Why you can no longer ignore indie books

In the mid 1990s, mainstream record labels where spitting out insipid computer-generated dance music, manufactured boy bands and groups where not one of the members had ever even touched a musical instrument. Then, suddenly Suede reminded us what a guitar looked look, and the rise of the indie bands began.

When Oasis and Blur began to battle, and bands such as Supergrass and Elastica joined the britpop scene, few could deny that the alternative music scene had been harbouring some great talents.

However, despite history's lessons about the merits of independent record labels, there appears to be an unpalatable snobbery surrounding indie books.

Since Amazon brought out their first Kindle in 2007, book lovers have been able to read electronic content with the same degree of comfort as a paperback book, thanks to E ink technology. However, books that have been picked up by a major publishing house and then released for Kindle, are treated with a reverence that sets them apart from self-published Kindle books.

Obviously having a publisher is, to some degree, a measure of skill. However, publishing success is also a measure of luck, fashion and contacts.

Because indie books aren't filtered by current market trends, their range of titles is incredible. With independent publishing, you can let your tastes select your reading material, not a bunch of publishers that you've never met.

The absence of an endorsement from a major publisher should not be seen as vote against it. Publishers are not the only measure of a good book. You can also look at reviews, sales figures and in many places you can read sample chapters, so that you can estimate the quality of an indie book before buying it.

If you're still not sure whether or not to gamble on an indie book, consider the price. The average price of a paperback is around £7, whereas many eBooks by indie publishers cost less than £2.

It's not just readers who overlook indie publishing, but writers too. In my opinion, releasing an eBook is an essential for any unpublished writer who wants to get read. There are no overheads, your work can be distributional to a wide audience, and you will be part of the publishing revolution that will lead the future.

When Rage Against the Machine made Christmas number one in 2009, the British public were rebelling against manufactured entertainment. Show your willingness to support the underdog once again, and give indie books a chance.

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