Sunday, December 28, 2025

End of the Year Updates: 2025

 


This past year has been incredibly challenging for my family and me, especially after losing my husband in September. May he rest in peace. Despite the difficulties, I’ve managed to make some strides with my writing, particularly with my books. This year, I released three books: two are low-content titles, and one is an eBook featuring a short story I originally shared on Wattpad and AO3. For the eBook, I went with my pseudonym, CG Heandez, so if you're interested in checking it out, make sure to search for it under that name. 

I recently discovered that a book sharing the same title as one of my own (Chandra’s Quest) is available at Walmart and Target. I was flabbergasted, as I had assumed that major retailers typically avoid stocking books with few or no ratings/reviews. I found out that the author used a certain website to push her book out there and I’ll be doing the same for one of my other books that I have not yet published into a paperback book yet. It’s worth mentioning that while both books (Chandra's Quest) share the same title, their content is quite different.



My Chandra’s Quest has been around for 23 years, its first edition published in 2003. The second edition published in 2013, which brought together all four books of the series into a single volume. This comprehensive edition spans 567 pages, eBook & paperback version.

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge that "Lost in the Backrooms: The Phoenix Files vol. 1" has achieved the highest number of downloads this year and last. This outcome has taken me by surprise, yet I am pleased with the success it has garnered. Though it may not have as many rates/reviews as I'd hope but I'm still pleased with what it has. Next, The Secret Diary of a Gypsy Heart is now available in paperback, and I've made some updates to it as well. 

Which of my books do I want to see at major retail stores? 

Chandra’s Quest and A Time Traveler’s Companion, both titles have a page count that exceeds over 400. However, I believe that there's no way I can make Chandra's Quest available on IngramSpark, but I will publish A Time Traveler's Companion as a paperback there.

*Currently I'm in the process of editing A Time Traveler’s Companion, giving it the last look over before releasing it as an eBook on Amazon. Page count for this book is 564. 

 Books under my pseudonym Cecile Garcia


Books currently available under the pseudonym CG Heandez


Have a Happy New Year!

CG Heandez


Thursday, December 25, 2025

My Amazon Author Pages (Books For Sale)

 

Books I've written under these two pseudonym

Cecile Garcia



CG Heandez


A Time Traveler's Companion will be published in a few weeks as an eBook and later as a paperback. Meanwhile it is available as audiobooks-vol.1 & 2 on GooglePlay.




Cecile Garcia


Monday, December 1, 2025

Rates & Reviews do Matter

 


My son captured this image of a book I recently finished called, The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe, which is available at Target now. I bought mine on Amazon. I was drawn to it because of the smut it claims it has. However, I rated it as a three star on Amazon, as I found the storyline somewhat clichéd and reminiscent of typical fanfiction plots. Even the book, Ask Alice: A Tainted Wonderland by Kell Frillman, rated a higher star by me, than this book. 

In The Never King, the character of Wendy does not embody a strong female lead, which raises the question of why this book has become a bestseller on Amazon. I suspect it is largely due to the numerous ratings and reviews it has received since its release, some of which are not particularly favorable by some readers but there it is on Target shelves.

 The significance of ratings cannot be overstated; a book is deemed a bestseller when it accumulates a substantial number of downloads or receives numerous ratings and reviews. However, it's crucial to understand that a high volume of ratings—such as over 1,000—does not inherently indicate quality. Those who claim that ratings and reviews are inconsequential are mistaken; they play a vital role in how platforms like Amazon classify bestsellers. The presence of ratings can elevate a book's visibility, regardless of its actual merit. Consequently, books with fewer ratings may achieve only moderate recognition, while those with extensive reviews are more likely to be prominently featured on Amazon, making them easier for readers to discover.

In my quest to discover indie authors with few ratings, I often navigate through a sea of choices to uncover hidden treasures, a task that can be quite daunting. To my fellow indie writers, I encourage you to persevere! Continue crafting your stories, as there is an audience out there eager to embrace your work.


My Website

CG Heandez Blog




Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Layla Moran: Not a Real Author, Sorry

 


(Though I've written fanfic before, I've never came across plagiarism, not of my Fanfiction stories but this is what I came across regarding one individual who took it upon themselves to boldly use other author's work and relabel it as her/his own.)

Layla Moran has taken three fanfics, from fanfic websites. For over the past few years, she published books that are suspiciously similar to some fanfiction stories from other writers. She claims they are her own. This is a clear case of plagiarism.

It's really disappointing to see someone so openly plagiarizing fanfics by just swapping out names and a few words. This kind of behavior is completely unacceptable. It is disheartening to witness something so distasteful.

I haven't read any of her books, but I did watch a video about her plagiarism, and I found it really disappointing and upsetting. My question is simple: Is she genuinely who she claims to be? With a pen name and what seems to be a fake photo, I can't help but think she's a grifter. She or he is a person who capitalizes on the hard work of others for profit. A person like that is often seen as opportunistic. Personally, I make sure to protect my original works with copyright. Fanfiction typically draws on existing characters and storylines from TV shows or movies, which makes it difficult for writers to secure copyright protection for their work through the copyright office. 

I have published three stories on Wattpad and AO3, with only one being an original work. My book, A Time Traveler’s Companion, is loosely inspired by a fanfiction I wrote several years ago. But I plan on writing a book based on an original story that is posted on AO3 & Wattpad. 

The story is based on the Backrooms. It is essential for authors who have shared their original works on fanfiction websites to take the necessary steps to copyright their creations. While the video discusses the implications of AI for some reason, my focus here is specifically on the issue of plagiarism and how some people are stealing written works. I encourage readers to share their thoughts on this matter in the comments section.

WEBSITE

Video of About Layla Moran

Rates & Reviews Do Matter

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Lost in the Backrooms: Chapter 3 The Site (excerpt)

 


Chapter 3: The Site (an excerpt)

When they walked in, Jane looked around. The house has an open floor plan so the kitchen can be seen from the Livingroom. The house is quite spacey and luxurious. There is no furniture in the Livingroom, except two chairs and a corner table set neatly at one corner of the room. A security guard was posted outside to keep curious people away and a cop car parked by the driveway as well. Two of the men in the suits looked at Jane and MK.

 “Hunters, we will give you necessary weapons that you’ll need for your mission,” the taller man said.

 “Okay,” Jane nodded. “While in the Backrooms, you will randomly find wooden box crates that might be filled with almond water and energy bars, you should

pack those in your backpacks when you can. It’s important,” the other man chimed in.

“Why?” asked MK.

 “It is believed that the almond water has healing properties,” said Father Patrick.

“How do you know this?” Jane asked.

“One of the Hunters that was sent into the Backrooms; hurt his hand pretty bad and when he drank the almond water, his wound seemed to have healed quickly.”

“What happened to the Hunter?” MK asked.

The priest hesitated, “He did not make it out but through the bodycam he wore, we got the information we needed.”

 “By the way, the bodycams might glitch and we honestly don’t know how long they will continue sending information back to the base so good luck,” one of the men in the hazmat suits chimed in.

Jane nodded, “Okay, understood.” Another man walked toward them and gave the priest a metal box, containing new weapons. He gave the Father a nod and walked away. Father Patrick set it down on the kitchen counter and keyed a combination number to open the box.

  “Here are weapons that you must carry. Our scientists created these weapons for special assignments like yours. You’ll be the first to handle them.” He handed MK and Jane a retractable silver sword, with a holster and sheath for it. He handed Jane a self-cocking tactical crossbow, and a handgun with pure silver bullets.

 “All items are Blessed. It is unknown if any of these items will be useful against the entities that reside within the Backrooms but through the experiences that other Hunters have had, some of these items do help to deter the creatures in that place.”

“So, the other hunters that went in, never returned?” asked MK. 

The priest closed the box. “We’ve sent other Hunters in the past and only one came back. He is the one who took the infamous picture and posted it anonymously online, against our wishes,” he sighed.

  “Is he still with us?” Jane asked.

  “No, he was let go, sent away for betraying confidentiality.”

Jane gave MK a look, “Well, that’s something we won’t do, we’ll keep everything confidential,” she said.

 “The Hunter’s bodycam went out after two weeks, so it did not send us video footage of the rest of his trip, only when he entered and up to the point when he went into the library.”

  “Library?” asked Jane.

  “Yes, you’ll see it if you come across it. I pray that both of you make it out,” he said with a worried tone, he gulped. MK smiled at him and gave him a hug. 

“We will, I have Jane, and I have Faith,” she said. MK watched the men in the hazmat suits going in and out of the house, then the last one brought in another box, and they begin to set up the equipment, a few feet away from the door to the storage room.

 “So, the hunters that went in had bodycams?” Jane asked.

  “All of them were equipped with bodycams, and yes, they had tracking chips too. The footage that the bodycams showed while in the Backrooms is intriguing and frightening. A Hunter engaged with an entity, used iron which fatally wounded the creature so, I imagine that some of the items you have in your backpacks will help, but it won’t work on the Hounds,” he said.

“The Hounds?” Jane asked.

 “According to the footage that one of our Hunters took, these creatures can be found in all levels of the Backrooms, they have filthy matted hair that obscures a twisted semi canine deformed face, it has human skin, but their bodies look like a jigsaw puzzle made up of human parts, formed and twisted into a monstrosity,” Father Patrick elaborated.

“When you see one, run or fight, either way those creatures will kill you. They have an insatiable hunger for human flesh. It is rumored that if they attack and bite you, you will slowly become one. Your body will reconstruct itself to adapt to the environment of the Backrooms,” one of the men in the hazmat suits informed her.

Jane sighed and looked at MK who was standing a few feet away from them watching as the men started to set up the equipment around the door. 

“So, I guess something like werewolves then.” Father Patrick nodded.

“What else should I look out for?” asked Jane. Father 

Patrick let out a sigh, “I’m not sure but you must use your instincts, and MK can guide you since she has psychic abilities. Use everything to your advantage. God did not create the Backrooms, but we can try to find the people that are lost and bring them back,” he said.

(Images are for the reader's entertainment)

WEBSITE

BOOK

Audiobook




Social Media Indie Author Groups

 

I recently decided to leave a few self-promotion groups for indie authors on Facebook due to the lack of approval for my recent posts. While I noticed other authors successfully promoting their work, my submissions remained unapproved for several weeks, prompting my departure from those groups. I chose to stay with the groups that did approve my posts, but I find it perplexing why my contributions were overlooked. As an indie author, self-promotion is crucial, and social media offers valuable opportunities. However, it feels misleading when groups claim to support self-promotion for indie authors yet exclude certain posts. I wanted to share my experience to inform fellow authors about this issue. If you've had similar problems, please comment in the comment box below. thank you.


WEBSITE

LINKTREE

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

My Goodreads Page & Changes I Made

 


I have updated my Goodreads account, changing my name to CG Heandez, which is a pseudonym for Cecile Garcia. Additionally, I revised the listings for books that are no longer available on Amazon as paperbacks by posting in the review box that they are no longer available. 

While "Chandra’s Quest" is accessible as an eBook, paperback, and audiobook formats, Goodreads still have books 2, 3, and 4 of the trilogy listed. I have noted in the review section for those books that those titles are no longer available on Amazon and have been incorporated into the complete novel, "Chandra’s Quest." Furthermore, some of my books on Goodreads feature outdated cover images. I wanted to inform my readers about these changes so if they visit my Goodreads page you'll see the changes.


My Goodreads

My Website

Fanfiction