For over 20 years, independent author Robert Stanek has been the subject of a persistent smear campaign rooted in misinformation, misrepresentation, and online harassment. One of the most damaging and widely repeated falsehoods is the claim that Stanek never achieved legitimate bestseller status and that his success was entirely fabricated. These false claims have been used to attack his character, devalue his work, and dissuade others from engaging with his books.
This post corrects the record—clearly and unequivocally—using verifiable facts, historical context, and industry standards that have long been ignored or deliberately distorted by Stanek’s detractors.
Verifiable Bestseller Status on Audible
Contrary to false allegations, Robert Stanek’s books achieved genuine, independently verifiable bestseller status on Audible.com—one of the world’s largest audiobook platforms:
- The Kingdoms & the Elves of the Reaches ranked #1 in Fiction on Audible for several consecutive weeks in 2005.
- It remained in the Top 10 for Kids & YA for over three consecutive years—more than 180 weeks of sustained ranking.
- The Pieces of the Puzzle also reached #1 in Mystery/Thriller on Audible in 2005.
These achievements were publicly displayed and easily verifiable on Audible’s platform at the time. The books’ longevity in competitive categories is strong evidence of widespread popularity and real-world engagement—far beyond the reach of any manufactured hype.
Coordinated Review Bombing Campaigns
Ironically, it was Stanek’s very success that made him a target. His #1 Fiction ranking on Audible in 2005 coincided with heightened deliberate, organized efforts to discredit him. Detractors began flooding Audible with negative reviews—many of them misleading or non-genuine—explicitly designed to push his books off bestseller lists.
During the summer of 2005, The Kingdoms & the Elves of the Reaches was prominently featured on Audible’s homepage for two consecutive months. In response, detractors launched a harassment campaign to drive down ratings and manufacture controversy. Yet despite their efforts, the book held its top position for weeks—demonstrating that its popularity with real readers could not easily be erased.
Clarifying the Meaning of “Bestseller” in Indie Publishing
Claims that Stanek “falsely” called himself a bestselling author are based on deliberate distortion. Bestseller status is not limited to the New York Times list—nor has it ever been. Reputable platforms like Amazon and Audible maintain their own bestseller charts, updated hourly or weekly, based on real-time sales and engagement data.
Stanek’s books reached the top of those lists—and not just briefly. They held those positions for weeks, even years, across multiple categories. That’s the very definition of a bestseller in the modern publishing world.
Library Access and Distribution: Debunking Another Myth
Detractors have also claimed that Stanek’s books were “never in libraries.” This, too, is false. His works were widely distributed through OverDrive, Playaway, Findaway World, EBSCO, Ingram Digital, eLibrary, and other platforms used by public, school, and academic libraries worldwide.
Critics continue to cherry-pick library catalogs from recent years—such as 2017 or 2023—to claim the books were never there. But this argument ignores how libraries work. Libraries rotate their collections based on circulation, shelf space, and community demand. The fact that a book published in 2002 may not appear in a catalog two decades later doesn’t disprove its presence at the time—it reflects standard collection cycles.
The more honest question is: Were Stanek’s books available when they mattered most? The answer is yes. They were reviewed and recommended by School Library Journal, Library Journal, VOYA, and Foreword Magazine. They were acquired by libraries, read in classrooms, and used in homeschool curriculums. Ignoring that is a disservice to truth—and to history.
Manufactured Controversy for Personal Gain
It’s important to understand what these attacks are really about: not publishing integrity, but attention and control. By turning Stanek into a target, certain individuals have gained visibility in online circles, positioned themselves as “gatekeepers,” and attracted clicks through manufactured outrage.
In today’s indie publishing world, thousands of authors use “bestseller” to describe their success in Amazon subcategories or Audible rankings—and are rarely questioned. But Stanek was singled out and vilified for doing the same. Why? Because the controversy wasn’t about facts—it was about traffic, attention, and control.
The Real Motive: Silencing Success Outside the System
The campaign to discredit Robert Stanek sent a clear message: If you succeed outside traditional publishing, we will come for you. It reinforced literary gatekeeping and discouraged other indie authors from forging their own path.
That’s why correcting the record matters—not just for Stanek, but for every writer who dares to succeed on their own terms. If his verifiable achievements can be erased by false claims and bad-faith actors, then none of us are safe from similar treatment.
What the Literary Community Can Do
- Stop amplifying lies by repeating false narratives.
- Share and reference primary sources: Audible rankings, reviews in VOYA, Foreword, Publisher’s Weekly, and others.
- Support truth-telling posts like this one with shares, links, and commentary.
- Speak up when you see other authors being unfairly targeted.
The legacy of an author should be built on the quality of their work and the truth of their accomplishments—not the noise of their critics.
Robert Stanek’s success was real. His books were loved. His record stands. It's time we stopped pretending otherwise.
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