Independent booksellers from across the country are showcasing eight self-published books they’re excited to sell this fall.
Andrew Pineda, co-owner, 27th Letter Books, Detroit
Good dress
Brittany Rogers. Tin House, October 15 ($16.95, paperback, ISBN 978-1-959030-83-6)
“I am so excited to share this collection of poems with our community. It is an exuberant celebration of black prosperity that plumbs the depths of intimacy in all its forms: what moves us and what do we strive for? There is hardly a reader who reads Brittany’s poetry and is unmoved.”
Laurel Rhame, book buyer, Phoenix Books, three locations in northern Vermont
The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper
Roland Allen. Biblioasis, September 10 ($19.95, ISBN 978-1-77196-628-3)
“I love obscure, strange, or hyper-focused stories, and this is the first history of the notebook – a tool that completely changed humanity. I can already tell that this will be my big gift book for the holiday season. It’s perfect for the writers, artists, or engineers in your life. And of course, for the history buffs.”
Sarah Brown, Store Manager, Zenith Bookstore, Duluth, Minnesota.
Season of the Swamp
Yuri Herrera, translated by Lisa Dillman. Graywolf, October 1 ($26, ISBN 978-1-644453-07-0)
“To be blunt, I read everything Yuri Herrera writes. His writing is like a fever dream, and yet somehow everything seems familiar – the perfect person to write about 19th-century New Orleans, and a little-known period in the life of Mexican President Benito Juarez: his time in exile there. This is a strange, wonderful novel about a strange, wonderful city with a dark side. Music and celebration coexist with slavery and oppression. Herrera writes more deeply and subtly about the soul of America than most American writers.”
Kaitlyn Mahoney, Owner, Under the Umbrella Bookstore, Salt Lake City, Utah
Trans Femme Futures: An Abolitionist Ethic for Transfeminist Worlds
Nat Raha and Mijke van der Drift. Pluto, November 20 (Trade paper valued at $22.95, ISBN 978-0-7453-4940-4)
“Imagining a trans future is an act of resistance. Trans Femme Futures is an act of radical revolution that helps us imagine an abolitionist, liberated queer future.”
Laura Hughes, co-owner, Basket Books & Art, Houston, Texas.
My lesbian novel
Renee Gladman. Dorothy, September 17 ($16.95, paperback, ISBN 978-1-948980-23-4)
“Gladman’s precise and concise writing style makes me feel like I’m exploring the boundaries of literature with her. It’s an adventure into the avant-garde. I also read everything that comes from Dorothy!”
Cris Siqueira and Shelly McClone Carriere, co-owners, Lion’s Tooth, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Palestine
Joe Sacco. Fantagraphics, September 3 ($34.99, ISBN 979-8-8750-0000-3)
“It is a brutally sad fact that Joe Sacco’s coverage of the First Intifada remains highly relevant nearly 30 years after its publication in this book. This updated edition provides much-needed historical context as well as gritty and personal portraits of struggling Palestinians. Sacco’s detailed landscapes and expressionistic drawing style capture the horror and despair of the occupation, which are even more poignant in light of the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
Ashley Marie Mireles-Guerrero, owner, Judging by the Cover: A Bookstore, Fresno, California.
Civilization
KM McKenzie. Iskanchi, October 11 (20 $ Trade Paper, ISBN 978-1-957810-12-6)
“I’ve been following Iskanchi Press since they were shortlisted for the Independent Book Publishers Association’s Innovative Voices program last year. Their mission to bring authentic African perspectives to the U.S. book market is truly inspiring. The Civilization combines African folklore with a thrilling adventure. This captivating young adult fantasy offers a mix of coming-of-age themes, a touch of romance, and a classic hero’s journey. With mystical magic and a battle between dark and light, there’s something for everyone.”
Candace Rivera, Owner, Book & Nook, Warwick, NY
Danica dela Torre, certified detective
Mikaela Lucido, illustration by Joanna Cacao. Annick, September 24, ages 8–12 ($19.99, ISBN 978-1-77321-896-0)
“This paranormal mystery about a Filipino family is perfect for middle school students looking for a new horror series.”
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A version of this article appeared in the 19.08.2024 issue of Publisher: under the heading: The new indie books that booksellers would like you to read
