"A month-long celebration of great books, tireless independent authors, and the wonderful, connected community that supports them."
The Origin of SPFM
Self-Published Fantasy Month (SPFM) was born as a passion project from the brilliant Jason Aycock of Off the TBR. Recognizing that some of the most innovative, creative, and heartfelt fantasy stories are hidden away in the independent publishing world, Jason envisioned an annual event entirely dedicated to amplifying these works.
What started as a small grassroots campaign has flourished into an eagerly anticipated yearly tradition every September. While traditional publishing has its strengths, self-published fantasy gives authors complete creative freedom to tell unique stories—and SPFM is here to make sure those stories find the passionate readers they deserve.
Our Mission & Purpose
At its core, Self-Published Fantasy Month has two primary objectives:
- For Readers: To help you discover at least one new book you truly adore, and to give you a platform to shout about it from the rooftops.
- For Authors: To support independent creators who work tirelessly to craft immersive universes, providing them with visible features, spotlights, and genuine community engagement.
Throughout the month of September, our team and community fill the feeds with reviews, guest essays, daily prompts, cover reveals, author interviews, and read-alongs to create a celebratory buzz across the entire bookish sphere.
The Guild Philosophy: "Don't Be a Dick"
Community is at the very heart of everything we do. Whether you are participating on Twitter, Instagram, or inside our Discord community (The Guild), we operate on one simple, golden rule:
- Leave negativity at the door: SPFM is a space strictly designed for celebration, encouragement, and love for storytelling.
- Inclusive and welcoming: Whether you read 50 books a month or are picking up your very first indie fantasy novel, you have a place at our tavern table.
- Genuine connection: Fostering respectful dialogue between authors, reviewers, booktubers, bookstagrammers, and passionate fantasy fans.
The Core Organizing Team
Putting together an entire month filled with daily content, interactive prompts, and author spotlights takes a dedicated village of book lovers. Meet the organizers who keep the gears turning:
How You Can Get Involved
Anyone who loves fantasy is invited to celebrate with us! Here is how you can take part:
- Read Indie Fantasy: Pick up a self-published novel, novella, or anthology during September.
- Take the Daily Challenge: Follow our daily prompts on Twitter/Instagram using the official hashtag #spfmchallenge.
- Review & Share: Leave reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog, and tell the world about your favorite reads.
- Join The Guild: Connect with fellow fantasy enthusiasts, chat with authors, and swap recommendations in our active Discord community.