IndieReader's Author Interviews

Advice from IR Approved Author Koza Belleli: “Never give up!”

Koza Belleli’s TALI NOHKATI, THE GREAT CROSSING is a coming-of-age journey that follows a child guided by animal spirits across ice, sea, forest, and plains in search of his people.

March 17, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Katie Walsh: “The publicity can be fun and not that scary!”

Readers looking for a humorous romance colored with nostalgia and summer magic will find it all in Katie Walsh’s FOLLOW YOU DOWN.

March 12, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Gregory Lee: “Write from the heart. Be true to yourself.”

Gregory Lee’s MY GOOD LIFE details an inspiring journey, demonstrates the ability to overcome adversity, and exhibits motivational storytelling.

March 5, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author John Altamura: “Be persistent. Be confident. Accept rejection. Learn from others.”

John Altamura’s SEVEN YEARS IN CHICAGO: A Journey of Growth | Part I: Survival is an emotionally compelling exploration of love, regret, betrayals, grief, and human resilience amidst the chaos of it all.

February 26, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Justin R. Pilar: “Write toward honesty, not trends. Readers respond to sincerity more than polish.”

The story of Justin R. Pilar’s ECHOES IN EVERLY MANOR builds into a crescendo of emotion that palpably captures the depth of grief.

February 25, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Benjamin Branfman: “If you want to be a writer, then you need to put in a lot of effort. If that’s difficult, good! It’s supposed to be.”

Benjamin Branfman’s GOODBYE, KILLER ROBOTS: Why Artificial Intelligence Won’t Destroy Humanity is a clearly written polemic against AI doomsday scenarios with a novel perspective: that evolutionary theory, when applied to AI, shows why humans are the superior survival machine.

February 24, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Sara Kelly: “Don’t rush past your own meaning-making.”

Sara Kelly’s THE ADHD AWAKENING: A Woman’s Guide to Thriving After Diagnosis is an invaluable companion guide and essential toolkit for women navigating late-diagnosis ADHD, as well as those who live and work alongside them.

February 20, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Allen Wolf: “Don’t just write what you think will sell. Write what sets your heart on fire.”

Allen Wolf’s THE SOUND OF VIOLET offers an emotionally sincere and thoughtfully crafted exploration of neurodiversity and existentialism, succeeding as both a tender romance and a poignant social reflection.

February 19, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Katie Walsh: “The publicity can be fun and not that scary! Something as simple as leaving free copies in Little Free Libraries and asking for a review if the mystery reader liked it!”

Katie Walsh’s FOLLOW YOU DOWN is a humorous romance colored with nostalgia and summer magic.

February 18, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author James Bitter: “Write the book that you would want to read yourself, and you will have the best time of your life. Or, if you want to make money, write about dragons.”

Time traveling, love, romance, Artificial Intelligence, and science fiction fantasy come together in HIVE: A DYSTOPIAN TIME-TRAVEL THRILLER (MADDERS OF TIME BOOK 1) by DL Horton.

February 17, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Jacob Emrey: “My favorite kind of books are the ones with characters who grab you and become your best friends. Every time you pick up the book, you’re hanging out with your mates and going on an adventure.”

Tense action grips the reader from the first page of Jacob Emrey’s THE MANGLERS OF CARRAIG, and it refuses to relent as teen Conell strives to collect gems to protect his family and close-knit group of friends.

February 16, 2026

Book cover for Hive: Madders of Time - Book One by DL Orton, featuring a swirling vortex at the center of a steampunk clock, surrounded by clouds, a conch shell, and a mechanical bee on a dark background.

Advice from IR Approved Author D. L. Orton: “The best plot twist can be the one your character whispers.”

Time traveling, love, romance, Artificial Intelligence, and science fiction fantasy come together in HIVE: A DYSTOPIAN TIME-TRAVEL THRILLER (MADDERS OF TIME BOOK 1) by DL Horton.

February 13, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Ann Yihyang Kim: “I make sure that my books are thrilling, that they’ll keep you on the edge of your seat, that they’ll keep you turning each page with the eagerness that only good entertainment can inspire.”

In TREE OF EYES, Ann Yihyang Kim thrusts James Mun and Crew Blue deeper into the perilous dream-realm of the Flowering. This leg of the Eyes of Awakening series delivers constant conflict, shifting loyalties, and moments that upend what the characters thought they knew.

February 12, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Michael Saver: “Readers tell me that this is a book that they can’t put down. They have to keep reading to see what will happen. The twists and surprises in the story keep readers engaged.”

Michael Saver’s LOST VILLAGE sets the stage for what promises to be a series of clever, tight-knit murder mysteries.

February 11, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Scott T. Barnes: “By serving others in this way, it will give meaning to your work even when you aren’t selling what you’d hoped.”

In CHAOS WOODS, the first book of the Chronicles of the Ever-Guise, Scott T. Barnes delivers a richly imagined, character-driven coming-of-age fantasy that balances cozy adventure with thoughtful themes of morality, addiction, and the consequences of one’s choices.

February 5, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author David Gittlin: “When I turned 50, I decided to write fiction. I started with screenplays and graduated to novels.”

David Glitten’s riveting science fiction novel THE ANDROBIOTICA ADVENTURES follows an investigator chasing a case across dimensions as artificial intelligence and androids reshape the world.

February 4, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Michael Pronko: “I wander around the city and pick up possible bits and pieces of life in Tokyo, which might be the wellspring of writing.”

Michael Pronko’s TOKYO JUKU brings a city to life, populates it with fully rounded characters, and drives a compelling narrative with meticulous plotting.

February 3, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Daniel C. Davis: “Keep creating and refining your craft. Seek constructive criticism, not just praise. Growth comes from stretching yourself and learning from honest feedback.”

Daniel C. Davis’s THE QUEST HOME is a fluid contemporary memoir that offers practical takeaways for relationship maintenance.

February 2, 2026

Advice from IR Approved Author Leon E. Pettiway: “The best advice is to stay patient and keep honing your craft.”

Set in the Jim Crow era, Leon E. Pettiway’s NEW HARMONY: A Mother’s Story of Love and Loss exposes the painful web of actions that precede racial violence.

January 30, 2026

Book cover for Love Wars: Clash of the Parents by IR Approved Author shows two angry adults facing off with lightning between them, a worried child in the center, a judge, and two younger kids with a dog—capturing the journey of connecting with other people.

Advice from IR Approved Author Matthew A. Tower: “Take a break from everything and go somewhere you enjoy to ponder and write for at least one week.”

Matthew A. Tower’s LOVE WARS: Clash of the Parents details the aftermath of an exceptionally acrimonious divorce, the pain of generational trauma, and the possibility of redemption.

January 29, 2026

A lone figure with a sword stands before an epic battle scene, framed by mountains and a giant wolf’s shadowy face with glowing eyes. Text reads: Creed of Legends, A.K. Kubica – IR Approved Author. Join the journey—Book I, Tales of Fear & Fortitude.

Advice from IR Approved Author A.K. Kubica: “Life is full of the opportunity for risk-taking. If you always play it safe, you will never learn or grow.”

In the opening pages of A.K. Kubica’s CREED OF LEGENDS, it seems as though a dire future is laid out in prophecy for Brudais: death at the hands of the king he will eventually serve. But as time goes on, two kingdoms’ fates will fall on the shoulders of a handful of people.

January 27, 2026

Book cover with the title One Last Question Before You Go in colorful speech bubbles, an illustration of a vintage microphone, and the subtitle Why You Should Interview Your Parents by IR Approved Author Kyle Thiermann.

Advice from IR Approved Author Kyle Thiermann: “Interviews are tools to soften and remold the shape of our parents. Questions are invitations to see our parents in the present tense.”

Kyle Thiermann offers a series of interview questions and personal anecdotes to help his reader have rewarding conversations with their loved ones.

January 23, 2026

Book cover for Seeking Sasha by IR Approved Author Laura Frost. The background is a dark, misty road curving left, with large silver text and a small duffel bag in the corner. Tagline: 100 names, 1 life, 1000 lies to bind them.

Advice from IR Approved Author Laura Frost: “Put your head down, remember your why, trust the process, and never give up on yourself or your craft.”

Written by Laura Frost, SEEKING SASHA is a sweet love story about trauma and its consequences, as well as the possibility of rescue and healing—given unconditional and genuinely supportive love. This novel serves up a generous helping of literary comfort food.

January 22, 2026

Minimalist book cover showing a stylized woman in sunglasses, red lipstick, and a red necklace. "Acclaim" is tilted across the image, highlighting themes of connecting with others. IR Approved Author Jean Thesquare’s name appears at the bottom.

Advice from IR Approved Author Jean Thesquare: “So keep putting one word after the other and get to the end of that manuscript. The first one will suck (it’s the one you do for you) but get back to it and work on it with partners. You’ll see something magical emerge.”

In Jean Thesquare’s ACCLAIM, a rising author meets a billionaire, all things to be in place for a tale of love and lust. But when the billionaire crosses the line, it’s revenge time.

January 21, 2026

Book cover for The Watchwood Inheritance by IR Approved Author Ann Huchingson, featuring a boy’s face overlaid with silhouettes of three people, a large tree branch, and a house at the bottom.

Inspiration from IR Approved Author Ann Huchingson: “The Watchwood Inheritance was inspired by my love of old houses, family mysteries, and the idea that the past is never really gone…it lingers in the walls, the whispers, and the choices we make.”

Ann Huchingson’s THE WATCHWOOD INHERITANCE is a story where courage meets curiosity, where a boy figures out how to be his own kind of hero, where humor and fun and fear all collide.

January 20, 2026

Book cover featuring a vibrant painting of a tamarind tree with orange-red blossoms and green leaves set against a blue sky. The title, “When the Tamarind Tree Blooms,” showcases IR Approved Author Elaine Russell.

Advice from IR Approved Author Elaine Russel: “I belong to a small writing group, whose members help me a great deal with their comments on drafts, and I always use professional editors once and sometimes twice on drafts of a book.”

Elaine Russell’s WHEN THE TAMARIND TREE BLOOMS is a tender and culturally grounded coming-of-age novel that immerses readers in 1930s Laos through vivid settings, symbolic resonance, and the resilient voice of a heroine searching for belonging.

January 15, 2026

A white dove flies upward from an open birdcage, leaving feathers behind. The image features the book title A Vision of Hope: A Story of Redemption and Purpose by Andrew Drasen—a perfect read for those with a true love of reading.

Advice from IR Approved Author Andrew Drasen: “Addiction and incarceration are often talked about but rarely understood.”

In A VISION OF HOPE: A Story of Redemption and Purpose, Andrew Drasen goes beyond a typical recovery memoir—looking back on his long fight with addiction and what it really took to find sobriety.

January 14, 2026