Best Seller, or...

 

I apologize in advance. This is going to be a little long. But I'd like to talk about the whole best-selling author thing. What exactly does that even mean?

Growing up, I always thought a best-selling author was someone who sold tons of books and made tons of money—authors like Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Mary Higgins Clark… you get the picture.

But once I stepped into the world of self-publishing, I started noticing something interesting. Many indie authors were calling themselves “best-selling authors,” even though, when I checked their books on Amazon, they had maybe five reviews (sometimes less!) and plenty of typos and errors.

So how can that be? How can someone with a handful of reviews and a poorly edited book call themselves a best-selling author?

Well, here’s what I’ve learned through experience:

A flashy cover and a catchy blurb can sell books—at least at first. Friends, family, and curious readers might buy your book because it looks good. But once they actually read it, if the story falls flat, if it’s full of mistakes, or if it just isn’t well-written, those sales won’t last. The reviews (if any) won’t be glowing, and most readers won’t come back for more—unless they’re family or friends who feel obligated to support you (and are quietly cringing inside).

So, back to the “best-selling author” label. I decided to dig a little deeper into what it really means—and what I found might surprise you.

What “Best-Selling Author” Really Means

So, here’s what I found out. The term “best-selling author” isn’t as glamorous—or as official—as it sounds. There isn’t one universal rule or authority that decides who qualifies. It all depends on where you’re selling and how those rankings are tracked.

Take Amazon, for example. Their “Best Seller” badges are based on hourly sales rankings within specific categories. That means if your book sells more copies than others in your category for even one hour, you can technically claim “Amazon Best-Selling Author.”

Sounds impressive, right? But here’s the catch—some categories are super niche. If you publish your book in something like “Paranormal Mystery Featuring Left-Handed Detectives,” you might only need a handful of sales to hit #1. Voilà! You’re a best-selling author.

That’s not to say all best-seller labels are meaningless. Hitting a major list like The New York Times, USA Today, or Wall Street Journal is a whole different story. Those lists track verified sales across multiple retailers, not just one platform, and competition there is fierce. That’s the kind of best-seller status that truly reflects widespread readership and recognition.

So yes, someone might be a legitimate “Amazon best-seller,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve sold thousands of books or become a household name.

The bottom line? The best-selling author label can mean very different things depending on context. And while it’s exciting to celebrate milestones—because every sale is an achievement—it’s also important to stay grounded and honest about what those titles really mean.

At the end of the day, titles and labels are nice, but they don’t define your worth as an author. What truly matters is the quality of your work, the connection you build with your readers, and the growth you achieve with every book you write.

Anyone can slap “best-selling author” on their bio, but not everyone can write a story that touches someone’s heart, makes them think, or inspires them to pick up your next book. That’s what lasts.

So instead of chasing labels, focus on your craft. Keep improving. Hire good editors. Learn the business side of publishing. Build genuine relationships with your readers and other writers. Because while “best-seller” might look great next to your name, being a storyteller who makes an impact is far more meaningful—and something no ranking can ever measure.

Book Reviews MATTER

 

As a published author, I’ve learned that writing the book is only part of the journey. What happens after publication—how readers respond, share, and support—matters more than many people realize. One of the simplest yet most powerful ways readers can support authors is by leaving positive reviews.

Reviews do far more than boost an author’s ego (though that encouragement certainly helps). They tell algorithms that a book is worth noticing. Whether it’s on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, BookBub, or even social media, reviews increase a book’s visibility and help it reach readers who might never have discovered it otherwise.

For authors, especially independent and small-press writers, reviews are often the difference between a book quietly existing and a book finding its audience. A handful of thoughtful reviews can open doors—more recommendations, more sales, and sometimes even new opportunities. And it doesn’t have to be long or literary. A few honest sentences about what you enjoyed, how the story made you feel, or why you’d recommend it to others makes a real impact.

I know leaving reviews can feel like a small gesture, but from an author’s side, it’s anything but small. Every review feels like someone standing up and saying, “This story mattered to me.” That kind of support fuels creativity, motivation, and the courage to keep writing the next book.

So, if you finish a book you enjoyed, take a moment to leave a review—on one platform or, even better, on several. Your words might be brief, but their effect can be lasting. For authors, those few minutes you spend typing can mean everything.

You can also support authors by sharing their social media posts and telling your friends about the books you’ve read!

The Disturbing, Brilliant Mind of My Youth

 

A couple of weeks ago, we got about two hundred feet of snow, and it was minus three thousand degrees, which turned into the perfect excuse to dig through totes and boxes overflowing with old papers and notebooks—things I’d been meaning to sort through and, honestly, get rid of for years.

In the process, I stumbled across a stack of short stories I’d written as a child, and tucked among them was an absolute gem. The title alone could hook anyone—it sounded like a full-blown thriller. But what really sealed it was the cover: a hand-drawn picture of a bloody axe, sketched right beneath the title. Priceless.

As I read through the story, I couldn’t find a date, but judging by the handwriting (which has never been my strong suit), I must have been around eight or ten years old. And there it was—the mind of a writer in its earliest form. A little disturbing? Maybe. But also revealing. You can see exactly where I come from, where my ideas are born, and how long these stories have lived in my head.

All of it has always been there. And who knows—maybe this childhood thriller deserves a second life as a full-length novel.