I recently learned that my two most recent novels, When Heart Shall Fail and A Life of Joy, have been accepted into the Indie Author Project Select program—a milestone that I hope will expand where and how readers can discover my books.
I’ve been fortunate to hear, again and again, that readers enjoy my novels. But like many indie authors, I’ve learned that writing a book readers love is only half the battle. The harder part is helping new readers discover my books. IAP Select was designed to close the gap between independent authors and library readers, and I’m hopeful that inclusion in this curated collection will help more people find my work.
My other titles were already part of the Indie Author Project, which allows local library systems to purchase them individually. When Heart Shall Fail and A Life of Joy will be available that way as well. In fact, my second-highest source of royalties—after Amazon—comes from BiblioBoard, the platform libraries use to acquire books through the Indie Author Project. I am a huge fan of public libraries, and I want my books available in libraries, so expanding the accessibility of my books to librarians matters to me.
Acceptance into IAP Select, however, represents higher level of recognition above the basic IAP program. Books in IAP Select were reviewed by librarians and publishing professionals affiliated with organizations such as Library Journal and Publishers Weekly and selected for this curated national collection. While my books are not yet visible in the national IAP Select catalog, they should be soon. Once they are, participating libraries across the U.S. and Canada can license the collection, and my novels will appear on major library ebook platforms such as OverDrive—the same digital shelves that host New York Times and USA Today bestsellers.
That distinction matters. IAP Select doesn’t just make books available; it changes how they are available. Titles in the IAP Select collection are typically offered under a simultaneous-use model, meaning there are no waitlists or holds. Multiple patrons can read the same book at the same time. For readers, that removes friction. For authors, it creates far more opportunities for discovery, sampling, and word-of-mouth recommendation.
On a personal level, I’m thrilled. Having my books included in this collection offers a kind of professional validation—confirmation that my novels meet the same standards of quality as traditionally published works. I remain committed to being an indie author because of the control it gives me over my covers, my timelines, and my creative decisions. But I must acknowledge that independence can come at the cost of visibility. I hope the IAP Select program bridge that gap.
As a final note to fellow ebook readers: If you regularly borrow books from your public library, consider asking your librarians whether they license the Indie Author Project Select collection. Alternatively, request the specific ebooks you want to read from our local librarians. Librarians pay close attention to patron requests, and those requests genuinely shape what libraries offer.
As a reader, how do you decide which books to borrow from your library?
Congratulations, Theresa! Your novels deserve the increased recognition, visibility and availability!
Thank you, Sylvia! Your editing eye helped. Theresa