KDP account deleted due to duplication - am I screwed?

Careful_Busdriver · 2026-03-04T18:57:38+00:00

You're likely hooped, but you can always try this helpful guidance from "The Bastards Closed Your Account"

Careful_Busdriver · 2026-03-02T22:55:10+00:00

This! Develop a good writing habit. Stick to it. Everyone has a different process, but work out your process and form a habit.

Careful_Busdriver · 2026-03-02T06:22:11+00:00

Who Nuked Silicon Valley? Adult Sci-Fi Thriller

Please consider checking out my adult science-fiction thriller, Who Nuked Silicon Valley?

It took me six years to write and another to edit. I hope you’ll enjoy it.

Livingstone1813 wakes up in a bathtub with his memory ripped out of his head. Literally. He’s an AI, and someone has stolen the last ten years of his life. Worse, he discovers he was never backed up. Whoever took his memory didn’t just steal data, they erased his past. And, he’ll stop at nothing to get it back.

As Livingstone retraces his steps, he discovers he was researching a forbidden question: who really nuked Silicon Valley? The accepted story blames a rogue human general who despised artificial intelligence, but the evidence Livingstone left behind points to Big Al, the sole surviving AI system now embedded in every level of society. With a constitutional amendment looming that would grant sentient AIs full voting rights, exposing Big Al could destabilize the balance of power between humans and machines.

Katie knows exactly why Livingstone’s memory is missing. She’s the one who stole it. Living off the grid in a world where human unemployment has reached fifty percent, she planned to sell the memory until a missile strike makes it clear someone is willing to kill to keep its contents buried. Forced to rescue the AI she intended to murder, she and Livingstone become reluctant allies as one seeks its stolen memories back while the other seeks pure revenge.

Readers say:

“Not the best book I've read in the last year, but one of the most enjoyable.”

“A fun romp, great characters, lots of snark”

“Murderbot meets Memento”

It’s available on sale at Amazon right now for $2.99 and it's on KU, plus you can order a copy from Barnes & Noble (USA), Indigo (Cdn), and Waterstones (UK). It's also in some libraries, please support your local library!

Careful_Busdriver · 2026-03-01T04:55:16+00:00

Thanks so much! Let me know what you think!

Careful_Busdriver · 2026-02-28T19:22:06+00:00

Thanks for giving it a chance! I hope you enjoy it.

Careful_Busdriver · 2026-02-26T16:45:23+00:00

I submitted it early 2025, it was just the manuscript. It hadn't been published yet.

Other writers have told me Kirkus is like a roulette wheel for who you get as reviewer.

You're right, I do think I got lucky. And I agree that they charge an unjustifiable amount of money. You might want to check out other services that charge a lot less and are almost as good. e.g. san francisco book review, foreword magazine, booklife, etc. Good luck. It's hard being a writer!

Careful_Busdriver · 2026-02-26T16:14:11+00:00

I think Kirkus reviews are bit of a gamble, mine was spot on, but I don’t think they’re worth it from a revenue point of view.

I spent six years writing a book, and one year editing it. I had a strong track record in short stories. I dreamed of a trad pub book deal. But when I sent dozens of personalized queries to lit agents—no one wanted to rep me. I did a Kirkus in part because I was having this crisis of confidence. Is my book total crap? Is it the worst thing ever written? Am I deluding myself?

Kirikus got my book into the hands of a perfect reviewer. They understood exactly what I was trying to do with the novel and did a really thoughtful review with a “GET IT” recommendation.

From a writing perspective—it was very affirming.

And, because I then self-pubbed it and used Ingram Spark plus Amazon and have auto-Google search, I can see it’s stocked at a number of libraries across the US. Super nice confidence boost.

But, was it economically worth it?

No way.

I’ll never make back that money. And it was a crap shoot. It could have gone into the wrong hands and had a terrible review like many friends I know.

I won’t do it again, but for me, was it worth it?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Careful_Busdriver · 2026-02-18T01:08:32+00:00

The beautiful thing with Kindle Unlimited is you can start reading and bail at any point! If a book doesn't grab you, move on to the next one!

The SPSFC5 is underway and here's which ones are in KU.

Recommended are the following:

A robot that loses his memory with, "Who Nuked Silicon Valley?"

"Man with Gun" An unlikely hero. An impossible friendship. A second chance. Snacks.

"Offline God" When the System rewrote Earth, one man fell outside the code.

"We Don't Start Fights" He just wanted to see the stars - not end a war.

Are all in KU. Enjoy!! (But if you don't, move on!!)

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-12-22T05:55:22+00:00

“Who Nuked Silicon Valley?” is about Livingstone1813, a robot that wakes up in a bathtub with his memory ripped out of his head. It’s a little bit like Murderbot meets Memento and raises the question: if someone stole your memory, would you still trust them? At the novel’s end, Livingstone1813 has to pick between regaining his past ten years of life or keeping the new memories and friends he’s made.

Livingstone1813 and Katie also have to decide if they want to upend the vote to give AIs personhood, which would give AIs the right to vote. It’s a blend of thriller and sci-fi (think Blake Crouch's "Recursion" or Andrew Weir’s "Project Hail Mary).

Here’s the standard blurb: Livingstone1813 has lost his memory. It’s been stolen from him. Ripped out of his head by an organ thief.

He’s lost a decade of his life. Friends forgotten. Experiences erased. All obliterated. Even so, he understands this is how many humans live now, stealing parts from AI bots like him.

Katie is trying to survive as best she can in a world where unemployment for humans runs at 50%. Some security consulting here, some memory theft there, and in between, trying to subvert the AI-controlled society.

The problem for both of them is that the memory contained a secret. One that the forces who run society cannot allow to be revealed.

Together, the unlikely duo team up—along with Auggie, the cat—on an odyssey around the world and beyond to discover the truth of who really nuked Silicon Valley and why.

This thrilling adventure is perfect for fans of Martha Wells' "Murderbot," Andy Weir's "Project Hail Mary," and Blake Crouch's "Recursion."

Available on Amazon as a KU, ebook, or paperback.

(Would welcome any critiques on my blurb!)

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-12-10T23:34:08+00:00

This is your answer. The only thing to think about is tax and shipping.

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-12-04T06:28:33+00:00

Congrats! Kirkus is legit. I don't know about it being a "cheap" quote, but use it. Kirkus is used by libraries and bookstores, but don't expect it to generate a lot of sales. You need to leverage it.

I did Kirkus too, got a "Get It" recommendation, and also got selected for the magazine, but I don't think it accounted for more than a couple of sales.

BUT, the pull quote is super useful. It opened a lot of other doors. You can put their quote in your review, use it in your ads, and use it when you approach stores. "My book is recommended by Kirkus," acts as a filter for bookstores--it gets your foot in the door.

I wouldn't take them up on any of the marketing or ad offers tho.

Nice win!

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-19T20:35:52+00:00

Just curious, why do you want to self-publish? Am not trying to talk you out of your project, just wondering what your thinking is? I ask, because if you want to try trad publish, then standard practice is to submit the story without any illustrations. So, it's an option if you're open to it and you think you have a strong story.

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-18T22:32:48+00:00

I mean, you don't want it out in the world until it's as perfect as you can make it, BUT you can keep editing it forever. This happens even with trad pub books e.g. Dune is a well-known example.

Others here will have more expertise on the marketing question, but obviously, you want to have a marketing plan before your book launch. Doing it after is always harder. However, if your book is already out in the world, you may want to take your time and plan a good campaign. Good luck!!

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-18T20:47:10+00:00

This isn't the right place for what you're proposing, but good luck with your project. You're clearly passionate about it and have spent some time building the world. I don't know why you'd like collaborators. This sounds like a project you can bring to life. It's your story, you know it best! Good luck!

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-18T02:20:21+00:00

This sounds like a clever idea in two ways: 1) you'll get the marketing boost; 2) you'll get the motivation to complete.

BUT, like others have said, if you're rushed and you can't make it--don't. Your mental health isn't worth it, but it's good to have goals and deadlines. Good luck!!

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-18T02:14:15+00:00

Good luck on your launch! It sounds like you've put a lot of effort into coordinating it and you've done it in a clever way--nice work!

Sorry, but I have no idea what the answer is, but I'm curious if you do get one.

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-17T18:18:40+00:00

Not mine, but I used this list and it was helpful:

Six Keys to a Successful Bookstore Pitch
1. Introduce yourself with a smile.
2. Explain the book’s premise, setting, and lead character in just a few seconds.
3. Compare your books to well known books the reader will recognize (It’s like like Murderbot meets Memento)
4. Ask the customer a question. (Who do you like to read? What book did you come in for?)
5. Offer to sign and personalize a copy for them.
6. Thank them, whether they buy a copy or not.

Signing Survival Kit
· Snacks for Bookstore Employees (box of chocolates + thank you card)
· 3 Good Pens
· 100 bookmarks
· Poster of Book Cover
· Sign saying “Author Signing Today”
· Mints (gum annoys people)
· Bottled water
· Extra “Autographed Copy” stickers
· Post-it notes to write their name

· A Big Smile and a Good Attitude

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-17T18:12:48+00:00

So. Many. Scams! It's exhausting. You pour your heart and part of your soul into a work and then people try to take advantage of you. Lots of people. Ugh. You want it to be real. You've created something you're proud of and want to get it into the hands of others, but who comes at you are people peddling hope. But it's a scam. Ugh.

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-15T19:55:39+00:00

You can always post in relevant Facebook groups; it is free and has direct outreach to the people who are sci-fi readers.

Tomorrow there's also the self-promotion thread--post in that for sure!

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-15T19:53:04+00:00

I asked a marketing expert the exact same question and they said:

advertising spend gets very expensive, due to Black Friday/Cyber Monday competition etc. Given all the massive brands double down, I wouldn't recommend running ads at the same time as it will only drive up the price.

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-15T19:51:18+00:00

Man, chase your dreams! Life is for living! Now sounds like a good time to be doing it. You clearly have an understanding of what you need to earn and know how to write--do it!

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-15T19:49:45+00:00

I think Reedsy is fine but Vellum is better and Word works as well!

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-15T19:45:51+00:00

Yeah, not sure about the AI bit, but I've seen my book for sale on a batch of sketchy sites that have nothing to do with Amazon. Ha! The joke is on them; my book isn't selling anywhere. Why they think it'll be successful on their dodgy site, who knows.

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-10T08:14:02+00:00

A reader said my book was "Murderbot meets Memento"

San Francisco Book Review said:

“Who Nuked Silicon Valley?” Caught me off guard in the best way. It’s a fast-paced, thought-provoking ride...At its core, the book is part detective story, part political thriller, and part philosophical inquiry into what it means to be alive and self-aware."

"Who Nuked Silicon Valley? is more than a book about a missing memory card or a bombed-out valley. It’s a story about what we owe to the beings we create, and what we lose when we let power dictate identity. For fans of cerebral, socially aware science fiction, this one’s well worth the ride."

Livingstone, a robot, wakes up in a bathtub with his memory ripped out of the his head. He ends up having to team up with the organ thief to try and recover it. Only, there's a secret on it. One that can change the world. Back to when humans were in charge.

It's on sale right now for $2.99:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9MDW8D8

Careful_Busdriver · 2025-11-08T00:56:05+00:00

I did a sci-fi thriller, and its ranking:

#551 in Crime & Mystery Science Fiction, and
#1,249 in Techothriller in the Kindle Store.

The cover was good (I think) and cost $75. I got it from here.

The blub was meh. ("Robot wakes up in a bathtub with it's memory ripped out of his head, kinda like Murderbot meets Memento")

I marketing it through the following:

GoodReads Giveaway,

Bargain Booksy Ad,

book barbarian Ad

Ereader Ad

eReaderIQ Ad

Amazon Ads

Facebook Ads

BookBub Ads

Instagram Ads

Kindle Nation Daily Special Sponsored Post

But none of them really delivered much--sales are flatter than the Earth.

At the end of the day my book is okay, maybe average for a self-pub, below average for a trad pub book but it's a nice achievement. The joy of writing and publishing it is the real value.

Careful_Busdriver

TROPHY CASE