Reaching Bestseller Status: A Dream Five Years in the Making
I still can’t quite believe I get to write this post.
This week—the week of November 13, 2025—my debut novel reached Amazon Bestseller status across multiple categories. The print edition landed in the Top 50 Amazon Bestsellers in Divorce Fiction, and the Kindle edition climbed to #21 in Domestic Thrillers and #31 in Psychological Fiction.
For a self-published book that lived as a quiet little computer file on my hard drive for five years, that’s nothing short of incredible.
About the Book
At its heart, Memphis is the story of a woman fighting her way out of the darkness.
It follows a woman’s desperate bid for freedom from her abusive marriage, a choice that sets her on a cross-country odyssey filled with danger, unexpected love, and a reckoning with the family secrets that have held her captive for decades.
For readers who love:
- Southern historical fiction
- Wife vs. husband storylines
- Family secrets and generational trauma
- Domestic violence narratives
- Books like The Push or Big Little Lies
—you’ll find those same emotional currents in Memphis.
The novel also explores the generational impact of violence and alcoholism, as well as the early days of abortion rights in America, grounding the narrative deeply in the realities and expectations placed on women—especially in the 1970s American South.
The Journey Here Wasn’t Linear
If you’ve followed my writing journey, you know this book has been through it. I started querying years ago, hopeful, determined—and met with rejection after rejection. Over time, one thing became clear: the publishing world wasn’t sure what to do with a dark, emotional story set in the 1970s, especially one that refused to be modernized to “fit the market.”
But the time period mattered.
The music, the culture, the social constraints, the expectations of womanhood—these elements weren’t background texture. They were the heartbeat of the story.
Changing the decade would have stripped away its emotional truth.
So I didn’t change it.
I couldn’t.
Eventually, after letting the manuscript rest for years, I had the “what the heck” moment every writer needs—and I hit publish.
First the ebook on September 13, then the print edition on October 27.
And Now… a Bestseller
To put this achievement in perspective: the domestic thriller categories on Amazon typically rotate anywhere from 30,000 to 60,000 titles on any given day.
So seeing my little self-published book rise through those ranks?
Finding its readers among tens of thousands of others? I am amazed, grateful, and deeply humbled.
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who downloaded the ebook, bought the print edition, recommended it, or took the time to leave a review. Memphis now holds a 4.8-star rating on Goodreads, and every single review means more than you know.
If you enjoyed the book, I’d be incredibly grateful for a review on Amazon as well—reviews help visibility tremendously, especially for indie authors, and they help this story of love, survival, and resilience reach women who may need it most.
Staying True to the Story
Looking back, refusing to alter the time period, choosing to self-publish, and believing in this story when no one else in the industry seemed to—those were the right choices.
My book found its readers.
And that is the greatest reward of all.
Thank you for being part of this milestone.
Thank you for believing in my words.
Here’s to the sequel—which I’m starting shortly and plan to release next year.
Get Memphis in print or ebook editions here. Audiobook is coming in December 2025.
