BookLife's Indie Spotlight
A Free Way to Get Attention for Your Book
Each month, BookLife runs the Indie Spotlight feature, a thematic roundup of self-published books from a broad range of genres and topics, both online and in print in Publishers Weekly magazine. This is an opportunity for you to draw attention to your book and find potential readers within the wider context of the indie writing community.
Every month's Indie Spotlight is open to all types of books: fiction and nonfiction, adult and children's, secular and religious, written and graphic. As long as the subject matter matches the month's topic, a book can be included.
We'll publish our monthly Calls-for-Info in our newsletter, on the BookLife site, and on social media. You can also take a look at the upcoming categories in our Indie Spotlight Calendar, below, so you can determine where your book might best fit in. Please only submit your book during the specified timeframes. For every submission, please include the following info:
1. Your name and book title
2. Brief description of your book
3. A brief first-person statement about the origins of your story, your writing process, or anything else you would like us to know about your book
4. An author photo and cover image
Please note that we must be selective in the books we ultimately include in each Indie Spotlight. Due to the large number of submissions, we are unable to notify authors if their books have been chosen for the features.
I n d i e • S p o t l i g h t • C a l e n d a r
JANUARY: SELF-HELP/PERSONAL FINANCE
In the spirit of embracing new beginnings, we invite you to share your indie self-help and personal finance books with BookLife. Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight Self-Help/Personal Finance.”
Submission Period: December 1-January 1
FEBRUARY: ROMANCE/RELATIONSHIPS
We are seeking info about your self-published romances and nonfiction titles devoted to the topic of relationships.
Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight: Romance/Relationships.”
Submission Period: January 1- February 1
MARCH - FOOD/TRAVEL/WORLD CULTURES
This month we’re focusing on books related to travel, global culture, and food. Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight - Food/Travel/World Culture.”
Submission Period: February 1-March 1
APRIL - HUMOR/SATIRE
Make us laugh! For April, we invite you to submit your works of humor and satire. Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight - Humor/Satire.”
Submission Period: March 1-April 1
MAY - OUR STORIES: MEMOIR/AUTOBIOGRAPHY
May is memoir month at BookLife, and an opportunity to recognize the diversity of the self-publishing community. This month we’re focusing on memoirs and autobiographical books. LGBTQ+ and BIPOC authors are strongly encouraged to submit.
Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight - Memoir/Autobiography.”
Submission Period: April 1-May 1
JUNE - SUMMER READS PART 1: MYSTERY/THRILLER/TRUE CRIME
Send us your twisty mysteries, procedurals, thrillers, and works of true crime. Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight - Mystery/Thriller/True Crime.”
Submission Period: May 1-June 1
JULY - SUMMER READS PART 2: GENERAL FICTION/POETRY
For July, we’re reading general fiction, including literary and historical, and books of poetry. Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight: General Fiction/Poetry.”
Submission Period: June 1-July 1
AUGUST - SUMMER READS PART 3: SCI-FI/FANTASY
Send us your otherworldly fiction! Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight: Sci-fi/Fantasy.”
Submission Period: July 1-August 1
SEPTEMBER - PICTURE BOOKS
For September, we’d like to read your picture books and other illustrated titles, including graphic novels. Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight: Picture Books.”
Submission Period: August 1-September 1
OCTOBER - SCARY STORIES
This month, we invite you to submit your works of horror, mystery, and the supernatural. Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight: Scary Stories.”
Submission Period: September 1-October 1
NOVEMBER - HISTORY
Submit your books on world and military history. Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight: History.”
Submission Period: October 1-November 1
DECEMBER - ART/PHOTOGRAPHY/INSPIRATIONAL
We’re closing out the year with visually splendid books and inspirational titles. Email your submission info to booklifeeditor@booklife.com with the subject line “Indie Spotlight: Art/Photography/Inspirational.”
Submission Period: November 1-December 1
