Originally Published July 31, 2026

Native Wins a Kirkus Star

At a literary convention in Pittsburgh last week, I looked forward to two key opportunities for my debut novel, Native Species: a scheduled reading, which would enable me to reach a room full of potential readers; and a pitch session with a literary agent, which might conceivably enable me to have my book published traditionally.

Things did not go well.

The convention organizers—wonderful, kindhearted people—inadvertently forgot to put my ad in the convention program, and my bio as well, so no one knew anything about me or my book. Three people showed up for the reading: one was the friend who encouraged my attendance, one may have slept through the reading, and one came in 10 minutes before the end (she liked the book, though.)

As for the pitch session: the literary agent, upon seeing my published book, politely told me that traditional publishers would not be interested in a self-published book; they are looking for "fresh" work. Indie authors need not apply, unless they already have staggering sales (in which case I wouldn't need a publisher's support, now would I?)

I left that convention sad indeed. Against a wave of traditionally published, New York Times-reviewed books, a tide of indie published books, and a growing soup of AI slop, what's an indie author to do? How can we get our books noticed?

Three days after I returned home, I found out.

Back in May I'd submitted my book for a Kirkus review. Kirkus, in case you didn't know, is a professional, paid review service that offers objective reviews for books, both traditionally and independently published. You give them money; they read and review your book. If you don't like the review, you can bury it and it will never see the light of day. But if you do like it, you can quote it. And in rare instances, Kirkus awards a star to books they find outstanding. Only 3% of all indie published books reviewed by Kirkus receive this star.

Guess whose book is among that 3%?

"An entertaining SF thriller, elegantly written and imaginatively conceived."

"The author provides an arresting view of human nature through alien eyes, and the riveting action scenes move adroitly from evocative suspense to grisly horror…Albergo also writes in an entrancing lyrical vein in which otherness brings wonder instead of terror...The result is a page-turner that both frightens and dazzles with its portrayal of cross-species encounters.” —Kirkus Reviews

Needless to say, seeing this review helped me put the Pittsburgh debacle in the rear view mirror. Moreover, the star provides the validation to convince indie bookstores that Native Species is worth carrying.

I guess it's true, what they tell you when you're a kid: reach for the stars.

And speaking of stars: a shoutout to my self-publishing mentor, author Debbie Young, the queen of funny, feel-good cozy mystery novels. Her latest novel, Death at the Village Garden Party, releases today. To the Cotswolds!

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