Shouting Out Indie Authors: A Purposeful Prose Fall Reading List

Purposeful Prose would like to extend congratulations to all authors who were present at Eat Local Read Local, the ninth annual book sale and festival! You all understandably presented your work with so much joy and excitement, and it was addictive! 

For those who are currently continuing a series, for those whose works have been sent to their wonderful editors, and for those whose next work in progress is still in their minds, may your pens be filled with ink and may your inspiration present itself as it is meant to! 

As we did with our summer reading list, we will be compiling the authors we had the pleasure of speaking to into a fall reading list. If you are not on the list and you attended the festival, please contact us with your name and the name of your book. The list will be amended accordingly.

Please note the following: This list is in no particular order, and all links to purchase will be through Bookshop, the author’s website/social media. If the author only sells through Amazon right now, we will be providing this link as well. 

While Purposeful Prose does not advocate for Amazon as a business or their practices, not all authors (particularly indie authors) are able to sell their work without using their services at this time. Again, we will always default to Bookshop or the author’s personal website or social media when possible.

All Bookshop links will be through Purposeful Prose’s affiliate link. If you buy from Bookshop, you will be helping out these authors, local independent bookstores, and us!

Meredith “Merry” Bond

If you love regency romance and mysteries, Merry Bond will have something for you! As a successful writer, she has published over thirty books, both fiction and nonfiction. She also works with writers through her book coaching and formatting company, Anessa Books. Two of her six series of books include The Zodiac Series, which is currently ongoing, and The Ladies Wagering Whist Society. 

From her website, “The ladies of the Wagering Whist Society play for secrets. The person with the fewest number of points at the end of a game must divulge her deepest, darkest secret.” 

To learn more about Meredith Bond and her work, visit her website linked here.

You can buy her books directly from her shop: https://payhip.com/anessabooks.

Her work is also available on Bookshop:

Jackie Branch

If you have been enjoying the works of Colson Whitehead and Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche or if you are interested in historical young adult or new adult fiction, Rose Colored Glasses, the first in The Color of Music series is for you. 

From her website, this series “was written as a tribute to her mother and is a fictionalized account of her mother’s life in Atlantic City in the early 1950’s.” When Carrie Proctor steps out on her own in Atlantic City and takes on the position of a hotel maid, she has goals to start a comfortable future for herself, but the world has placed heavy burdens on her shoulders. Despite everything, Carrie has a rare, beautiful gift. 

You can learn more about Jackie Branch through her website linked here.  

You can buy her book from Amazon today: https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Colored-Glasses-Color-Music/dp/B0F79VPSCV

J. Denison Reed

If you enjoy crime thrillers, you will love the works of J. Denison Reed. His continuing series, Clifford’s War, stars private investigator and military veteran, Clifford Dee. Whether it’s dealing with the mafia, assassins, or secret government ties, Clifford Dee can uncover any secret imaginable. If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller full of twists and turns, this series is for you! 

From his website, “After accepting jobs from an unrelenting local Mafia boss, Clifford is promoted from PI to hitman...without the option to refuse. His envious arch-rival will do anything to take Clifford down a peg and earn back the favor of the mob...even if it means paying the ultimate price.”

If you want to learn more about J. Denison Reed and read his books, check out: 

https://www.jdenisonreed.com/

You can also support him by buying his books (or a hand poured candle) from: https://www.jdenisonreed.com/shop

S.C. Megale

For all things YA, and for adorable children’s books that do amazing work, include S..C. Megale, author and humanitarian, in your reading list. In 2016, she wrote her first novel, This is Not a Love Scene, and she has gone on to publish so many more meaningful works. At the book festival, we spoke about The Brotherhood Trilogy, beginning with The Brotherhood of Rain and Cinder. In a world that forbids fire, the people of the Ford create and extinguish light using blue spheres. It’s a peaceful and safe existence…until fire returns. 

Because we love inclusive works, from her website: “Consciously and unconsciously, nearly every character she creates has an element of disability - physical, emotional, and mental. This is Not a Love Scene just hits the one she's been running from.”

To learn more about S.C. Megale and to read her story, visit: https://www.scmegale.com/biography.html

Her books are also available on Bookshop:

Onjeinika Richardson

If you are looking for healing and empowerment, read Onjeinika Richardson. Her book, Unmothered: A Daughter’s Guide to Healing, Acceptance, and Renewal takes a journey through grief of relationships, support systems, setting healthy boundaries with yourself and others, and feeling what needs to be felt. Onjeinika is an author and a coach. Having taken her own healing journey, she commits herself to continuous learning.

From her website: “I’m passionate about helping you reach the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for. You are not alone. I’m your sister in the fight to heal from toxic parenting and I’m with you on the journey.”

To learn more about Onjeinika, work with her, and to purchase her book, visit: https://www.onjeinikarichardson.com/

Rachel Day

If you love romance, myth, and women finding their inner power, read some Rachel Day. Currently, Rachel does not have a lot of public information concerning her and her work, but I had a wonderful conversation with her during the festival! I was immediately drawn in by her distinctive artwork. She has clearly put so much passion into her work, and she deserves recognition! 

Find her currently available material on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0B97WFK17/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=6bbcdd89-b1c1-426c-91b3-aa80d3725637&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=9212235c-e7cd-4e48-8c28-e5f7f34b2524

Taryn Noelle Kloeden

If you love transformation-based fantasy, animals, and well-constructed magic systems, add Taryn Noell Kloeden to your reading list. Her YA dark fantasy series, The Fenearen Chronicles, centers the land of Fenear, where people can shift into wolves. The first in the series is Hex Breaker. Rayna Myana reluctantly accepts a proposal of marriage in an attempt to end an ongoing war with the country of Maenor and is separated from her people and pack. In a journey of selflessness, recklessness, and self-discovery, the responsibility to save those she loves rests on her shoulders.

From her website: “ As an anthrozoologist and doctor of environmental science, [Taryn] is dedicating her life to understanding and protecting animals, both human and nonhuman. This zeal for the outdoors combined with a lifelong love affair with fantasy and horror stories led her to create the YA dark fantasy series, The Fenearen Chronicles.”

To learn more about Taryn Noelle Kloeden, visit her website: https://tnkloedenbooks.com/#books

You can purchase her books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hex-Breaker-Fenearen-Chronicles-1/dp/1544144806

Erica Rue

If you love women led science fiction, romance, and mythological adaptation, read Erica Rue. Her current work in progress is the Atlantis Crown trilogy, which begins with The Goddess Games. As the relationship between Earth and Atlantis hangs in the balance, Chloe Woods enters the Goddess Games, but not to win the hand of Prince Leonidas Agathon…at least, not originally. Can Chloe find the anti-Atlantis rebel among her fellow contestants? Will she be able to take command of her destiny? Erica Rue states that her inspiration comes from her studies. 

From her website: “I earned my BA in Classics from the University of Virginia with a concentration in Ancient Greek, and I have an MA in Teaching and spent a decade in the classroom teaching Latin.” 

To learn more about Erica Rue and her portfolio, visit her website: https://www.ericarue.com/

Her books are currently available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDGLM78Z?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_HZEK0BS8FQB1QYA0VQC5_1&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_HZEK0BS8FQB1QYA0VQC5_1&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_HZEK0BS8FQB1QYA0VQC5_1&bestFormat=true

Dean Lombardo

If you are a science fiction, horror, or a Western fan, visit Dean Lombardo. His horror novel, Byproduct, stars Agent Lee Diggs as he tracks down a dangerous killer. His investigation takes him to a space tourism company where a mission through a black hole had fatal consequences. Dean also recently published Western mystery, The Barco Clan, and books for children including Princess Plume and Donkey Sense. 

From his website: “Dean Lombardo is an author and avid traveler who makes it a point to explore many of the same settings where his fictional characters can be found. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and a natural curiosity about the universe and the many things in it.” 

If you want to learn more about Dean and his work, visit his website: https://www.deanlombardo.com/

His books are available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Byproduct-Dean-Lombardo-ebook/dp/B0CP2QKBGM

Michelle McBeth

If you love time travel science fiction, you will love the work of Michelle McBeth and The Sphere Saga. Beginning with The Sphere: A Journey in Time, follow Adelaide on her journey to restore her friend to his timeline and to save her own. Adelaide works in a factory that keeps its secrets and its order. Throughout the The Sphere Saga, we break apart the inner workings of the factory as well as the nature and consequences of time travel.

From her website: I started writing on a bet. A month later I had a rough draft of a book, and my award of $100. I never thought that would lead to three more books, but here I am. It's a nice change from my day job as an electrical and computer engineer.”

To learn more about Michelle McBeth, visit: https://www.michellemcbeth.com/

Her books are also available on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/87927/9781505600483

A.J. George

If you are a fan of murder mysteries and Edwardian authors, so is A.J. George and his book is for you. The Sleeping God leaves private detective Conrad Blake with a murder case, no body, and only the victim’s passport. This text was the product of numerous rounds of professional review both for the purpose of revision and to most accurately reflect Edwardian language.

At this time, I could not find an author’s website for A.J. George, but The Sleeping God is available on Bookshop:

Purposeful Prose was also very happy to see Sarah Birnbach again and to follow up on her writing journey! We included her in our summer reading list, and we are forever grateful for her contribution to the Purposeful Prose blog. We are looking forward to her next publication!

As always, Purposeful Prose celebrates indie authors, and we love hearing and reading their stories! If you are journeying through authorship, we want to be your cheerleaders! Let us know where you are in your writing journey or tell us how you’re supporting your favorite indie author!