I’m so excited!!! I saw a bunch of text messages on my phone this morning. An email was sent at midnight, but I was sleeping. I found out ten minutes ago. My book has been selected by the Kindle Scout team.
I have to say thank you to everyone who voted for me. I was already grateful I stayed hot all 30 days of my experience. This is because people like you voted and I was happy for that. I had convinced myself that the hot factor wasn’t a factor from all my analysis of the previous seven books. Now I see it must be a factor too.
Winter Peril is a great book. It’s been edited a few times. I had an agent for that book, until recently. Now everyone will have a chance to see the book. I do believe this is the single most important factor if anyone is thinking about the Kindle Scout process. Make sure the book is in the best possible shape and don’t put the book up too early.
Then there is the cover. I bought that cover from a cover designer over a year ago when I was rough draft done. I saw it as a premade and I said to myself ‘I have to have that one.’ It was gorgeous. So I shelled out the money and it wasn’t a cheap because something inside me said I had t have that. It gave off this sense of alone in the middle of winter…
I better get to fixing up the sequel to the book that is rough draft done. It needs more of something and now that I have the freedom to do it, I know exactly how I want to fix it.
Oh, I made this yesterday as I was in the midst of deciding what I might do if this Kindle Scout thing doesn’t work. I made no final decision on that and now I don’t have too. But I love how this video came out…
Frequently Asked Questions
How important is staying hot during the Kindle Scout campaign?
Staying hot throughout a Kindle Scout campaign appears to be a meaningful factor in selection. The author of Winter Peril remained in the hot category for all 30 days of their campaign, driven by reader votes, and was ultimately selected. Initially skeptical that the hot status mattered, the author concluded it must be a contributing factor to winning a Kindle Scout deal.
What are the most important factors to consider before submitting to Kindle Scout?
According to one author selected by Kindle Scout, the two most critical factors are book quality and cover design. The book should be thoroughly edited and in its best possible shape before submission — avoiding putting it up too early. A professional, eye-catching cover is equally vital, as it creates an immediate emotional impression that can attract voter attention.
Is it worth paying for a professional cover before knowing if your book will be selected for Kindle Scout?
The author of Winter Peril invested in a professional premade cover over a year before submitting to Kindle Scout, even before finishing the draft. Despite the cost, they felt strongly about the cover’s emotional impact — evoking a sense of isolation in winter. Their campaign succeeded, suggesting that early investment in a quality cover can be worthwhile for Kindle Scout submissions.
