5 Indie Romance Authors Dominating the Genre
And what we can learn from the queens of modern indie publishing.
Romance has always been the rebellious heart of the publishing industry. It’s a genre that refuses to shrink, refusing to apologize for emotion, pleasure, or fantasy. And when authors break free from traditional pipelines and go indie?
The results can be explosive.
Today, we’re spotlighting five powerhouse indie romance authors who built their empires from scratch — and the lessons their journeys offer to anyone writing or reading a romance in 2025.
1. Lucy Score — The Community-Builder
Lucy Score didn’t wait for permission—she wrote, self-published, and watched her sophomore novel hit #1 on Amazon Kindle.
Her success? Fueled by connection.
Her readers don’t just consume her books; they gather around them.
Why she stands out:
Built her career from a layoff to a #1 New York Times bestseller
Thrives on direct reader engagement
Balances indie roots with broader publishing partnerships
Source:
People profile — “How Lucy Score Found Her Place (and Her People)”
https://people.com/lucy-score-story-of-my-life-profile-exclusive-11697547
The takeaway:
A loyal reader community is one of the strongest engines an indie author can build.
2. Kathryn Le Veque — The Prolific Powerhouse
With 100+ novels under her belt, Kathryn Le Veque proves what consistency and courage can build. She carved out a medieval romance dynasty long before indie publishing became a mainstream phenomenon.
Why she stands out:
Master world-builder in historical romance
Founder of her own publishing imprint
A veteran who calls her career:
“An overnight success that took 30 years.”
Source:
Self Publishing Formula interview
https://selfpublishingformula.com/episode-207
The takeaway:
Niche + consistency = longevity. Your backlist is your legacy.
3. Bella Andre — The Series Queen
Before Kindle Unlimited, before BookTok, before romance became the juggernaut it is today — Bella Andre was already dominating the indie scene.
Her Sullivans™ series remains one of the best examples of how connected romances can form an entire ecosystem of devoted fans.
Why she stands out:
Millions of books sold
One of the first major indie breakout successes
Expert architect of multi-book romance universes
Source:
Bella Andre on Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_Andre
The takeaway:
If you’re dreaming of a multi-book world or spin-off series, she’s the blueprint.
4. Kennedy Ryan — The Heart-Forward Visionary
Kennedy Ryan writes romance with soul, substance, and purpose. She centers Black women and emotional complexity in her storytelling — and the world has taken notice.
Why she stands out:
First Black author to win the RITA Award for Best Contemporary Romance
A hybrid indie/trad author who uses romance to explore identity, empowerment, and love
Writes “from the margins to the center,” in her own words
Sources:
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_Ryan
TheGrio profile — https://thegrio.com/2025/07/24/how-kennedy-ryan-became-a-bestselling-romance-author-by-unapologetically-centering-black-women/
The takeaway:
Romance is at its strongest when it speaks truthfully about people’s lives.
5. Pepper Winters — The Dark Romance Rebel
Pepper Winters proves that “too dark,” “too intense,” or “too unconventional” can become a winning formula. Her niche? Emotionally charged, boundary-pushing romance.
Why she stands out:
NYT, USA Today, and WSJ bestselling indie author
~40 books translated worldwide
Specializes in darker, edgier relationship arcs
Source:
Pepper Winters official bio
https://pepperwinters.com/about
The takeaway:
Your voice becomes your brand when you stop asking for permission to use it.
📚 Final Thoughts: The Indie Blueprint
These authors didn’t rise because the industry opened doors for them.
They rose because they built their own.
Their stories prove that indie romance is:
wildly creative
unapologetically emotional
full of room for bold voices
driven by community
a place where writers can thrive on their own terms
If you love romance — reading it, writing it, dreaming inside it — these five authors are essential.
💬 Want More Like This?
If you want breakdowns of:
✨ bestselling indie marketing strategies
✨ romance genre insights
✨ craft tips
✨ author deep-dives
✨ behind-the-scenes on my own writing journey
Comment “More Indie Spotlights!” and I’ll keep this series going.
✍️ Writer’s Prompt of the Day
“Your character receives a message that could save them — but it’s written in the handwriting of the one person they swore never to trust again.”
Optional expansions:
The message arrives at the worst possible moment: during a storm, a trial, a kiss, a fight, or a moment of total vulnerability.
The character must decide whether the handwriting is real or forged.
The person who wrote it might be watching.
The message contains one sentence, but its meaning shifts depending on the character’s emotional state.
If writing romance: the message reveals a truth or confession that forces the lovers back into each other’s orbit.
If writing dark romance or gothic: the message is delivered in a way no living person could have managed.
Questions to guide today’s writing:
What memory does the handwriting stir up?
What is at stake if they believe it?
What is at stake if they don’t?
Who benefits if the message is real — and who benefits if it’s fake?
Does this message force them closer to love, betrayal, or revelation?
When the Past Writes Back — A Dark Romance Teaser
Every dark romance starts with a fracture—
and sometimes, it’s a message that cracks everything open again.
Today’s writing prompt led to a visceral question:
What happens when your character receives a warning written in the handwriting of the one person they vowed never to trust again?
That single sentence becomes a doorway into betrayal, longing, memory… and the dangerous idea that the past isn’t finished with them.
I did a full deep-dive reflection on this prompt—
and if you’re drawn to moody, emotional, atmospheric storytelling…
you’ll want to read this one.
👉 Continue reading the full essay on my blog
https://kladams.blog/2025/11/17/when-the-past-writes-back-a-dark-romance-reflection-on-trust-temptation-and-the-message-that-changes-everything/
📨 Coming Soon on Substack:
A behind-the-scenes look at my romance novel, and how I’m blending prophecy, horror, and longing into something brand new.
🖤 Stay in the story with me
If you love wandering through the darker, softer corners of romance—where desire meets destiny—then make sure you subscribe.
Every issue brings you deeper into the worlds I’m building, the authors who inspire them, and the writing that keeps the night alive.
🕯 Share this with someone who feels stories deeply
If this feature made you think of another reader or writer, send it their way.
Stories grow stronger when they’re shared, whispered, and passed hand-to-hand.