10 Extremely Cool Indie Writers to Watch!
For the reader who likes to know about cool books and writers before anyone else.
Dear Booklover,
If you love books, you might want to join in on the May festivities and celebrate these 10 Extremely Cool Indie Writers. Since May is AAPI Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month, it’s the perfect time to center a few of our Jewish, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander authors.
You may be thinking, oh great, another list! There are dozens of book lists honoring heritage months. But wait! How many book lists have you read focused solely on independent writers of books published by an independent, nonprofit, literary press? Huzzah! Scroll if you please.
As always, thank you for your interest in independent literature. If you love books, you’re going to love these writers!
Sincerely,
Red Hen Press
5 Extremely Cool AAPI Writers
The Japanese Poet Using Writing as a Balm for Generational Trauma: Brynn Saito
Based in: Fresno, CA
Most recent book: Under a Future Sky (Red Hen Press, 2023)
Fun fact: Brynn is co-editing with Brandon Shimoda an anthology of poetry written by descendants of the Japanese American incarceration (Haymarket Books, 2025).
Learn more about Brynn here!
The Writer Blending Surrealism with the Contemporary Filipino American Experience: E. P. Tuazon
Based in: Los Angeles, CA
Most recent book: A Professional Lola (Red Hen Press, 2024)
Fun fact: In their spare time, they like to go to Filipino seafood markets to gossip with the crabs.
Learn more about E. P. here!
The Vietnamese American Poet Earning her PhD in Literature: Phuong T. Vuong
Based in: San Diego, CA
Most recent book: A Plucked Zither (Red Hen Press, 2023)
Fun fact: Phuong is currently pursuing her PhD in Literature at the University of California. She researches Asian American queer and feminist aesthetics.
Check out Phuong’s books here!
The Kirkus-Starred Debut Author & Lifelong Fantasy Devotee: Madeleine Nakamura
Based in: Los Angeles, CA
Most recent book: Cursebreakers (Red Hen Press, 2023)
Fun fact: In her spare time, Madeleine enjoys tabletop RPGs, video games, cooking, and embroidery.
Learn more about Madeleine here!
The Peach Farmer and 2024 NBCC Book Awards Finalist: David Mas Masumoto
Based in: Fresno, CA
Most recent book: Secret Harvests: A Hidden Story of Separation and the Resilience of a Family Farm, featuring artwork by Patricia Wakida (Red Hen Press, 2023)
Fun fact: Mas and his family reside in a hundred-year-old farmhouse surrounded by their eighty-acre organic peach, nectarine, apricot, and raisin farm.
Learn more about Mas here!
5 Extremely Cool Jewish Writers
Amy Shearn: The Brooklyn Novelist Helping Other Writers Get Unstuck
Based in: Brooklyn, NY
Most recent book: Dear Edna Sloane (Red Hen Press, 2024)
Fun fact:
Learn more about Amy here!
Susan Rich: The Prolific Poet Writing and Teaching in the Pacific Northwest
Based in: Seattle, WA
Most recent book: Blue Atlas (Red Hen Press, 2024)
Fun fact:
Learn more about Susan here!
Lisa Greer: The Proud Mother of Three on a Mission to “Save Giving” by Empowering Both Fundraisers and Donors
Based in: Beverly Hills, CA
Most recent book: The Essential Fundraiser's Handbook: A Guide to Maximizing Donations, Retaining Donors, and Saving the Giving Sector for Good (Red Hen Press, 2024)
Fun fact:
Learn more about Lisa here!
Jason Schneiderman: The Poet Ada Limón Dubbed “One of our nation’s best poets”
Based in: Brooklyn, NY
Most recent book: Self Portrait as Icarus as a Country on Fire (Red Hen Press, 2024)
Fun fact: Jason is the author of five books of poems and is an Associate Professor of English at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY.
Learn more about Jason here!
Kim Dower: The City Poet Laureate of West Hollywood from 2016 – 2018
Based in: West Hollywood, CA
Most recent book: What She Wants (Red Hen Press, 2025)
Fun fact: Kim is the author of six poetry collections, and teaches poetry workshops for Antioch University, UCLA Extension, West Hollywood Library and the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
Learn more about Kim here!
Thank you for scrolling! We hope you enjoyed this roundup of independent writers. If you’d like to read more about their books, visit Red Hen’s book shop linked below.
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Thanks so much for this!
I am a huge David Mas Masumoto fan! I grabbed his latest, Secret Harvests - A Hidden Story of Separation and the Resilience of a Family Farm - It is such a beautifully poetic memoir. I grabbed it when I went to @redhenpress to see my friend's art show a couple of months ago.
I fell in love with Mas Masumoto's writing ages ago when I read Epitaph to a Peach and when I've heard him on NPR. I grabbed Four Seasons in Five Senses when it came out; then grabbed Changing Seasons during the pandemic. I even drove from Southern California up to the farm during the first pandemic summer to grab peaches and nectarines when they opened up for drive-by pick up.
the fragrance of the fruit . each bite . worth every mile!