Editorial Reviews vs. Reader Reviews: What Each Does for a Book
Trade and editorial reviews and everyday reader reviews do different jobs. Here is how each one helps a book, who reads them, and how authors can use both.
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Kirkus Reviews in The Publishing Times
The book review magazine, which also offers paid Kirkus Indie reviews for self-published books. Official site: www.kirkusreviews.com
Supreme Pressure by Victor Li: The 1930 Fight That Built Today's Confirmation Wars
Victor Li's Supreme Pressure, out from Palgrave Macmillan in January 2026, revisits the Senate's 1930 rejection of Judge John J. Parker and argues it set the template for modern Supreme Court confirmation fights.
Such a Witch by Sarah Henning: A Magical-School Murder Mystery With Romance
Sarah Henning's YA fantasy Such a Witch, published July 28, 2026, makes its popular head prefect the prime suspect when a vampire student is murdered at her school for magic.
Wolf in Wanderley by Dave J. Andrae: An Aging Filmmaker, a Florida Move and an Old Grudge
Dave J. Andrae's third novel follows Gen X filmmaker Wolf Barnes to southwest Florida, where he tries to preserve his life's work while a former actor from his Chicago days plots revenge.
Kwan's Last Mission by John Daniel: A Hong Kong Spy Thriller Set in August 1945
John Daniel's Kwan's Last Mission, the second Dragon Series book and a prequel to Follow the Dragon, sends Commander M.T. Kwan into occupied Hong Kong in the last days of World War II.
Grace Notes by John Cheyenne Wilbur: A Spiritual Coming-of-Age Debut
John Cheyenne Wilbur's first novel, Grace Notes, published by Atmosphere Press in July 2026, follows Jerry Cradleman's search for faith, belonging and a place to call home.
Delaware's Forgotten Cavalry by Dave Tabler: The First Delaware Cavalry's Story
Dave Tabler's Delaware's Forgotten Cavalry: A Failure of Command uses three sergeants' diaries to tell the story of the First Delaware Cavalry and its troubled commander.
Blizzard of Lies by Dave Wedge: What the Karen Read Book Covers
Boston journalist Dave Wedge's Blizzard of Lies, published by BenBella on July 28, 2026, reconstructs the 2022 death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe and the trials of Karen Read.
Jonathan Kieran's The Wednesday Box: An Illustrated Dark Fable for Adults
Jonathan Kieran's The Wednesday Box, an IndieReader Approved dark fable, follows a neglected young bookworm named May into a supernatural world. Kieran illustrated it himself with 45 full-color pieces.
A Language of Stitches: Constance Moore's Picture Book on Quilter Rosie Lee Tompkins
Oakland artist and teacher Constance Moore tells the life of Effie Mae Martin, the quilter known as Rosie Lee Tompkins, in a 48-page picture book biography from Abrams Books for Young Readers.
Barnes & Noble Names 16 Book of the Year Finalists
Barnes & Noble named 16 finalists for its 2026 Book of the Year. Booksellers nominated the list. The winner is due to be announced on November 12.
MAUKA
Explore how 'MAUKA' highlights the power of character relationships and trauma in storytelling, offering key insights for indie authors.
This Week in Self-Publishing — October 17, 2026
Discover the latest indie publishing news, top book award reviews, and industry trends for the week of October 17, 2026, with The Publishing Times.
UNAPOLOGETIC LOVE STORY
Explore the compelling romance in 'Unapologetic Love Story' and the demand for authentic neurodivergent representation.
RAMP IT UP!
Discover how 'Ramp It Up!' weaves education, accessibility, and diverse representation for young readers. A must-read for aspiring children's authors!
This Week in Self-Publishing — October 10, 2026
Stay ahead in indie publishing with our October 10, 2026 digest. Expert analysis, Google Play Books updates, Spotify expansion, and indie book reviews.
Tayari Jones, Pamela Colloff and Elizabeth Acevedo Win the 2026 Kirkus Prize
Kin, Catch the Devil and Anger Is Only a Shadow win the $50,000 Kirkus Prizes for fiction, nonfiction and young readers' literature.
Literary Prizes 2026: Booker, Pulitzer, National Book Award — What Winning Means for Sales
Major literary awards have long been viewed as trophies for artistic achievement, but in the modern publishing ecosystem, they function as powerful commercial a…
BABE: ELABORATIO
Harry Connick Jr. introduces the concept of 'elaboratio'—a state of creativity bridging reality and dreams. Discover its implications for indie authors.
Best Newsletter for Indie Author Publishing News
The Publishing Times sends a Friday Weekly Dispatch and publishes a Sunday Weekend Read. It is a weekly indie news desk — not a daily email, and not a paid review service.
Where Authors Get Amazon KDP Policy News
Amazon’s own KDP Help pages and the notices inside a KDP account are the policy record. The Publishing Times explains those pages, with the official link, in a weekly Friday dispatch.
This Week in Self-Publishing — September 19, 2026
This Week in Self-Publishing — September 19, 2026: Your essential weekly digest for indie authors, covering top reviews, awards, and industry trends. This Week in Self-Publishing — September 19, 2026
This Week in Self-Publishing — September 5, 2026
This Week in Self-Publishing: September 5, 2026. Your essential weekly digest for independent authors, featuring industry news, trends, and expert commentary. This Week in Self-Publishing — September
Weekend Read — Your Top Publishing Stories This Week (August 16, 2026)
Discover the best indie author insights for August 16, 2026. Explore print-on-demand spam updates, print marketing strategies, and our weekly digest.
This Week in Self-Publishing — August 15, 2026
Stay ahead in indie publishing with our August 15, 2026 digest. Expert insights on Kirkus reviews, long-running series, and indie marketing trends.
This Week in Self-Publishing — August 1, 2026
Your weekly dose of self-publishing insights from The Publishing Times. Stay ahead with top stories, trends, and editor's takes for August 1, 2026.
How to Get Book Reviews Before Your Launch (2026)
For indie authors, securing pre-launch book reviews is more crucial than ever in 2026 for visibility and sales. Strategic planning, including ARC teams, NetGalley, and trade reviewers, transforms product pages with vital social proof.
THE GINGHAMS
T.C. Kemper's "The Ginghams" exemplifies how a high-concept middle-grade sci-fi novel can blend personal character arcs with broader societal commentary. This Kirkus-reviewed book offers indie authors valuable lessons on crafting compelling, unique premises…
PAPER TOMBS
Jennifer Rich's "Paper Tombs" explores Holocaust survivors' "memorial books" (yizker bikher), highlighting the power of collaborative, multidisciplinary storytelling to create deeply meaningful and lasting works of remembrance. This offers vital lessons for…
HATING WOMEN
Sean Hotchkiss's debut memoir, "Hating Women," offers a raw and honest account of his journey from childhood trauma and dysfunctional relationships to recovery. This powerful narrative showcases how indie authors can tackle sensitive subjects with…
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