Sunday, May 4, 2025

KDP Select & it's Rules

 



I recently received a notification from KDP indicating that one of my books is being sold on a third-party site, which violates the terms of the KDP Select Program. Since my book is currently enrolled in the 90-day KDP Select period, I am restricted from selling it elsewhere. 


(Blacked out the name of the title and the link for privacy reasons)

This situation was unintentional; I had simply forgotten to uncheck the renewal button for KDP Select program. I was fuming, I took the necessary steps to remove some of my eBooks from Google Play to comply with Kindle's policies. I have audiobooks for those titles on that platform, and according to their guidelines, this shouldn't be a major issue. Once the 90-day enrollment period ends, I intend to re-list the eBooks on Google Play, but I won’t be enrolling any of my titles in the KDP Select Program again. Moving forward, I plan to publish future eBooks on Google Play and Apple Books, and for any paperbacks, I’ll use IngramSpark, except for the Phoenix Files series, which includes the Lost in the Backrooms book, they will still be published on Amazon KDP. Overall, I believe it's crucial to make my titles available on multiple platforms for better exposure.



I’ve decided to remove my website link from my profile on the KDP Community Forum. I've noticed that some indie authors tend to compete and backstab each other, and I’m not interested in getting involved in that kind of drama. The less they know about my business, the better off I’ll be.


 I will add a link to a short video related to this topic. Please visit and comment, ty.

KDP SELECT PROGRAM: Should You or Shouldn't You Join

Friday, May 2, 2025

Writers Who Use AI to Produce Multiple Books in A Month

 


 I’ve seen comments posted by anonymous people about writers using AI to churn out multiple books in a month, suggesting that they rely on AI because they didn’t spend a year crafting their stories. 

Is it a misconception to think that? I can't definitively say yes or no, but I've been working on a Time Traveler's Companion since late 2023, and it’s taken me this long to nearly finish the novel. So, am I using AI? If I were, I would have wrapped it up in no time and moved on to my other writing projects. Just saying.

People have mixed feelings about AI these days, and everyone has their own take on it. Personally, I’m indifferent. Whether to use it or not is a choice for each writer, and honestly, some stories I've come across on Wattpad that might have involved AI are indistinguishable from others to me.

 The ones I’ve read are pretty good, however that’s just my opinion and I’m not looking for AI in other writers’ literary works. I’m not the AI police. A little joke there. Feel free to share your thoughts, but please keep it respectful, as I do review comments before posting.


My Website

My other Pen Name

CG Heandez


What Can Be Copyrighted

 


I don’t know how many times I must say this, you can copyright almost anything CREATIVE. But keep in mind that copyright doesn't cover ideas, facts, or methods. It only protects how those ideas or facts are EXPRESSED. For instance, you can't copyright the idea of a 'dinosaur,' but you can copyright a drawing or a story you created about one. If an author uses an AI editor to help polish their writing, their books are still eligible for copyright because it's their original story, even if AI played a small role in editing. For those who know, Word-Doc has Co-Pilot a built in AI editor for writers, which might surprise some, but it's true. It comes with a subscription of 365 Word.

I have my own thoughts on AI and copyright. Honestly, I’m not too concerned about what other writers choose to do. You can absolutely copyright your work, even if AI played a small role in the editing process. Ultimately, the story is still the writer's creation. I'm currently working on a Time Traveler’s Companion, and I use Co-Pilot for some of the editing, but since it’s primarily my own writing, it’s taking me a while to finish the novel. I started the book in 2023. Yes, you can copyright almost anything creative. However, names are not copyrighted, you cannot copyright your own name unless it's a very unique name. Please do comment if you wish but keep it civil, I look over comments before approval.


My Website

Other Pen name

CG Heandez Website

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Updates: Chandra's Quest & A Time Traveler's Companion

 


(For those who are new here, this is my Author's blog under the pseudonym Cecile Garcia, where I share excerpts and updates about my writing projects.) 

I am currently focused on completing part 5 of A Time Traveler’s Companion, which I plan to release on Google Play. Ultimately, I intend to compile all parts into a single novel for publication on platforms such as Amazon, Apple Books, and IngramSpark. Won't be doing the Kindle Select Program because of issues with them!

Additionally, the full-length novel eBook of Chandra’s Quest is now available on Amazon, Apple Books, and Google Play, while I continue to work on the paperback version, which I will also re-publish on Amazon. Please do visit the link in my profile to view details on books.  

UPDATE: At the moment Chandra's Quest (eBook) is unavailable on AppleBooks until July, the same  for GooglePlay. I am having issues with the Kindle Select program. Anyways, this book will eventually be available on GooglePlay and AppleBooks in a few months, please visit the link below to one of my other blog entries discussing the reasons.


Below is a link to a short video I recently made related to A Time Traveler's Companion, enjoy. The 4 incarnations of Mr. Smith. Remi at ages: 18, 21, 28, 30.

Subscribe to my channel, thank you.


A Short Video

What Can Be Copyrighted

Writers Who Use AI to Produce Multiple Books in A Month

KDP Select Program: Should You Join it?

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Chandra's Quest Available On Apple Books

 


I have recently combined all four books of the Chandra's Quest trilogy into a single full-length novel, which is now available on Amazon Kindle. However, I've noticed a discrepancy between the page count and what is displayed in the document file. Additionally, I have uploaded an EPUB version of the book to Google Play and Apple Books. I am currently in the process of creating the audiobook version, but given that the novel exceeds 500 pages, this will require some time. The paperback edition is also in the works and will take a while to finalize too. What else is on my list to complete? A Time Traveler's Companion. I am in the process of compiling the work while simultaneously releasing sections on Google Play. The complete novel will be available on Amazon and Apple Books. One motivation for sharing it in parts on Google Play is to connect with readers familiar with the fanfiction that inspired this story. However, it's important to note that the novel is only loosely based on that original work and will be written under another pen name I use.



Please do follow me on Facebook & Instagram. I do have a TikTok but it's best to follow and subscribe to me on YouTube, because TikTok's future is a bit flakey. You never know when it will be banned.














Friday, April 11, 2025

Hidden Door Only Seen with Black Light: The Stranger Things

 


(Excerpt from The Stranger Things: Paranormal, Supernatural & Unusual Phenomenon.
Chapter 9: Hidden Door Only Seen with Black Light)

 Imagine if I told you there are doors that are completely invisible to the naked eye, only revealing themselves under black light. In this chapter, I’m going to share the intriguing tale of an 18-year-old girl named Stacy, who unexpectedly discovered one of these mysterious doors. Stacy resides in a house that used to belong to her grandmother. After her grandmother passed away, her father inherited the property, which was built back in the 1980s. 


With her parents away on a trip and her brother off at a friend's house engrossed in video games, Stacy found herself alone at home that week when a friend decided to drop by for a visit. A fierce storm was rolling in, and the women opted to stay indoors, choosing to binge-watch their favorite shows until the clock struck midnight. The thunder rumbled ominously overhead, while lightning lit up the night sky, casting eerie shadows throughout their cozy four-bedroom, single-story house. Suddenly, the power went out, prompting Stacy to grab a flashlight and head to the kitchen pantry where her parents stashed emergency lanterns.


She managed to pull out four of them, but when she flicked on the last one, instead of the expected bright LED glow, it emitted a strange black light that filled the room with an unusual hue. "I bet my brother was the one who messed with this light bulb," she said to her friend, giving an exaggerated eye roll. With a slight shake of her head, she grabbed another lantern and strolled down the hallway toward her parents' room. She was on the hunt for a light bulb that would fit the fourth lantern, but despite her search, she came up empty-handed. As she exited the room, balancing both lanterns in her arms, something unexpected caught her attention. She paused for a moment and switched off the LED lantern, keeping the black light flickering. As she swung the lantern to her right, something caught her eye—a strange door intricately carved into the wall! Curiosity piqued, she ran her fingers along the crack of the door, exclaiming softly, “Oh my god, it’s a door! It’s actually real! Where did this come from?” 

Bursting with excitement, she switched on the LED lantern once more and switched off the black light, only to discover that the door had completely disappeared. Confused, she extended her hand toward the spot where the door used to be and whispered, “Wow. Where did it go?” At that moment, her friend walked over, curious about what her friend was looking at.

 “Hey, what’s going on?” she asked, making Stacy jump in surprise. “What’s the matter?” her friend inquired, looking concerned. 

"Check this out," Stacy said as she flicked on the black light, plunging the room into darkness except for the eerie glow. Both women stared in shock, their jaws practically hitting the floor. "What in the world is this?" her friend exclaimed, reaching out to feel the door's surface. Stacy, feeling a mix of curiosity and thrill, gave the door a light knock. Her friend gasped sharply, and her eyes widened. "Stop! You have no idea what's waiting for us on the other side," she warned, and Stacy felt a chill run down her spine. As the door creaked open, the two girls stepped inside with a sense of hesitation. The space was pretty standard, roughly the same dimensions as Stacy's own room. However, it was strikingly monochromatic; every single thing in the room was a shade of white, from the walls to the furniture and even the curtains.

"What on earth is this place?" Stacy exclaimed, making her way to the window to get a better look outside. To her surprise, the weather was clear and bright, with no sign of a storm—just a vibrant, lush landscape bathed in sunlight. "What the heck is going on?" Stacy muttered, both girls now transfixed by the view beyond the glass. Out of nowhere, they picked up the sound of footsteps getting closer from behind. They quickly turned around, but there was nobody in sight. The footsteps came to a halt right in front of them, creating an eerie silence. Suddenly, Stacy's friend let out a terrified scream and bolted out of the stark white room, yelling for Stacy to follow her. "Hurry up!" she called back, panic evident in her voice. At that moment, Stacy could have sworn she felt a chilling breath right against her face. Driven by a mix of fear and curiosity, she reached out to touch whatever was lurking in front of her, only to feel an intense coldness envelope her hand. 

She yanked it away and dashed toward the door, but then froze, glancing back over her shoulder. There stood a tall, bald figure clad in white, completely faceless! Her heart skipped a beat. 

“Who are you?” she shouted. To her shock, the figure echoed her words back to her! Her eyes widened in disbelief as she watched the creature's empty visage start to morph, her own features slowly emerging where there had once been nothing but a blank surface. She quickly ran out and shut the door. From behind the door, they can hear scratching, like large claws eager to get through. Stacy and her friend stood frozen in front of the door as the creature continued to claw at it. She heard it say, “Who are you,” with that creepy vibrating voice that it tried desperately to mimic hers.


(The images used in this entry are for the readers entertainment purposes.)



 



Wednesday, March 19, 2025

CG Author’s Updates: March 2025

 


I would like to provide an update regarding my work on Chandra’s Quest & a Time Traveler’s Companion. As many of you are aware, that I was consolidating all four books of the Chandra’s Quest trilogy into a single comprehensive volume. 



Well, I have finished the task and will review it before republishing on Amazon and Google Play. The novel consists of 596 pages. 



Progress on A Time Traveler’s Companion is going well, and it is scheduled for release some time this year but can be found in segments on Google Play for anyone interested in listening to the audiobooks. For more information, please check the Linktree in my profile. Thank you.


 Linktree

KDP Select Program: Should You Join or Not