About Read Indies
Read Indies, Go Indie, Free Today, AmWriting, AmBlogging, and related initiatives were originally created by author Robert Stanek beginning in 2007 as a way to support independent authors and publishers.
For many years, Robert donated hundreds of hours of his time to feature emerging writers, organize events, and promote independent publishing during the early growth of digital distribution.
As these initiatives expanded, however, the work required to manage them grew into a full-scale operation. Rather than discontinue the programs, Robert invited a team of independent authors to help continue and expand the mission.
Since 2014, these sites have operated under a collaborative model.
Editorial Independence
Robert Stanek has not been actively involved in the day-to-day management or editorial direction of Read Indies since 2016.
Read Indies is currently operated by Team Read Indies — a group of independent writers and contributors including Cathy Thompson, Emily A., Jennifer Blake, and others.
Team Read Indies is solely responsible for:
• Editorial decisions
• Content selection
• Published posts
• Opinions expressed on the site
• Tribute features and commentary
While Robert has occasionally submitted posts over the years, he does not manage the site, moderate content, or direct editorial policy.
All opinions expressed on Read Indies represent the views of the individual contributors, not Robert Stanek.
About Robert Stanek
Robert Stanek is an internationally published author whose writing career spans more than three decades.
His work includes fiction and nonfiction across multiple genres, including fantasy, science fiction, children’s literature, technology, and historical fiction. His books have been distributed internationally in dozens of languages and through retail, library, and educational channels worldwide.
Among his fantasy works, reader favorites include:
• Keeper Martin’s Tale (Ruin Mist Chronicles, Book 1)
• Breath of Fire (Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1)
• Into the Stone Land (Magic Lands, Book 2)
In children’s literature, the Bugville Critters series began as stories written for his own children before expanding into a widely distributed collection of illustrated picture books.
Robert’s early support of independent authors began in the mid-1990s through initiatives such as Writer’s Gallery, Internet Daily News, and Internet Job Center. In 2007, he launched Go Indie as a broader effort to support independent bookstores, publishers, and authors during the transition to digital publishing.
Today, those initiatives continue under independent management.
Learn more about Robert Stanek at his official website:
A complete book list can be found here:
One of Robert’s recent releases is:
This Mortal Coil: After the Machines
Read Indies Workshops & Events
For many years, Read Indies hosted online workshops, collaborative writing events, and seasonal promotional programs designed to support independent authors at various stages of their careers.
These initiatives included:
• Craft-focused writing workshops
• Digital publishing strategy sessions
• Community-based read-alongs and promotional features
• Seasonal events such as holiday and summer reading campaigns
The workshops were created to provide practical guidance, peer collaboration, and visibility for independent writers navigating a rapidly changing publishing landscape.
After nearly two decades of community programming, the workshop series and related live initiatives were formally concluded in 2024 as part of a broader restructuring of the platform.
While workshops are no longer active, many of the posts and features remains available as a record of the community’s work and contributions over the years.
