Happy Pride Month, dear readers! This What to Read Wednesday is extra special as we shine a spotlight on the incredible indie and self-published LGBTQ+ authors who are creating diverse, authentic stories across every genre. These authors are the heart of our community, crafting tales that represent the full spectrum of queer experiences with passion and authenticity.
Fantasy & Paranormal Romance
The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn
This book has readers absolutely raving! One enthusiastic reader couldn’t contain their excitement, calling it a must-read. Fiona Fenn is creating waves in the indie fantasy scene.
Deal with the Devil Duet by G.E. Masters
A sapphic paranormal/fantasy romance featuring witches, demons, and old gods. This grumpy x sunshine story promises dual POV, forced proximity, and healing from trauma with plenty of spice to plot ratio.
Indecent by Gwin Savage
A dark fantasy featuring mortal vampires in an f/f/f polyamory romance. Set at a reform academy, this story includes strangers to lovers, forbidden feeding, and forced proximity with a spicy edge.
Contemporary & Diverse Romance
On Silver Shores by V.T. Hoàng
Features a Black intersex MC who’s a siren needing intimacy to survive, paired with a Sino-Vietnamese love interest who’s a widower finding love again. This grumpy x grumpy romance includes forced workplace proximity and hurt/comfort elements.
Books by Lizzie B. Brown
Readers are loving the characters Nix and Poppy from this author’s work. The enthusiasm from fellow authors speaks volumes about the quality of these stories.
Books by Rochelle Wolf
Multiple readers are championing this author’s work with genuine excitement. When fellow authors are this enthusiastic about someone’s writing, you know it’s special.
Romance with Representation
Elizabeth Lyon’s Collection
This queer author writes both romance and fantasy, featuring stories with ADHD representation, Down syndrome representation, healing from trauma, and found family themes. Her Hyperion series includes engineered hearts, forbidden love, age-gap romance, and fated mates with mythical creatures.
Not Good Enough for You & Brewed with Love – Standalones featuring anxiety and depression representation, mother/daughter bonds, small town romance, and happily ever afters.
Vanessa Kramer’s Multi-Genre Works
This bisexual author ensures at least one LGBTQ+ character appears in each of her books across multiple genres, providing consistent representation throughout her catalog.
Dark Romance & Emerging Voices
Finally Theirs by Arsyn Quinn
A trans author bringing dark romance with an MFMM plus-size FMC in a why-choose format. This pitch-black book comes with extensive trigger warnings and explores themes of stalkers and serial killers. Perfect for readers who love their romance on the darker side.
Why Indie LGBTQ+ Authors Matter
Indie and self-published authors are often the pioneers of authentic LGBTQ+ representation. They’re not bound by traditional publishing constraints and can tell the stories that major publishers might consider “too niche” or “too specific.” These authors are writing from lived experience, creating characters that reflect the true diversity of our community.
From intersex sirens to trans dark romance authors, from sapphic witches to grumpy x grumpy pairings, these indie authors are expanding what’s possible in queer literature. They’re also building supportive communities—notice how many authors in that thread were enthusiastically recommending each other’s work.
Supporting Indie Authors
When you buy from indie authors, you’re directly supporting creators who are often marginalized voices in traditional publishing. Your purchase, review, and word-of-mouth recommendations can make a real difference in an author’s career.
Many of these authors are active on social media platforms where you can connect with them directly, learn about their writing process, and discover new releases. The queer indie author community is incredibly welcoming and supportive.
Finding More Indie Gems
The original thread mentioned an Indie Author Directory where authors can self-identify as LGBTQ+, making it easier to discover new voices. Local events like the KC Book Beat’s Queer Ink gathering (featuring authors like Jonathan Pongratz, A.L. Davidson, Madison Chase, Dan B. Fierce, Hazel Krebs, Sophie Stern, Elle Sparrow, and Joel Barrett) show how vibrant the indie queer author community really is.
Your Next Indie Discovery
Ready to support indie LGBTQ+ authors? Start with whichever genre calls to you most. Whether you’re drawn to the fantasy elements in Fiona Fenn’s work, the diverse representation in V.T. Hoàng’s contemporary romance, or the community feel of authors supporting each other, there’s something here for every reader.
Remember, behind every indie book is an author who chose to tell authentic LGBTQ+ stories, often drawing from their own experiences and community. When you read their work, you’re not just enjoying a great story—you’re supporting artistic freedom and diverse voices.
Have you discovered any amazing indie LGBTQ+ authors lately? Share your finds in the comments and help build our community reading list!
Happy Reading and Happy Pride! 🏳️🌈
#PrideMonth #IndieAuthors #LGBTQBooks #WhatToReadWednesday #QueerBooks #IndieBookLove
Minnie's Fiction Addiction 
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