Indies Introduce Interview

“‘I don't love horror,’ you say, ‘I scare very easily.’ Right, same,” said Widener. “Forget the cover and listen: our hero Nesbit’s in love with Bastion, the world’s purest, most earnest jock, who happens to be the leader of a small but powerful coven. It's not until Bastion’s body is found half-devoured in the woods that the depth of his secrets begin to surface," said Emmy Widener of Changing Hands in Phoenix, Arizona.

“In gorgeous and fiery language, Chambers invites us into Diamond Newberry’s world. The only Black person left in Swift River after Pop’s mysterious disappearance. Diamond thinks she stands out for all of the wrong reasons. Getting her license will solve one of those problems, but it's also one more thing Diamond and her mother disagree on. As Diamond gains confidence through driving and learns more about the history of her family and Swift River, she begins to imagine something different for herself,” said Lisa Swayze of Buffalo Street Books in Ithaca, New York.

“A delicately told account of the Rarámuri, a native people of Mexico, that honors their history, traditions, and culture while recounting one family’s story as they adapt to modern Mexican life. Out of the Sierra emphasizes the small resistances of the family and their community as they fight to preserve their traditional way of life in an often hostile world," said Luis Correa of Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia.

“Cactus Country is all about landscape: of Arizona and the hot desert, of childhood and its constant developments, of gender and its fluidity. Zoë Bossiere is sharing a much-needed story of a childhood outside of the gender binary in a world built to misunderstand," said Frances Metzger of Country Bookshelf in Bozeman, Montana.

“Elaine Cho articulates the delicate details of intergalactic celebrity politics and nuances of queerness and racism in this incredible space opera. We follow Ocean and her found family in the form of a spaceship crew, setting off from a distant-future Korea. The twists and turns in Ocean’s Godori will leave you breathless," said Devon Overley of Loganberry Books in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

"Told entirely through letters, Cathrall’s writing engages the reader’s curiosity by transporting them into an underwater fantasy world that manages to feel at once cozy and familiar, unknown and mysterious,” said Stephanie Skees of The Novel Neighbor in Webster Groves, Missouri.

"A heartwarming story of growing up, feeling needed, and how to stay young at heart," said Teresa Steele of Old Firehouse Books of Fort Collins, Colorado.

“As the title would suggest, Women! In! Peril! is a fun and funny take on feminist and societal situations and issues. With distinct wit and charm, Jessie Ren Marshall’s impressive debut will have you laughing out loud, re-reading passages and shaking your head with disbelief,” said Paula Farmer of Book Passage in Corte Madera, California.

“Kathy’s memoir is tender and touching, filled with the hopes and disappointments of looking for a place to belong. There is so much heart in these pages! A true gem of a book,” said Ann Branson of Beach Books in Seaside, Oregon.

“The Blue Mimes explores political and social upheaval in the United States, while also focusing on the individual experience of navigating such events, both presently and in our memories,” said Devon Overley of Loganberry Books in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

“A lovable introvert, a typewriter with a lot to say, and an irresistible mystery come together to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience. This book weaves together themes of mental health, family, and magic in ways that are deeply thoughtful and unique,” said Molly Olivo of Child’s Play in Washington, DC.

“City Girls is a very honest and powerful reminder that adults aren’t the only ones who experience tribulation, and that each child has their own story to tell. I am excited to see it in schools, libraries, and indie bookstores,” said Maryan Liban of Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers in Columbus, Ohio.

“An anthem for strong-willed women of the 21st century, these stories will burrow under your skin and light your blood on fire. The women of Lagos have been put down by men for too long, and they’re reclaiming their power in force. Sharp-witted and fierce, Damilare Kuku speaks directly to the heart and compels you to unveil your inner bad*ss,” said Melissa Sagendorph of Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

"This young adult science fiction novel set in a fully realized world is at once enthralling and abhorrent. To say I loved this book would be an understatement," said Paul Swydan of The Silver Unicorn Bookstore in Acton, Massachusetts.