No More Cold Pitches: Building a Free Indie Publishing Network That Actually Works

The indie lit scene is full of passion. Full of people doing it for the love — writing, publishing, reviewing, shouting into the void just to keep the signal alive. But here’s the truth: it’s chaotic. It’s scattered. It’s hard work for writers and small presses to get the visibility they deserve.

What if we could change that?

What if we could build a shared infrastructure — a free indie publishing network — where blog tours, interviews, features and reviews weren’t a slog or a favour to beg, but part of a smooth, collaborative system?

That’s the vision. And this time, I want to build it right.

The Idea: Streamlined Support for Indie Books

This isn’t a new idea — I floated it once before on X (back when Twitter still pretended to care about culture). The concept landed well, but the execution faltered. Too much noise. Not enough cohesion. But the bones were strong.

So I’m trying again. Bigger, better, properly.

This time, I’m launching it across my own site and through The Broken Spine. But it’s not about branding. It’s not about centralising power. It’s about creating a democratic ecosystem for promoting indie books — together.

What I’m Building

A collaborative network of 30+ blogs, newsletters, podcasts, and review platforms — working in sync to amplify new indie releases.

The process? Simple.

• Authors or presses fill out a form — just once.
• That info becomes a mini press kit, available to all platforms in the network.
• Bloggers, podcasters, and reviewers get instant access to fresh, original writing they can feature.
• Everyone benefits.

No gatekeeping. No fees. No endless cold-pitching.

Just a streamlined, supportive system built to lift indie literature and the people keeping it alive.

Why This Matters

If I get this right:

• Writers get actual platforms — not posts lost in a timeline abyss.
• Reviewers and bloggers get early access to meaningful, under-the-radar books.
• Small presses get a serious visibility boost without killing their budgets.
• Readers discover new, risk-taking voices they’d never find in the algorithmic sludge of mainstream platforms.

It’s not just about promo — it’s about community-powered visibility. It’s about creating a system that lets indie literature thrive on its own terms.

Calling All Book Bloggers, Podcasters & Lit Enthusiasts

If you:

• Run a blog or newsletter
• Host a podcast
• Want regular access to exciting new indie releases
• Are starting a book blog and want a direct way in

This is for you. You’ll get first-look access to a stream of independent books ready to be reviewed, discussed, championed. We want to make blog tours and book promotion as easy and democratic as possible —for everyone.

For Writers and Small Presses

If you’re tired of the scattergun approach to book promotion — tired of DMing thirty people for a maybe — this network could save you time, stress, and a whole lot of soul-sucking admin.

One form. One upload. Your book gets into the right hands.

No paywalls. No platforms charging for ‘exposure’. Just genuine, mutual support.

Want In?

DM me on Bluesky if you’re interested.
I’m building the network now. If you want to be part of it from the ground up — whether you’re a book blogger, a podcast host, a press, or a writer — it’s time.

Let’s stop waiting for someone else to build the system. Let’s build the one we need.