Call to Action - Send me your indie book to review!

Updated 1/12/2026

Sometimes I review books that help writers with their craft or self-publishers with their business, but I’ve been judging books for Independent Publishers of New England the last few years and I’d like to review indie books readers might never find.

I have received a pile of requests, including some from people with traditional but small publishers. I'm going to review indies and those working with hybrid presses first, but then I'll read the books from traditional small publishers. For now, I'm just dodging the books that have the power of the Big Five behind them.

I'm also asking for information on how you published so I'll be able to share those experiences and, if appropriate, compare the quality of the books coming from various models/companies.

What will not change: I will not do a review if a book does not grab me enough to read the whole thing - but I'll let you know why.

The rules:

• For self-publishers and those working with hybrid presses:

  • Describe your experience with the process of publishing.

  • What did you do yourself?

  • If you're working with a company, what services did they provide and how much did you have to pay?

  • Include links to any editors or other professionals you've hired in this process and your assessment of the value received.

• For those who have been published by a small press:

  • Describe the process - from getting signed through publication & marketing.

  • Did you have to have an agent?

  • Did you get an advance?

  • Who's setting up and paying for marketing? What's being done?

• You guarantee the book is your original work, not copied from anyone else and not created by AI. (Grammar checks, brainstorming, and such are okay with AI, but the writing needs to be your human creation.)

The procedure:

• Go to the contact form below to initiate contact. Tell me about your book, why I'd want to read it, and where it is available for sale. Include your contact information.

• I'll look at it online, and use the read sample or look inside option, then let you know if I want a full copy of the book to read. (Digital is fine, print is nicer. I seem to live on my computer.)

• If it doesn’t grab me, I may not read the whole thing. In that case, I won’t write a review, but I’ll let you know why.

• I’ll post reviews in my newsletter, on Amazon, and Goodreads. You’re welcome to use the review or selected quotes for marketing.

Copyright Sheri McGuinn