DJ is Writing: Indie Book Spotlight

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

SPOTLIGHT on a pair of indie authors working tirelessly to support the indie author community

Cover Image courtesy of
Author Website

I recently reviewed a little short story by Tessa Hastjarjanto that I fear may have been buried behind a review of a better known classic from Sir Terry Pratchett of Discworld fame. Hastjarjanto’s piece was A Dress to Kill For, and I was well impressed by it. I’m revisiting a mention of her now because I recently read a short story from another indie author, Rebecca Crunden, and her lgbtq fantasy piece The Final Act of Jonas Black.

Cover Image courtesy of
Author Website

It’s quite possible that I picked up an ecopy of Jonas Black from the Narratess indie book sale hosted by Hastjarjanto; I’m not certain, but it seemed fitting to highlight the work of these two women together for specific reasons. Both authors play in the horror/scifi/fantasy sandbox, but they also work tirelessly to support the indie author community in ways that help indie authors get exposure. For free. I mentioned Hastjarjanto’s semiannual indie book sales. Crunden is the might behind the social media Indie Book Spotlight accounts.

Don’t go down some rabbit hole to search and hound them for their support though. The do it on their own terms, from the goodness of their hearts. They pay it forward, is what I’m saying, and if they have randomly supported you without you having prodded them to do so in some way, you should probably thank them. And as it turns out, they have their own catalogs of material worth a perusal. I’ve left my reviews for the two short stories I’ve read below. Check them out! Their work is well worth your time.

A DRESS TO KILL FOR by Tessa Hastjarjanto

This one may be short, but it’s an extremely well told horror piece about the lengths the society folk will go through to keep their fingernails clutched into their status. A touch gothic, a touch eldritch or folk horror. This short story is well paced and, quite frankly a gem. Find more of her work here at her personal website https://tessa.narratess.com/

THE FINAL ACT OF JONAS BLACK by Rebecca Crunden

Jonas Black is not who he appears to be. But he’s comfortable in his current role as a magic act in Vegas. Not too flashy, he gets by. He’s also happy in a somewhat noncommittal relationship with his SO. But then his family past comes back to haunt him, to pull him back home, and he has a decision to make. Does he leave behind the life he’s grown comfortable in, or does he expose his truth to the one he loves, risking the loss of a relationship he didn’t realize he needed?

This is a nicely done story about the lives we choose to lead and the choices we have to make in return. Find out more at her personal website https://rebeccacrunden.com/

The Latest Book -- Perfect Sacrifices -- The Kirkus Review

This third installment of Johnson’s Perfect Prophet supernatural thriller series finds family and friends caught in a cult’s web of rituals and retribution. Devil worshipping death-metal guitarist Alec Lowell left all that behind to become a faith healer. In the same vein, his Satanist half-brother, Lucas, lives a quiet life in a Wisconsin cemetery after leaving a cult. But now cult members want Lucas as a sacrifice for “the Dark One.” When they snatch Ally Reeves, an innocent teen girl, Lucas is convinced it’s to draw him into the open. He rushes to help her, but she isn’t the only person these vicious people have their sights on: It’s not long before others in the half-brothers’ orbit are in jeopardy, including Alec’s ex-wife, Belinda, and their son, Jake, as well as Jake’s girlfriend, Maggie. Lucas isn’t on the best of terms with everyone—as a member of the cult, he once kidnapped Jake “with some deranged notion to repent for his sins.” Nevertheless, they’ll need to rely on one another to stand against a group of merciless killers. As in the series’ previous installments, the story is bleak and violent, sometimes graphically so (“Shein’s abductor pried open his jaw while the female assistant grabbed hold of the tongue with a spring clamp…”). The narrative moves at a blistering pace, dishing out copious twists throughout rather than saving them for the final act. This sequel nudges the spotlight away from the half-brothers and allows the outstanding supporting cast to shine, especially Belinda and Maggie. The supernatural elements are understated; magic is in play but no single character is all powerful (that doesn’t make the villains any less horrifying as they seemingly come out of nowhere). The author deftly integrates pre-existing subplots and character relationships, but readers may want to check out the preceding books first to avoid spoilers. While a fourth installment is possible, this one concludes on a satisfying note. A somber, kinetically charged, character-driven sequel. -- Kirkus Reviews https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/diane-m-johnson/perfect-sacrifices/