Curiosity has introduced me to some of my favorite books. Maybe it’ll introduce you to yours too.
Some of my favorite books weren’t books I went looking for. They were the ones I stumbled across while wandering through a bookstore. A title caught my eye, or a cover made me stop. I picked it up, read the back, and before I knew it, I’d discovered an author I’d never heard of.
I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. Because that’s exactly the kind of experience I hoped to build when I started the Motivated Savages Indie Author Bookstore.
Why I Started an Indie Author Bookstore
As an indie author, I know how difficult it can be to get a book in front of new readers. Every day, independent authors publish incredible mysteries, fantasy adventures, thrillers, romances, memoirs, and nonfiction books. The challenge isn’t a lack of great stories.
The challenge is helping readers discover them.
Less than a year ago, I decided to build the kind of indie bookstore I wished had existed when I published my own book. A place where readers could browse by genre, discover new authors, and explore books outside the bestseller lists.
Every book in the bookstore is personally reviewed before it’s added. My goal has never been to build the biggest directory of indie books. I wanted to create a curated collection where readers could confidently discover their next favorite author.
A Milestone Worth Celebrating
This weekend, something happened that made me smile. For the first time in months, the submission queue finally reached zero. I actually sat there for a second just looking at it. Then I laughed because in less than an hour, another submission came in.
Somehow, that felt like the perfect ending.
I remembered that the goal was never to have an empty queue, the goal was to build something alive. A place where new stories are always arriving, readers are always discovering them, and authors know someone is excited to open their submission.
The bookstore today
- 431 indie authors sharing their stories
- 720 books waiting to be discovered
- 13,200 visits between April and July
I love the numbers, but what excites me even more is what they represent.
Every one of those books started as an idea, every one of those authors decided to keep writing when it would have been easier to stop, and every visit is someone choosing to spend a few minutes exploring a shelf they may have never visited before.
That’s pretty incredible when you think about it.
Behind every one of those books is someone who decided their story was worth sharing. Someone who believed their words might matter to another person.
That’s what I hope readers see when they visit the bookstore. Not just books. People.
The Joy of Wandering
We spend so much time searching for exactly what we want that we sometimes forget how wonderful it is to simply wander.
That’s always been my favorite part of bookstores. Not walking in with a shopping list, walking out with something I never expected to find.
I hope this bookstore feels the same way, that you click on a genre you’ve never explored and that you discover an author you’ve never heard of. And I hope, somewhere along the way, you find a story that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
Five Indie Books I Couldn’t Walk Past
With more than 720 books on the shelves, choosing five is impossible. So I didn’t choose my favorites. I chose five covers that made me stop.
The kind that screams, “Come see what’s inside.”
The Lattice Scheme
Bold, cinematic, and filled with mystery. This cover immediately made me stop and wonder what was waiting beyond.
Virtuous Women
Peaceful, timeless, and quietly beautiful. The soft colors and welcoming landscape create the feeling of hope before you’ve even turned the first page.
The Demon Hunter’s Apprentice
Powerful and action-filled from the very first glance. The dramatic artwork makes it feel like you’re standing at the edge of an unforgettable adventure.
Completely Shattered
Haunting in the best possible way. The fractured design and striking contrast create an image that’s impossible to scroll past without taking a second look.
A World Beside Her Own
Bright, inviting, and full of wonder. It has the kind of cover that whispers, “Come see what’s on the other side.”
Your Next Favorite Book Might Not Be Famous Yet
The next time you’re looking for something to read, try something different. Browse a genre you’ve never explored, click on a book by an author you’ve never heard of, and read a description outside your usual comfort zone.
The best discoveries rarely happen because we searched perfectly. They happen because we stayed curious.
One Last Thought
Every book begins the same way. One person sits down and decides their story is worth telling. Everything that happens after that is discovery.
A reader finds a title, a cover catches their eye, a page gets turned, a recommendation gets shared, and a new favorite author is found.
That’s the part I love most. Not the numbers or the shelves, the connection that happens when the right story finds the right reader.
If you’re looking for your next great read, I’d love to invite you to wander the bookstore.
No destination required. Just a little curiosity.
Browse the Motivated Savages Indie Author Bookstore
Explore Indie Books by genre:
Mystery | Thriller & Suspense | Literary Fiction | Fantasy | Dark Fantasy | Romance | Dark Romance | Science Fiction | Horror | Young Adult | Children’s | Spirituality | Poetry | Women’s Fiction | Narrative Nonfiction | Memoir | Safety | Cookbooks | Audiobooks
Are you an indie author with a new release?
Submit Your Indie Book
Are You an Indie Author?
This indie bookstore features books by independent authors across a wide range of genres. If you’d like your book considered for inclusion in the Indie Author Bookstore, you’re welcome to submit it.
Share this:
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
