For this month’s list I had help from a number of humans. My thanks to Heather Lynn, Alexandra Peel, Cheryl Burman, Fi Phillips, and Ann Littler In each case the person making the recommendation is named in brackets after the title.

When I last interviewed you in 2023 you had published three books, now it’s six. Can you update me on your books? Since 2023, I’ve written my Lightbody Mystery duology, telling the story of the fictional Martha Lightbody, a woman subjected to ‘trial by drowning’ in 1645. Before being thrown in the lake, Martha curses the men responsible. Her body is never found.

Back in 2024 I wrote three posts about my little writing journey and then disappeared for a bit. I did come back but I never finished the story, well as much as that’s possible, more of a bring you up to date thing really. As it’s been two years (rather than the week I said it would be) I will link the previous parts of the story at the bottom of the post.

This month's list was put together with the help of Heather Lynn. (Skywatcher_HL on socials) https://linktr.ee/HeatherLynn_author. Author of the Skywatcher series. There are four books so far with a fifth on the way.

Yesterday I found out Sandcastles, my short story collection, had been awarded a red ribbon being one point shy of being a finalist.

I am including Small Press Books as Indie Books. Given their small teams the members can be called to multi task and they do not have the reach of the larger and more well known publishers. Some are also authors themselves. As some of them told me 'they need all the help they can get'. I will talk about some of the presses themselves in another part of this series but for now here's some books you might like.

As an Indie author and a fan of Indie and Small Press books I am always keen to encourage others to read them. Throughout 2026 I will be sending a monthly newsletter with some examples you might want to take a look at. I have read or am reading the novels listed below. Having looked at this list I think I need to say I don’t always need a dead body in it to enjoy fiction!