As with the KDP Select exclusive-or-else slushpile's ever-increasing size and noise-to-signal ration with its ever-diminishing returns, there's nothing really worthwhile which hasn't already been seen before.
So instead I'm going to feature a far more worthwhile backlist Smashwords title which may actually include Names You Recognize, at least if you read sf/fantasy.
The Heart of Dog by former Baen author Doranna Durgin is a collection of not only her own backlist dog-themed sf/fantasy shorts, but also additional stories from other fairly well-known folks, such as former Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction editor Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and DAW-published Canadian author Tanya Huff whose popular Blood Ties series was made into the short-lived TV show of the same name.
Every single story in this has been previously published in a prior print anthology or magazine (you can see the credentials in the credits), and every author in it has their own fairly substantial ISFDB and sometimes even Wikipedia entry.
This was also originally intended as a charity anthology to fundraise for Durgin's beagle Connery, who had some medical/health issues around the time it was assembled, and the other authors donated their stories to help out.
It's the book of hers which I bought during the Read an Ebook Week sale for around $2.50 CAD or so after currency conversion, because while Durgin had been fairly generous with the ex-Baen freebies and I wanted to buy something from her, unfortunately I just couldn't get into her writing at all, which is disappointing, since I usually like Baen's non-MilSF fantasy-in-the-real-world selections, so this ended up seeming like the best bet since it contains a number of authors I know I like.
Anyway, hopefully you'll find something to enjoy in this collection, which the author/editor is generously making free to all around the world in the DRM-free format of their choice for a limited time @
Smashwords (may also be price-matched in distributing outlets).
Durgin has two new backlist re-releases out recently:
Wolf Justice and
Touched by Magic. Maybe I'll give them another try if there's a future RAEBW/sale offer. She also has some paranormal romances out from Harlequin.
Description
The Heart of Dog includes Doranna's various backlist dog stories, and that's all it was initially meant to include--until her dog-loving writer friends heard about her need to fund expensive veterinary treatment for her beloved young companion and dog sports partner, ConneryBeagle. In short order, the book filled out with nine more stories, all from wonderful authors.
[Author list consists of: fellow MR member Jeffrey Carver (who has some new shorts
free via Smashwords), Julie Czerneda, Tanya Huff, John Mierau, Fiona Patton, Jennifer Roberson, Kristine Kathryn Rusch (who offers a rotating
free short story every week on her website), & John Zakour (who writes very funny sf detective comedies for DAW.)]
The stories encompass a range of genres and moods--plenty of humor, plenty of sweetness and satisfaction, and above all, a profound understanding of the Heart of Dog.
The actual KDP exclusive-or-else slushpile stuff, which is not free to all in preferred DRM-free format and for an even more limited time:
Harlequin Silhouette-published Sally Berneathy offers a humourous contemporary romantic suspense:
Undercover Secrets
Kensington-published Charlie Carillo offers a literary fiction grown-up coming-of-age journey of self-discovery thing:
God Plays Favorites
Minor ISFDBed Chris Howard returns with an historically-set Saxon heroic fantasy which the blurb likens to Robert E. Howard's Cormac Mac Art stories:
The Wine of Ravens
Valerie Douglas who writes as V.J. Devereaux for Ellora's Cave returns with a mystery/suspense novel (may be romantic):
The Last Resort
Zebra-published Doreen Owens Malek ruterns with a contemporary YA romance which she says was originally published in 1983 under the title That Certain Boy:
Gabrielle's Bully She also offers a repeat.
Ballantine-published M. Ruth Myers returns with a race-against-time stage magician vs terrorist thriller:
A Touch of Magic
Another western romance in the multi-author shared universe Bandit Creek series, with this installment by Berkley-published Michelle Beattie:
Heart of Mine (Bandit Creek)
Imajin Books return to offer James Hoch's post-apocalyptic hero vs evil thing:
James Hoch
Decadent Publishing LLC return to offer a contemporary probably-erotic romance short by Wendy Burke, which is set in Canada:
The One He Chose (1 Night Stand Series)
Former Read an Ebook Week participant Xcite Books offers a selection of erotic romance and outright erotica which includes f/m, m/m, f/f, and f/m/m:
Linkage for the lot
Backlist repeats by previously title-featured A.A. Attanasio, fellow MR member author Paul Levine, Nicola Thorne, Ken McClure, E.C. Sheedy writing as Carole Dean, Robert W. Walker, Jeremy Shipp, Frank Tuttle, M.J. Rose, Iain Rowan.
Established author repeats by Mary Anna Evans (her Faye Longchamp archaeological mystery series out from Poisoned Pen Press can be picked up for
mostly $3 or less per book DRM-free at Books on Board, with the 1st in series, which I read and liked, at just 77 cents), Anthony Bruno, Gerrie Ferris Finger, Carol Buchanan, James Scott Bell, Glen Krisch, Mona Ingram, Mike Dennis, fellow MR member author Scott Nicholson, Janet Miller, Mark Edward Hall. New and repeat small press stuff from Books We Love/BWLPP as usual (including some backlist authors), Imajin Books, Dybbuk Press (including ISFDBed authors & Hugo-nominated Catherynne M. Valente).
Happy reading, if you manage to spot something you think you might like.
ETA: Robert Elmer returns with a 2000 Bethany House YA WWII historical Christian fiction novel:
Promise Breaker (Promise of Zion)