Spellbound Mystery Magazine recently celebrated its first year of showcasing traditionally and independently published mystery authors to thousands of Substack subscribers.
But that’s about to change.
Starting March 5, the magazine’s focus shifts almost exclusively to independent authors. This shift follows extensive research into the quality of books from traditional and independent publishing. Positive ratings at online retailers for independently published mystery novels run as high or often higher than traditionally published books.
“That’s because independent authors are often more accessible to their readers through newsletters and personal emails,” says Lynda McDaniel, founder and editor of Spellbound. “They have to work harder at connecting,” she explains, “and as a result, they know more about what their readers want.”
For McDaniel, the sharpened focus is both personal and professional. “I’ve been a writer for 40 years, coming up against publishing gatekeepers more times than I care to remember. Sometimes I made it through with my nonfiction books, but when I turned to fiction, I hit a brick wall. Independent publishing opened many doors for me, and now that I’ve developed a considerable following for my Appalachian Mountain Mysteries series and Write Faster Series, I want to pay it forward.”
Stigmas against independently published books linger, though McDaniel sees that changing. “Earlier this century the quality of independently published books wasn’t consistent,” she says. “More recently, though, authors who thought they could quickly publish unpolished manuscripts have fallen by the wayside. It’s just too much work to write, publish, and market books that yield little or no ROI. Sure, I have to kiss some frogs while searching for mysteries we’re proud to recommend, but that’s true even for traditional bestsellers.”
Spellbound Mystery Magazine is a semi-monthly publication that offers both free and paid subscriptions. In addition to reviews, the magazine features original mystery short stories, guest author Q&A Spotlights, as well as writing contests so readers and emerging authors can also contribute.
“Spellbound is like a big hug for writers and readers,” McDaniel says. “We offer vetted writers several promotional opportunities, while our readers get to enjoy riveting reads that maximize their precious reading time. Our readers have come to count on us, knowing we live up to our tagline, ‘Where a good book is easy to find.’”
For more information
https://spellboundmysterywriters.substack.com/
spellboundmysterywriters@substack.com
(707) 360-8322
Lynda McDaniel has enjoyed an award-winning writing career, first with nonfiction magazines and turning later to books. Fifteen years ago she turned to mystery fiction. She is the author of the popular Appalachian Mountain Mysteries Series, which she started to share unforgettable stories from her back-to-the-land experience in the North Carolina mountains. She is also the author of the award-winning Words at Work, a writing how-to book.