How to Support Indie Authors (Even If You Can’t Buy Every Book)

Supporting independent authors matters more than you might realize. Unlike Big Five–published writers, indie and self-published authors don’t have the power of huge marketing departments behind them. Every sale, every download, every share — it all makes a measurable difference in how widely a book is seen and how successful an author can become.

The good news? You don’t need a big reading budget to make a big impact. Here are meaningful ways anyone can support indie authors:

⭐ Leave reviews — anywhere and everywhere

Even a one-sentence review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, or your favorite indie bookshop’s site helps boost discoverability. Reviews affect algorithms more than most readers realize.

📣 Talk about the book on social media

You don’t need fancy graphics — even a quick photo of the cover with a line about what you loved can introduce the book to new readers.

💬 Request the book at your library

Libraries buy books when people ask for them. This is one of the most powerful ways to support authors — and it helps other readers discover the book too.

🛍️ Buy where it works for you

Some readers prefer Amazon for convenience, others like indies or direct from the publisher to maximize royalties for the author. There’s no wrong choice — purchasing anywhere helps.

🎁 Give books as gifts

Books make thoughtful presents — and introducing a friend to a new favorite author keeps the momentum going.

💗 Engage with the author online

Likes, comments, and follows show platforms that the author’s content is relevant and worth boosting — even small interactions help.

At the heart of it all is one simple truth: indie publishing survives on community. When readers lift up authors, authors can keep creating the stories that become comfort reads, best friends, and late-night page-turners.

If you’ve supported an indie author lately, we appreciate you more than you know.