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

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

CG Heandez

End of the Year Entry

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

My Amazon Author Pages

End of the Year Entry