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Best of Little-Known Authors
Vote for your favorites! The only books that belong on this list are SMALL PRESS PUBLICATIONS or SELF-PUBLISHED BOOKS that deserve more recognition.
PLEASE do not add books to this list that don't fit the category. Thank you.
Note: This list is not for advertising. Please vote only if you are an active Goodreads member and have actually read the book you would like to vote for.
PLEASE do not add books to this list that don't fit the category. Thank you.
Note: This list is not for advertising. Please vote only if you are an active Goodreads member and have actually read the book you would like to vote for.
6,475 books ·
5,635 voters ·
list created October 8th, 2010
by Rosa Sophia (votes) .
Tags:
all-genres, fiction, horror, indie, mystery, non-fiction, romance, self-published, small-press, unknown
Rosa
167 books
316 friends
316 friends
Carlos
207 books
73 friends
73 friends
Jessie
829 books
120 friends
120 friends
Beth
1580 books
177 friends
177 friends
David
87 books
679 friends
679 friends
Nina-Marie
171 books
1081 friends
1081 friends
Wendy
1754 books
3 friends
3 friends
Robert
303 books
66 friends
66 friends
More voters…
Comments Showing 1-50 of 56 (56 new)
message 1:
by
Sarah
(new)
Apr 10, 2012 04:18AM
Lawyers in HellAnthology: New authors Sarah Hulcy, Larry Atchley, Jr., Leo Champion
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Why are people adding well known/established authors like Haruki Murakami, Tom Sharpe and Anne McCaffery?
I also saw Clarissa Clare, which ticked me off, especially since I can't find Justin's book. What number are you, Justin????
Found it! Number 258. Adding my book now. Or should I say short collection of poetry....
All of these books look so good! This is a gold mine list for me! :D
Why is Cassandra Clare on here? I have a hard time thinking of more KNOWN authors, smh
Pigletto wrote: "Why are people adding well known/established authors like Haruki Murakami, Tom Sharpe and Anne McCaffery?"I have no idea. I am pretty sure I originally created this list, and I'm happy to see how popular it has gotten! But it definitely was not meant for well-known authors.
Just wanted to thank whoever added me to the list. Means the world to me. So excited to have made this list!!!
If I understand it correctly, I must have read the book before I can vote for it. Fair enough - trouble is, out of the 100 displayed I have not read a single one and I have over a period of time bought quite a few indie books, or books written by my 'friends' providing I like the genre. Bought another today.
Please remove City of Fallen Angels from this list. If there is a single fan of fantasy on this site who has never even heard of Cassandra Clare, they need help.
Lamora wrote: "Please remove City of Fallen Angels from this list. If there is a single fan of fantasy on this site who has never even heard of Cassandra Clare, they need help."Seriously? I've never heard of her. What's more, when I ran a poll a couple of years ago about favourite genre books, I got 100 responses naming over 600 different novels, and not a single person mentioned her once. I'ver never heard her name in conversation in RL or on the internet until now, and I don't recall ever having seen her books in a bookshop.
I'm not denying she's famous, if you say she is. There are a vast number of fantasy books I haven't heard of - including basically all of the post-twilight PNR stuff, which I've never paid any attention to. What I AM saying is that if you think every fantasy fan has heard of her, you've got a very myopic view of fantasy fandom.
Wastrel wrote: "Lamora wrote: "Please remove City of Fallen Angels from this list. If there is a single fan of fantasy on this site who has never even heard of Cassandra Clare, they need help."Seriously? I've ne..."
Perhaps I phrased that poorly, or more out of bitterness than not, but with 70k reviews on that book alone, you can hardly say that she's "Little-Known."
Wastrel wrote: "Lamora wrote: "Please remove City of Fallen Angels from this list. If there is a single fan of fantasy on this site who has never even heard of Cassandra Clare, they need help."Seriously? I've ne..."
Ah, right, ok. Young Adult Paranormal Urban Fantasy with Vampires and Angels, by a Harry Potter fanficcer, published within the last five years. That's so completely niche that I doubt many of the 'fantasy' fans I know would have heard of it, and I don't imagine it'd even be shelved under 'fantasy' in most bookshops, although admittedly it might be nearby. Somehow, as a fantasy fan, I don't think I'm going to feel I "need help" for not having noticed that one.
[Before people jump in: I'm not saying she's a bad writer, I've never read her (or heard of her). But there are books every fantasy fan ought to have heard of, and these really don't look like being some of them.]
Lamora wrote: "Wastrel wrote: "Lamora wrote: "Please remove City of Fallen Angels from this list. If there is a single fan of fantasy on this site who has never even heard of Cassandra Clare, they need help."Se..."
[Wrote my next comment before I saw this one, didn't mean to pile on]
Yeah, I'm fine with saying she's not little-known, especially given the clarification at the top of the poll - it was just the implication that there was something wrong with me if I wasn't up to speed on all the latest teenage romance novelists that I took objection to.
This is neat that someone wanted to make a list of little known authors. I can appreciate that being one myself. But GONE WITH THE WIND, seriously? lol Between that, Twilight and Harry Potter, there is no way this list is being very fair. Someone please take the well known down. And just because a book is older doesn't mean it's not well known. Eesh
I'm honored to be added to this list. Thanks!
I don't think Divergent shoudl be on there :) Great list!
Charlie xx
Veronica Roth is not a little known author.
As this is list is for indie authors or/and books that are published by small companies I deletedDivergent by Veronica Roth her books are published by Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books.
Cassandra Clare's City of Fallen Angels and Clockwork Angel. Mrs Clare is highly successful top selling author.
Jennifer wrote: "This is neat that someone wanted to make a list of little known authors. I can appreciate that being one myself. But GONE WITH THE WIND, seriously? lol Between that, Twilight and Harry Potter, ther..."I made this list. I WISH I knew why people are putting these well-known books on the list. It's irking me.
Rosa wrote: "I made this list. I WISH I knew why people are putting these well-known books on the list. It's irking me. "As a list creator, I believe, you can remove these popular books or if you want to I can delete them. :)
Anna wrote: "Rosa wrote: "I made this list. I WISH I knew why people are putting these well-known books on the list. It's irking me. "As a list creator, I believe, you can remove these popular books or if yo..."
There are so many to delete though.
Amber wrote: "There are so many to delete though. "I believe I'm not the only one who would it consider as a fun pastime. I can delete books that I know are miscatorized and then pass it on to someone who is more knowledgeable.
Amber wrote: "Anna wrote: "Rosa wrote: "I made this list. I WISH I knew why people are putting these well-known books on the list. It's irking me. "As a list creator, I believe, you can remove these popular b..."
Hi Amber,
I had a feeling there was a way, and I just figured it out! Yay! It will take a while. It just took me an hour or so to delete a number of them. I think I caught all the JK Rowling and other extremely well-knowns. I'll continue to work on it! My aims for the list are clear, and I definitely don't like to see it abused.
Thanks!
Anna wrote: "Rosa wrote: "I made this list. I WISH I knew why people are putting these well-known books on the list. It's irking me. "As a list creator, I believe, you can remove these popular books or if yo..."
Oops, accidentally replied to the wrong message! See my comment below. Thanks so much! :-)
Good luck Rosa!Here is some books that you might want to delete
327 The Time Traveler's Wife
337 Gone with the Wind
339 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Also LE Modesitt Jr, the magic of recluse series is a well known fantasy book and has been traditionally published for ages!
Also Kelley Armstrong (currently 604), although I love her, shouldn't be on this list as she's massive in urban fantasy!
DeletedLast Sacrifice
Daughter of Smoke & BoneShiver
Elvis and Me
The Poisonwood Bible
Hush, Hush
Torment
Fallen
Mockingjay
I loved loved loved this book. All the characters were likable, I felt like I was an active participant in the story. I never felt that any situation was unrealistic, and normally I'm not a fan of the genre. This book has made me go back and give other authors a chance.
The following have been deleted because were NOT published by a small company or self-published:
Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth(Published by HarperCollins)
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg (Published by Random House)
Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead (Published by Razorbill – which is part of Penguin)
Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead (Published by Razorbill – which is part of Penguin)
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (Published by Vintage which is part of Random House)
On Dublin Street by Samantha Young (Published by New American Library – which is part of Penguin) Also a New York Times bestselling book written by a writer who has been on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Published by HarperCollins)
Imager’s Challenge by L.E. Modesitt (Published by TOR Books)
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Published by Grand Central Publishing which is part of Hachette books)
Darksong Rising by L.E. Modesitt (Published by TOR Books)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (Published by Vintage which is part of Random House)
Wilt (Wilt Series #1) by Tom Sharpe (Published by Arrow which is part of Random House)
The Warded Man (Demon Cycle #1) by Peter V. Brett (Published by Del Ray which is part of Random House)
The Desert Spear (Demon Cycle #2) by Peter V. Brett (Published by Del Ray which is part of Random House)
Unearthly (Unearthly, #1) by Cynthia Hand (Published by HarperTeen which is part of HarperCollins)
Hallowed (Unearthly, #2) by Cynthia Hand (Published by HarperTeen which is part of HarperCollins)
Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane, #1) by Jaye Wells (Published by Orbit which is part of Hachette)
Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth(Published by HarperCollins)
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg (Published by Random House)
Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #3) by Richelle Mead (Published by Razorbill – which is part of Penguin)
Blood Promise (Vampire Academy #4) by Richelle Mead (Published by Razorbill – which is part of Penguin)
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (Published by Vintage which is part of Random House)
On Dublin Street by Samantha Young (Published by New American Library – which is part of Penguin) Also a New York Times bestselling book written by a writer who has been on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Published by HarperCollins)
Imager’s Challenge by L.E. Modesitt (Published by TOR Books)
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Published by Grand Central Publishing which is part of Hachette books)
Darksong Rising by L.E. Modesitt (Published by TOR Books)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (Published by Vintage which is part of Random House)
Wilt (Wilt Series #1) by Tom Sharpe (Published by Arrow which is part of Random House)
The Warded Man (Demon Cycle #1) by Peter V. Brett (Published by Del Ray which is part of Random House)
The Desert Spear (Demon Cycle #2) by Peter V. Brett (Published by Del Ray which is part of Random House)
Unearthly (Unearthly, #1) by Cynthia Hand (Published by HarperTeen which is part of HarperCollins)
Hallowed (Unearthly, #2) by Cynthia Hand (Published by HarperTeen which is part of HarperCollins)
Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane, #1) by Jaye Wells (Published by Orbit which is part of Hachette)
Rosa, I love the idea behind your list. I'm so sorry that people are making it so messy, so I thought I'd pitch in to "clean up". Because it's not my list, I am limited in needing to strictly follow the criteria you spelled out in your description.
This means that I was not able to delete The Time Traveler's Wife because while I believe it does not meet the subjective criteria of "Little Known," it does however meet your specific criteria of small publishing company.
If I might suggest adding the following criteria:
*Books may not have on the New York Times bestseller list (one of the books I deleted was in addition to being published by a big house). Maybe even author may never have been on it.
*A cap on how many ratings a book can have. This is tougher to pick a number for, but at a certain point, small publisher or no, if, say, over 50,000 people have rated your book on Goodreads, it's awefully hard to argue that it's really "Little Known"
*Books may not have been made into TV Shows or Movies
This means that I was not able to delete The Time Traveler's Wife because while I believe it does not meet the subjective criteria of "Little Known," it does however meet your specific criteria of small publishing company.
If I might suggest adding the following criteria:
*Books may not have on the New York Times bestseller list (one of the books I deleted was in addition to being published by a big house). Maybe even author may never have been on it.
*A cap on how many ratings a book can have. This is tougher to pick a number for, but at a certain point, small publisher or no, if, say, over 50,000 people have rated your book on Goodreads, it's awefully hard to argue that it's really "Little Known"
*Books may not have been made into TV Shows or Movies
I might even recommend going as low as 20,000 or less ratings if my suggestion meets with your intent for this list.
The following have been deleted for failure to meet the criteria of being published by a small company or being self-published:
Biting Cold Chloe Neill Penguin
John Dies at the End David Wong St. Martin’s Press
The Dogs of Babel Carolyn Parkhurst Hachette Book Group
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms M.K. Jemison Hachette Book Group
Blood of Elves Andrzej Sapkowski Hachette Book Group
The Perfect Play Jaci Burton Penguin
Pushing the Limits Katie McGarry Harlequin
Scepters L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
The Spellsong War L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Darknesses L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Natural Ordermage L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Silence Becca Fitzpatrick Simon & Schuster
Legacies L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Black Dawn Rachel Caine Penguin
Revolution Jennifer Donnelly Random House
The Maze Runner James Dashner Random House
The Shadow Sorceress L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Magi'i of Cyador L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Alector's Choice L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Mage-Guard of Hamor L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
The Magic of Recluce L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Theft of Swords Michael J. Sullivan Hachette Book Group
Storm Front Jim Butcher Penguin
The Magic Engineer L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Biting Cold Chloe Neill Penguin
John Dies at the End David Wong St. Martin’s Press
The Dogs of Babel Carolyn Parkhurst Hachette Book Group
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms M.K. Jemison Hachette Book Group
Blood of Elves Andrzej Sapkowski Hachette Book Group
The Perfect Play Jaci Burton Penguin
Pushing the Limits Katie McGarry Harlequin
Scepters L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
The Spellsong War L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Darknesses L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Natural Ordermage L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Silence Becca Fitzpatrick Simon & Schuster
Legacies L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Black Dawn Rachel Caine Penguin
Revolution Jennifer Donnelly Random House
The Maze Runner James Dashner Random House
The Shadow Sorceress L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Magi'i of Cyador L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Alector's Choice L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Mage-Guard of Hamor L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
The Magic of Recluce L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
Theft of Swords Michael J. Sullivan Hachette Book Group
Storm Front Jim Butcher Penguin
The Magic Engineer L.E. Modesitt TOR Books
The following have been deleted for failure to meet the criteria of being published by a small company or being self-published:
Get Shorty Elmore Leonard HarperCollins
Dreamless Josephine Angelini HarperCollins
Drink Deep Chloe Neill Penguin
The Wise Man’s Fear Patrick Rothfuss Penguin
Hard Bitten Chloe Neill Penguin
Indecent Exposure Tom Sharpe Grove Atlantic
Riotous Assembly Tom Sharpe Grove Atlantic
Vintage Stuff Tom Sharpe Random House
Wilt in Nowhere Tom Sharpe Random House
Twice Bitten Chloe Neill Penguin
Friday Night Bites Chloe Neill Penguin
The Throwback Tom Sharpe Macmillan
Ancestral Vices Tom Sharpe Macmillan
The Wilt Alternative Tom Sharpe Random House
The Soprano Sorceress L.E. Modesitt Jr TOR Books
Wilt on High Tom Sharpe Random House
The Oath Frank Peretti HarperCollins
The Name of the Wind Patrick Rothfuss Penguin
The Submissive Tara Sue Me Penguin
The Gathering Kelley Armstrong HarperColins
Lost Voices Sarah Porter Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
City of Lost Souls Cassandra Clare Simon & Schuster
Get Shorty Elmore Leonard HarperCollins
Dreamless Josephine Angelini HarperCollins
Drink Deep Chloe Neill Penguin
The Wise Man’s Fear Patrick Rothfuss Penguin
Hard Bitten Chloe Neill Penguin
Indecent Exposure Tom Sharpe Grove Atlantic
Riotous Assembly Tom Sharpe Grove Atlantic
Vintage Stuff Tom Sharpe Random House
Wilt in Nowhere Tom Sharpe Random House
Twice Bitten Chloe Neill Penguin
Friday Night Bites Chloe Neill Penguin
The Throwback Tom Sharpe Macmillan
Ancestral Vices Tom Sharpe Macmillan
The Wilt Alternative Tom Sharpe Random House
The Soprano Sorceress L.E. Modesitt Jr TOR Books
Wilt on High Tom Sharpe Random House
The Oath Frank Peretti HarperCollins
The Name of the Wind Patrick Rothfuss Penguin
The Submissive Tara Sue Me Penguin
The Gathering Kelley Armstrong HarperColins
Lost Voices Sarah Porter Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
City of Lost Souls Cassandra Clare Simon & Schuster
Removed:
Geek Love Katherine Dunn Random House
Like Water for Chocolate Laura Esquivel Random House
The House at Riverton Kate Morton Pan Macmillan
Virals Kathy Reichs Penguin
Faithful Place Tana French Penguin
Moonglass Jessi Kirby Simon & Schuster
Every Breath You Take: A True Story of Obsession, Revenge, and Murder Ann Rule Simon & Schuster
Cryptid Hunters Roland Smith Disney Hyperion
Geek Love Katherine Dunn Random House
Like Water for Chocolate Laura Esquivel Random House
The House at Riverton Kate Morton Pan Macmillan
Virals Kathy Reichs Penguin
Faithful Place Tana French Penguin
Moonglass Jessi Kirby Simon & Schuster
Every Breath You Take: A True Story of Obsession, Revenge, and Murder Ann Rule Simon & Schuster
Cryptid Hunters Roland Smith Disney Hyperion
Removed:
Heat Rises Richard Castle Hyperion
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Rebecca Wells HarperCollins Perennial
The Lord-Protector’s Daughter L.E. Modesitt Jr TOR Books
House of Suns Alastair Reynolds Penguin/Orion/Gollancz
Here, There Be Dragons James A. Owen Simon & Schuster
Heat Rises Richard Castle Hyperion
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Rebecca Wells HarperCollins Perennial
The Lord-Protector’s Daughter L.E. Modesitt Jr TOR Books
House of Suns Alastair Reynolds Penguin/Orion/Gollancz
Here, There Be Dragons James A. Owen Simon & Schuster
So honored to be at #103 out of 3,138 in list on best of little know authors! 
Maybe be you'd like to check this interesting new novel, Zero Defect, by an indie author. The books is currently available on amazon kindle - Top Indian Fiction
Brief: A harrowing struggle of a young man with life, a beautiful love story and an unexpected ending.
(view spoiler)
My first novel. Please vote for my book!
Anyone know how I can search for a book to vote?
Michelle wrote: "Rosa, I love the idea behind your list. I'm so sorry that people are making it so messy, so I thought I'd pitch in to "clean up". Because it's not my list, I am limited in needing to strictly follo..."Michelle, thank you so much for doing this! I know how long it took me to delete books from the list, so I know you spent a lot of time on this. Great job! --Rosa
Thoroughly enjoyed athe Wronged Sons
Hi i just noticed that the book i voted for The Wronged Sons is on the list twice. Once at number 2 and once much further done (147ish). Can that be fixed?Anyway great list thanks for creating and maintaining it
I LOVE this idea!! Seems like fun. Thanks for putting it together!!
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