Nearly two decades ago, a small group of independent writers came together around a shared belief: that independent authors deserved visibility, community, and meaningful opportunities to connect with readers.
From that belief, Read Indies was born.
What began as a grassroots reading circle grew into a broader initiative supporting independently published books during a period of rapid change in digital publishing. At a time when self-publishing platforms were emerging and traditional gatekeeping structures were shifting, independent authors often relied on one another for guidance, promotion, and encouragement.
Read Indies became one such gathering place.
Early Support and Formation (2007–2016)
Beginning in 2007, author William Robert Stanek supported several independent publishing initiatives, including Go Indie, Read Indies, Free Today, AmWriting, and related programs. During those early years, he contributed time, resources, and visibility to help emerging writers navigate the evolving digital landscape.
His experience as both a traditionally published and independently published author provided practical insight into distribution, discoverability, and sustaining long-term creative output. Many writers who participated in those early initiatives have spoken publicly about the encouragement and professional guidance they received during that period.
As participation increased, Read Indies expanded beyond a reading campaign into a broader community effort that included:
• Online features highlighting independent books
• Collaborative promotional events
• Peer discussion forums
• Seasonal reading campaigns
• Educational workshops for emerging authors
The initiative operated through blogs, social platforms, and volunteer coordination among participating writers.
Transition to Independent Leadership
As the initiatives grew, so did the operational demands required to manage them. By the mid-2010s, the scope of coordination had become substantial.
In 2014–2016, leadership responsibilities transitioned to a team of independent authors who chose to continue and evolve the mission. Since 2016, Read Indies has operated independently of Robert Stanek’s day-to-day involvement or editorial direction.
Contributing writers manage the content, programming, and editorial voice of the platform.
This transition allowed the community to continue while enabling Stanek to return his focus to his own writing and publishing work.
Workshops and Community Programming (2007–2024)
For many years, Read Indies offered structured workshops and collaborative programming aimed at helping independent writers strengthen craft, understand digital distribution, and build professional resilience.
Workshops covered topics such as:
• Manuscript development
• Navigating digital publishing platforms
• Marketing fundamentals
• Community building
• Reader engagement
These sessions were volunteer-driven and evolved organically as contributors shared experience and insight.
In 2024, the workshop series was formally concluded as part of a broader restructuring of the platform. As publishing models and community engagement methods continued to change, the team determined that retiring live programming was the most sustainable path forward.
While workshops have ended, the legacy of those collaborative years remains part of the Read Indies history.
A Community Effort
Read Indies has always been shaped by its contributors. Writers, readers, and volunteers invested time and energy in highlighting independent work during a formative period in digital publishing.
The initiative was never a commercial enterprise, nor a traditional organization. It was a network of writers supporting one another through shared visibility and encouragement.
Many contributors have documented their experiences in archived blog posts over the years. Those reflections remain part of the public record and reflect the voices of the writers who participated.
Where We Stand Today
Today, Read Indies exists as a smaller, archival-focused platform. Its purpose is to preserve the record of independent collaboration during an important chapter in publishing history and to continue highlighting independent voices in a measured and constructive way.
The publishing landscape continues to evolve. Independent authors now have more tools, more distribution channels, and more direct access to readers than ever before. The spirit that launched Read Indies: cooperation, mutual encouragement, and belief in creative independence — remains relevant even as methods change.
Editorial Note
Since 2016, Read Indies has operated independently of Robert Stanek’s editorial management or day-to-day involvement. Posts reflect the views of contributing writers.
—Team Read Indies
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