Do you you read indie e-books? What will convince you to check out indie books?

[Giggleton]

Originally Posted by bashfulbanshee

Haha as a reader, I wouldn't be interested in a website like that yet, unless someone well known/credible is involved in it. If it's just another indie writer aggregate, I'll just go read my trad published books. It needs to be built on established trust networks!

That is exactly the kind of site I am interested in. It will be built from nothing.

[Hellmark]

Personally, I don't care if it is indie or big time, as long as it is a good book, I'll read it. If I see some sort of review, or if it is recommended, I'll try it. If it is cheap or free and sounds interesting, I'll try it.

[astra]

Originally Posted by bashfulbanshee

What will convince you to check out indie books?

I have to run out of books on my TBR list.

[RJMcDonnell]

There is a wide range of quality in the indie market. I've discovered some exceptional indie writers by scanning the book awards sites. As a mystery fan (and author) I use this link to see the various awards in my area of interest: http://awards.omnimystery.com/mystery-awards.html. The top quarter of the list is comprised of famous authors competing for well known awards. Midlist authors compete for awards in the middle half of the list. And, the indie awards are found on the bottom quarter of the page. I copy and paste book titles from the awards lists into the Kindle search screen and sample the ones that interest me.

[Andrew H.]

Your poll left out the most important option: Yes, and am not open to purchasing in the future.

[seagull]

I purchase books that I think I'll like, I haven't purchased any "indie" books yet for the reason that I haven't found one yet that I think I'll like and wouldn't rather put my money towards a non-indie book.

[Anke Wehner]

Any indie book I bought so far I got because the author made some completed work available for free, and I read and liked that. This includes buying a self-published novel after liking a free short story by that author.

And I found those authors in communities... in the forum here, or commenting on the same blogs I read.

[sabredog]

The recommendations and author areas on Mobileread introduced me to some great indie authors.

It has not been all beer and skittles though as there has been some absolute, well...bad experiences as well.

[Just4kix]

This is a new website you might like to try. Would be interested in your opinion as they are still open to suggestions about improvements.

http://www.indiebooklounge.com/

[Mel Comley]

I'm reading all Indie writers at the moment and have decided to have a guest author every Sunday. Yesterday I highlighted Linda Prather and had an amazing 250 hits on my blog too.

[Just4kix]

Originally Posted by Andrew H.

Your poll left out the most important option: Yes, and am not open to purchasing in the future.

Beatrix Potter had to self-publish Peter Rabbit.
Publishers can be wrong.

[Mel Comley]

And John Grisham sold his first book from the boot of his car!

[Pomtroll]

Thanks RJMcDonnell & Just4kix for the the links.

I do read indie authors. And yes some need work to be readable, but some have actually turned out to be very good reads. So I'll keep trying them even if they aren't free.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Just4kix

Beatrix Potter had to self-publish Peter Rabbit.
Publishers can be wrong.

Yes, but this just shows that if something is good enough, eventually a "real" publisher will pick it up for publication. I'm fine with waiting for that to happen instead of trying to sift through everything myself in hopes of finding a few worthwhile books.

[DreamWriter]

Thanks for the Indie Book Lounge link, Just4kix! That looks like an interesting website!

Originally Posted by Just4kix

Beatrix Potter had to self-publish Peter Rabbit.
Publishers can be wrong.

I have read many indie books, especially since purchasing my Kindle last year. Access to unknown authors' books is so much easier now! If the description is well written and the story is of interest to me, I'm willing to take a chance for a few dollars. I've discovered many wonderful books, written by very talented indie authors.

Since it is so easy to self-publish these days, many authors forego traditional publishers altogether. They don't even bother to submit their work to them. Unless you're a big-name writer, the larger publishers don't do much to promote your book anyway.