Missy Best: Australian Romance Author Bringing Small-Town Cowboy Spice to the Outback

If you’re searching for an Australian romance author who delivers small-town tension, cowboy chemistry, and emotionally charged love stories set in the outback — meet Missy Best.

At Book Besties Bookstore, we love connecting readers with indie romance authors who write stories that feel real, raw, and unforgettable. Missy Best is exactly that.

With a background in bestselling crime fiction and over a decade in the indie publishing world, Missy has reinvented herself in 2025 under a new pen name — and stepped boldly into the world of contemporary romance.

And honestly? We are here for it.

From Crime Fiction to Small-Town Cowboy Romance

Missy Best isn’t new to publishing. She first self-published in 2013 after receiving a rejection from a literary agent who felt her manuscript wasn’t right for the traditional market.

Instead of giving up, she chose the indie author path.

That “rejected” book went on to reach #1 on Amazon and has since surpassed 100,000 downloads and sales across Kindle and print formats. Proof that self-published romance authors — and indie fiction writers in general — can absolutely thrive outside traditional publishing.

In 2025, she made the bold decision to pivot into romance, creating a new brand and launching her cowboy romance series, Not My First Rodeo.

Why Small-Town and Outback Romance?

Growing up and living in small towns across the Australian outback, Missy brings authenticity to her romance novels. Her books are filled with:

• Rodeo culture

• Cowboys and cowgirls

• Wide open landscapes

• Strong, independent women

• Forbidden love

• Forced proximity

• Second chance romance

Her stories lean into slow burn tension, emotional redemption arcs, and that irresistible “we shouldn’t be doing this” chemistry that romance readers love.

If you enjoy small-town cowboy romance with heart, heat, and depth — her books belong on your TBR.

The ‘Not My First Rodeo’ Series

Missy Best’s Not My First Rodeo series is a contemporary romance collection set in rural Australia.

She is currently writing Book 3, which follows Wynonna and Robert — characters first introduced in Book 2, The Fall. The story began organically during edits when a single sentence sparked an entirely new direction.

Readers can expect:

• Emotional vulnerability

• Redemption storylines

• Smouldering romantic tension

• Passionate, character-driven storytelling

• Strong female leads who go after what they want

Her romance writing is inspired by some of the most iconic fictional couples in literature and pop culture, including:

• Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy

• Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe

• Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler

Unpredictable. Passionate. Loyal. Complicated.

Exactly how we like our romance.

The Reality of Being an Indie Romance Author

As a self-published romance author, Missy values the freedom that comes with indie publishing — setting her own timelines, balancing family life, and rebuilding creatively after personal hardship.

But she’s also honest about the challenges:

• Managing distribution

• Handling marketing and social media

• Building sustainable income streams

• Setting up strong business systems

Her advice to aspiring indie authors?

Start with 10 minutes a day. Back yourself. Outsource what you can. And don’t let rejection define your future.

It’s practical, grounded advice from someone who has lived the indie author journey.

Her latest release, The Fall, along with Always You, are available in print — including signed copies through Book Besties Bookstore.

If you love Australian romance novels, small-town cowboy romance, and indie authors who aren’t afraid to reinvent themselves, Missy Best is an author to watch.

And at Book Besties, we’re proud to support self-published romance authors who write the kinds of stories where heat meets heart.