierce Highlander" by Vonda Sinclair, Book One in the Highland Adventure series

    And you may be interested in my book, "Mistletoe Medium," Book Three in the Lottie Baldwin Mystery series...but this one is a prequel that shows how Lottie and Harlan met.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 29, 2015 at 9:19 AM

      Elizabeth,

      Thanks for mentioning these interesting sounding novels.

      Delete
  10. chrisDecember 29, 2015 at 7:53 AM

    Great idea, Jacqueline. Man, do the small press and Indie authors need help with promotion! It seems we're left in the shadows and can't move into the lime light. My title is called The Girl They Sold to the Moon. In the future, a father pawns his daughter to Family Trade and Loan, and she ends up on the Moon as slave-exotic Dancer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 29, 2015 at 9:20 AM

      Chris,

      I love the title, and the plot sounds quite original.

      Delete
  11. UnknownDecember 29, 2015 at 8:05 AM

    I think it was actually published last year, but I read and reviwed Bring Me Hell, I'll Bring You Flesh this year. http://warlockwriter.com/review-bring-me-flesh-ill-bring-hell-by-martin-rose/ It's an interesting take on zombies, and the sequel, My Loaded Gun, My Lonely Heart was published this year. http://www.amazon.com/My-Loaded-Gun-Lonely-Heart-ebook/dp/B0175P7P6Y

    I published a book this year as well, Buried But Not Gone, about a spirit who comes back to haunt his ex-wife, my take on the revenant (no relation to the movie by the same name). http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016OVSJKG

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 29, 2015 at 9:21 AM

      Thanks, Juli. These are all interesting books that I don't know. I'm certain other readers will be interested as well.

      Delete
  12. CA VerstraeteDecember 29, 2015 at 8:56 AM

    I've been reading such an assortment of books, some I still am finishing. A fun one is Zia, the Teenage Zombie by Angela Scott I did my own take on that in GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 29, 2015 at 9:22 AM

      Zombie books are very popular. A lot of teens love them as well as adults.

      Delete
  13. Susan WhitfieldDecember 30, 2015 at 6:49 AM

    Thanks for calling attention to some of us who are still "unknown". I've enjoyed Carolyn J. Rose and her No Substitute series. Her humor always gives me a few giggles. My own first historical, Sprig of Broom, released in October and has all 5 star reviews. I also enjoy your books,k Jacquie and have to mention Cindy Davis as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 30, 2015 at 11:03 AM

      Thanks, Susan. Your historical, Sprig of Broom, is an excellent choice for readers.

      Delete
    2. Susan WhitfieldDecember 31, 2015 at 5:50 AM

      Thank you so much. It's my first historical fiction and was quite a challenge but I enjoyed the process.

      Delete
  14. Kathy McIntoshDecember 30, 2015 at 9:33 AM

    I enjoy your books, as well, Jacquie. I liked Patricia Sands' first two in her Love in Provence series. Conda Douglas compiled many of her excellent short stories this year in Mild West Mysteries, a fun read. I'm about to read L.C. Hayden's Secrets of the Tunnels, that looks to be good. I published the second book in my Havoc in Hancock humorous suspense series, Foul Wind, this year.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 30, 2015 at 11:04 AM

    Hi, Kathy,

    Thanks for mentioning all of these fine books.

    ReplyDelete
  16. dkchristiDecember 30, 2015 at 11:35 AM

    Ghost Orchid is only $2.99 in ebook with the new publisher, Vinspire. While I am the author, I still enjoy reading it as though it's written by someone else - I love the mystery of the Everglades and the question of "eternal love" explored through a set of coincidences that unfold a mystery. It makes a lovely hostess gift tucked into an orchid plant. Thanks for this plugging opportunity and Happy New Year to All!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 30, 2015 at 3:47 PM

      I enjoyed reading Ghost Orchid! A good romantic mystery novel.

      Delete
  17. Helen HendersonDecember 30, 2015 at 11:39 AM

    In preparation for the 2016 releases of Hatchling's Mate and First Change: Tales from the Eyrie, I reread the earlier books in the Dragshi Chronicles which are an indie release. For fun I read the first two books of Judy Griffith Gill's Chronicles of Storn series.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Jacqueline SeewaldDecember 30, 2015 at 3:45 PM

    Good choices for fantasy lovers!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Cynthia SampleDecember 31, 2015 at 1:32 PM

    Hi Jacquie. I'm always late to post but I decided it's never to late to post your favorite books. I prefer humorous cozies and discovered these new authors: Sara Rosett (Murder on Location series) Molly Green's "Last Fairytale," Lisa Q. Mathews "Cardiac Arrest" and Heather Haven's "Chocolate Kiss-Off." And if someone is looking for a lip-smacking new mystery, they might want to try my latest "Dying for a Donut." Happy New Year to you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Jacqueline SeewaldJanuary 1, 2016 at 7:35 AM

    Cynthia,

    I really enjoy your humorous mystery novels, and I am "Dying for a Donut."

    ReplyDelete
  21. SusanJanuary 21, 2016 at 8:30 AM

    Great post, Jacqueline! Information everyone needs to know if they're even thinking of finding an agent. Janis Susan

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)