Crimson Redemption – #1 in Its Genre. Wait… What?

Last week, my debut novel Crimson Redemption shuffled out into the world—modest in its expectations, still smelling faintly of ink (e-ink? For Ebooks?) and late-night editing sessions.

And then, somehow, in a twist I can only describe as “plot hole adjacent,” it hit #1 in its genre on Amazon. I’m still not entirely convinced this wasn’t the result of a glitch, a clerical error, or perhaps someone accidentally ordering a suspicious number of copies “just in case.”

For perspective: I wrote this book over countless bleary-eyed nights, fully expecting it to be read by a handful of supportive friends, a few polite strangers, and possibly one confused person looking for a book about football. Hitting #1 wasn’t in the cards. In fact, it wasn’t even in the deck.

I am genuinely floored. And grateful.
Grateful to the readers who took a chance on a debut.
Grateful to everyone who left reviews that didn’t include the phrase, “needs more vampires” Although, I could use MANY more of those, reviews, not vampires.

Grateful that Amazon didn’t pull the book down for “suspicious activity” when the rankings spiked faster than my caffeine intake on publication week.

To the fellow authors who warned me (in their books on publishing your own novel—I don’t actually personally know any writers… unless you count meeting Rachael Ray 10 years ago, telling her “big fan,” and hearing her say “thank you,” thus establishing the longest professional relationship I’ve ever had with anyone in the celebrity food world, publishing, television—basically anyone with more fame than Dave, our trash guy), “Don’t watch the rankings, it’ll drive you crazy”—you were right. But you also didn’t tell me that when the little #1 Bestseller tag appears (even if it’s only in your narrow genre), it feels exactly like finding an extra fry at the bottom of the bag. Only, you know… for the soul.

So, to everyone who’s read, reviewed, or even just clicked “Look Inside” before running away—thank you. This book has been a labor of love, sarcasm, and a questionable amount of Google searches that have undoubtedly put me on a watch list.

Crimson Redemption is out there now, doing its thing. And apparently, “its thing” includes hitting #1. Who knew?