After three days of digging into the details of self-publishing with Amazon, I have come to a shocking conclusion: it’s a science. And I committed just about every mistake in the book.

It all started with a quest: find out why my last two book launches failed so badly. I mean, sure, maybe they’re just bad books. It’s possible. But the small number of reviews that trickled in were positive—it’s just that there weren’t many of them.

(Side note, because this might not be obvious to readers: reviews matter. A lot. On the one hand, it’s incredibly encouraging for me when people connect with my characters, makes it feel like all those hours I spend stuck in my own head, turning scenes and phrases over in my mind, are actually worth it. They also matter because every review increases the chances that another potential reader will sit up and pay attention. Last but not least, reviews influence rankings on Amazon, which increase the chances that people find the book. End side note!)

So I started digging. And boy, did I learn things! About Amazon’s algorithms, its hidden categories and how rankings work, about keywords and finding the right ones, about cover design and crafting more effective book descriptions. And about all the glaring mistakes I made.

There’s undeniable humor in finding out, some six years into self-publishing, that you did it wrong all along.

Let me say this: if you are a self-published author, or are even just thinking about dipping your toes into that particular ocean, a little research goes a long way. Kindlepreneur is an excellent place to start.

I just wish I had realized that sooner.

(Side note #2, clearly related: I was wondering if any of you, my dear Goodreads friends, might be willing to review my next story (M/F) in time for its launch in early May? I’d provide you with a free advance reading copy, of course!

If you think you might be up for that, please leave a comment here or shoot me a message! I’d be grateful like whoa for any support.)