Andree, thanks so much for reading and your question. How I came to each of these publishers would be an article in itself. The highly condensed version of that: In 2013 I was on an email list that included regular updates on publishers willing to take unsolicited, unagented submissions. Joffe Books was one of a dozen or more publishers to whom I submitted my debut, a detective novel called HABIT. I then did roughly seven more books with Joffe. In 2017, I submitted to Bookuture, having seen their titles regularly topping the Amazon bestsellers. I was please with Joffe, but Bookouture seemed like the next step. They offered me a three book deal. In 2019, feeling in a bit of a creative rut, I discovered a new indie called Inkubator. They had only a few titles out but an intriguing process -- they would workshop the book with you (over zoom) before you wrote it. I did six books with them.

You could say Joffe has won out over time. With the majority of my books with them, plus bulk audio deals and boxsets, they've become my mainstay. (And I have one title with Aethon.)

All four of these digital-first independent publishers are still open to unsolicited unagented submissions. They are adamant to only work with what they feel they can market / add value to. Joffe is mystery and thrillers plus lots of romance and cozies, Inkubator is mostly psych thrillers and action, and Bookouture is almost exclusively "women's fiction" (e.g. psych and domestic thrillers, romance, cozies).

What makes them good, in my opinion, is that they can sell the books. They have robust mailing lists and proven methods of advertising. They have quality editors, book cover designers, and of course are cordial and friendly. I was just offered to be flown to London for Joffe's celebration of ten years in business. Now that's a publisher! (I declined for various reasons, but still.)

Hope that helps.

TJ