This website is dedicated to celebrating diversity in literature! If you like to read work by new writers, please visit Short Stories & Poems. To lcheck out book reviews and to learn about the history of exclusion in film, television, literature, and comic books, visit Essays. On the Resources page, you will find a vast array of articles to help you explore new books and new ways of reading as well as a few articles for the writers among us. All are welcome to participate in the monthly writing contests. Visit Writing Contests to find out this month's theme and to find out how to participate. Visit the Submissions page if you would like to submit your work to be featured on this platform. And if you are an indie, self-published, or up-and-coming author or poet, consider contacting me about being featured in one of the Author Q&A posts or for your book to be included in the Book Release Radar. Underground Bookshelf is on Patreon for those who would like to help me keep this project going. You're also welcome to subscribe to the monthly newsletter to receive regular updates. May you find your next favorite book or author! Happy reading!
2 May 2025 23:51
All forms of poetry are welcome (under 2,000 words). However, I do not put an age restriction on these contests, so I ask everyone to, please, refrain from egregious sexual or violent content and let me know if there is an important content warning.
2 May 2025 23:20
Thank you to everyone who participated in the April Flash Fiction and Poetry Contest. I was so excited to welcome some new folks to the contest, as well as our regulars and some folks who returned after several months away.
23 Apr 2025 07:45
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey is a science fiction exploration of self-determination, free will, and fate through gene expression. It's a fun psychological thriller with interesting women characters and plot twists going in every direction.
22 Apr 2025 19:45
Genre: Poetry
22 Apr 2025 19:45
Genre: Horror (paranormal activity, blood, cult practices)
17 Apr 2025 14:19
Genre: General Fiction
17 Apr 2025 14:18
floating across
17 Apr 2025 14:18
The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud was banned in Lackawanna County, New York over concerns that it could attract children to the occult. The decision was later reversed when parents and teachers complained of censorship. I've read this book for myself and use this video to explain some of the issues I have with the book as well as things that I think this book does well.
16 Apr 2025 11:10
Just as a heads up, I wanted to let you all know that there will be no resource post this week. That's not because I'm giving up on resources, though. I have a couple of big resource projects that I am currently working on. The first project - which I am hoping to release by the end of this month - is a curated list of books by self-published and indie authors. I'll continue to add to this list as I find more books and more authors, so this will be a living document. I expect it to be a huge document, but one that could be helpful for connecting readers and authors within their preferred genres. Of course, there are many, many self-published and indie authors as well as small, indie publishers, so this resource will probably never be complete, but it is one that will continue to grow over the years. If you are aware of a self-published/indie book or author that you think belong's on this list, let me know in the comments or email me at contact.undergroundbookshelf@gmail.com.
11 Apr 2025 20:12
Genre: fiction, grief, loss
11 Apr 2025 20:08
Have you ever thought about the kind of representation we get from Marvel Comics, TV shows, and movies? I think about this multiple times a day. I'm turning these thoughts into a series in which I deep dive into different characters and the pros and cons of the representation they offer. I'm starting with representation as it relates to disability. In this first episode, I discuss Charles Xavier, leader of the X-Men, and the tropes his character falls into as well as some of the ways he subverts common disability tropes. If you happen to be a fan of comics and related content like me and would like more like this, let me know in the comments, on social media, or by email which characters you would like me to cover in the future.
11 Apr 2025 20:08
Our world is in a moment of political and societal upheaval and many people are stressed, tired, overwhelmed, scared. Others are in the midst of painfully dire situations. In this resource, I've assembled some fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and speeches that offer hope, comfort, encouragement, and energy -- It's up to you which of these you need right now. If you have any suggestions for materials that might belong on this list, please reach out to me at contact.undergroundbookshelf@gmail.com with your suggestion.
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