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Amazon, amazon book categories, Amazon Kindle, Author Lada Ray, Catharsis Legend of the Lemurians, E-book, Earth Keepers Chronicles: Origins, Gold Train (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), Indie Publishing, KDP Select, Russia, STARGATE Atlantis, The Earth Shifter
Wh…wha….what? Getting your very own book category on Amazon???? Yeah, right, you say. As it stands right now, KDP (Amazon indie publishing platform) is missing even mainstream categories to list some of our books accurately, as I found out during my free promo a few days ago. For example, my book GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure), should be listed in the following categories:
1. Mystery & thrillers – thrillers – tales of espionage & intrigue & 2. Romance – romantic mystery.
Guess what, “thrillers” is as far as KDP categories go, although “tales of espionage and & intrigue” is available on Amazon! And with “romance” they only offer “romantic suspense” (not entirely appropriate at all), but no “romantic mystery” (totally appropriate), although again, this category is available and I’ve seen some books listed.
So, you think the title of this post is a joke? Nope, honest to goodness truth! Some ARE getting not only all the categories their hearts desire, but also, their very own categories on Amazon, like the well known TV series Stargate Atlantis, which has been adapted as novels. 
Here is a telling example – STARGATE ATLANTIS: Allegiance – as of today: #42,402 in kindle store, which normally wouldn’t result in any bestseller lists … but check out this unbelievable category string!
#2 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Science Fiction > TV, Movie, Video Game Adaptations > Stargate. Wow! It’s #2 in the category “Stargate”! Who would’ve thought! Brilliant, I tell ya!
Or take STARGATE ATLANTIS: Secrets. It’s #56,845 as of this writing… but it’s #4 on Stargate personal BESTSELLER LIST! Why haven’t I thought of that!
Does this smell like a major unfair advantage to you? Do you think it gives your books more visibility if you have your own category? Do you think the odds are stacked in favor of Big 6 & TV/movie giants? More importantly, do you think those books are any more deserving, or do you think that they just have a big-daddy-with-giant-fat-wallet backing? You might even think that this is a war against originality and forward-looking literature, and for profit at all cost. But I’ll let you decide for yourself…
As for me, I’ve decided to stack my own odds by creating my own categories. And guess what, each and every one of my books is a winner. Judge for yourself!
THE EARTH SHIFTER – #1 fiction – fantasy contemporary – fantasy historical – YA fantasy – visionary/metaphysical – prophetic – top-rated & cool – highly recommended for readers 12 through adult – packing powerful messages, lessons and a wealth of awesome mystical/esoteric/spiritual information – lots of endearing and spectacular characters – Russia and & Siberia like you’ve never imagined them before – adventure/thriller – global conspiracy – guaranteed twists you’ve never seen coming – highly creative, original & intriguing – beautifully written, plotted and paced – kindle sale $2.99 (reg. $4.99)
GOLD TRAIN – #1 fiction – mystery & thriller – tales of espionage & intrigue – romantic mystery – otherworldy romance – gripping, rip-roaring adventure – alternate universe of spies & ultimate danger – begin a secret love affair with Russia – spectacular Moscow & St. Petersburg from the author who knows what she is talking about – highly plausible international conspiracy – based on true historical mystery of the lost gold reserve of the Russian empire – cool characters & enchanting settings – mystical elements – highly original & intriguing – kindle sale: $1.49 (reg. $3.99)
CATHARSIS (Legend of the Lemurians) – #1 fiction – YA fantasy – dystopian scifi – visionary/metaphysical – small book with big message & important lessons – Lemurians, Atlanteans, hidden origins of humanity – great read for ages 12 through adult.
Oh yeah, before I forget! CATHARSIS is FREE on #kindle on 5/22-23! Remember to grab your copy & let me know how you’ve enjoyed it!
And remember, whatever the silly rankings say, it’s still #1! Always! 😉
Ah, the moral of my tale? It’s 2-fold: 1. Each and everyone of us has to create their own brand and carve out their own niche. How, that’s a million “gold coin” question (not a million $$, since $$ are quickly getting worthless). I am now working on creating my own brand, which results in true following – and that’s the way to go, not silly lists. 2. My goal is to create an even and equitable playing field, where deserving books get the time of day and equal exposure, at least SOME exposure. Unfortunately the opposite is true, and it’s getting worse, when everyone tries to elbow everyone else out. I’m afraid we are quickly descending into the same Lord of the Flies circus as the traditional publishing and movie industries. There is much, much more to the story, and I might do more posts on that in the future.
Last, but not least, all Lada Ray books are #YARevolution approved. Join us & post your books! More about YA Revolution. Join YA Revolution group on #Goodreads.
Related articles
- CATHARSIS, Legend of the Lemurians, will be FREE on Amazon 5/22-23! (ladaray.wordpress.com)
- What Amazon didn’t say about e-books (reviews.cnet.com)
- Ebook sales are being driven by downmarket genre fiction (nextlevelofnews.com)
- KDP Select and Wattpad (legendsofwindemere.com)
- KDP Select and Russian Roulette (mybookspage.wordpress.com)
Lada Ray Blog 
Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere and commented:
Both interesting and amusing. The title says it all.
You’ve said it, Charles 😉
That’s just bizarre. Be funny if a non-Stargate book managed to take that top spot. Though, I didn’t see it when I set my own book up.
That would indeed be funny!
So is the new goal of the self-published author to get their own Amazon category?
No, the goal – at least mine – is to have an even and equitable playing field, where deserving books get the time of day and equal exposure, at least SOME exposure. Unfortunately the opposite is true, and it’s getting worse, when everyone tries to elbow everyone else out.
I’m afraid we are quickly descending into the same Lord of the Flies circus as the traditional publishing and movie industries.
There is much, much more to the story, and I might do more posts on that in the future.
I’m looking forward to it. I do remember being on the Epic Fantasy list for a while and it creates a pretty nasty addiction. The lists have such power that you start to feel like you’re a loser if you’re not on there. Even if you’re still selling.
I hear you. Gold Train (Stepford USA also a bit) was on all kinds of bestseller lists last summer, including Amazon, Kindle, mystery & thriller, and I seem to recall this type of feeling, even though it wasn’t even like me. It’s the rat race thing.
I am now working on creating my own brand, which results in true following – and that’s the way to go, not silly lists.
I’m waiting on cover art for my sequel. So, seeing the sales droop on the first book has me anxious. Only been doing the self-published thing since late February, so I’m still in my shiny new stage. I like the idea of creating a brand. I think that’s what I’m doing since all my stories are going to take place in the same fantasy world. Never really thought about it. Or am I misunderstanding the definition of brand here?
And then everyone is a best seller! (within their own category)
One of the morals of my tale is that each and everyone of us has to create their own brand and carve out their own niche. How, that’s a million “gold coin” question (not a million $$, since $$ are quickly getting worthless).
I might expand on this topic later. Stay tuned.
Ah. Building your own brand. Something I started to think about recently. Yep. it is a tough nut to crack.
Reblogged this on 1EarthUnited and commented:
Hilarious, it seems Amazon has become a caricature of the indie book publishing movement that it help started. So Amazon has become a tool for the big 6, haha no surprise there. So much for supporting the little guy during hard times, seems like Vampirzon has drained all the juice the from it’s KDP Select program. Now it’s time to court the fat cats, lol.
Really great post for exposing the hypocrisy, thanks investigative reporter Lada! 😀
Excellently put, Maddy! Right on!
Lada, that’s too funny! I’ve been seeing fellow authors cheer (tongue-in-cheek) about how they’re number one for books about blue midget mud wrestling! LOL!
That one I haven’t heard yet. Rat race is alive and well… 15 minutes of fame at any cost. LOL
Haha awesome, we all deserve our own categories if Stargate has its own! Love your own categorisations! Sounds perfect 🙂
Totally agree, Rory 😉
really it is frustrating, cause… as a person looking for said books, I look in genre’s and take what I can find… it makes it very hard to find the books you might like when they are missing very important genres!!!
Well said! Thank you for your contribution! 🙂
Brilliant post! 🙂
Had no idea Stargate books existed lol
Me neither…
Ha! Wow, totally unfairly balanced toward the already mega hits! Doesn’t surprise me at all though, this is the way it goes. Such a cheat.
Ah well, we just have to work away, develop our books and our platform, and market wherever we can and to the degree we are comfortable with.
Good on your for creating your own categories hehe 🙂
Thanks for sharing this info, I really had no idea!
Keep well Lada, hope your writing is going well 😉
Rohan.
Very welcome, Rohan. 🙂
Cheers and best to you.
I nominated you for a Most influential blogger My sincerest congratulations to you ,Have nice day
Maxima
You are very sweet. 🙂
Thank you for thinking of me, Stefan.
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