Indie authors are writers who publish their work independently, without the backing of traditional publishing houses. They often take on multiple roles, including writing, editing, and marketing their books. This allows them greater creative control and the ability to connect directly with their readers. Many indie authors use platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Smashwords to distribute their books. This self-publishing model has grown in popularity, enabling authors to reach a global audience and explore diverse genres and themes that may not fit mainstream publishing trends.