Today is Independence Day. It’s a time to celebrate the independent spirit within each of us.

Many of our cultures most famous authors started through self-publishing their works. Names like Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Beatrice Potter, Ezra Pound, Virginia Woolf, to name a few from history. For more contemporary examples, both the NYT bestseller The Celestine Prophecy from the 90s, Eragon, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid were all first self-published.

Things are changing in the world of publishing, as you well know if you follow my blog and industry news, and this is a great time to be an independent, emerging author/artist. With the amazing took that is social networking, new yet-unknown artists of all kinds are finding their audience. And I think that is wonderful. There is nothing quite like creating something unique and having readers (or listeners) respond.

So in celebration of the independent spirit, please consider supporting an emerging author or artist.

Here are some I recommend. Authors, unless otherwise noted:

• Me, of course
• O. M. Grey
• Nick Valentino
• Elizabeth Darvill
• Leanna Renee Hieber
• Professor Elemental (Steampunk Hip Hop) * Video
• Rocky Kelley (Artist)
• Robert Stikmanz
• Paul E. Cooley * Podcasts
• Evelyn LaFont
• Marquis of Vaudeville (Steampunk/Alternative Band) * Video