Winds of Change – 25th Anniversary Legacy Edition
Launches February 10, 2026
This is more than a re-release. It’s a restoration. Uncut. Reimagined. Finally allowed to speak for itself.
Learn More & Preorder »For over 25 years, I’ve kept my focus on the work—on writing stories that matter and connecting with readers around the world.
But silence only empowers lies. And when falsehoods are recycled for clicks and outrage, it’s time to speak clearly—for the truth, for my readers, and for every indie author who dares to succeed on their own terms.
Let’s take a moment to clarify the truth.
For Background
I stepped away from publishing new creative work for nearly a decade, focusing instead on personal projects and private life. But that changed in March 2025, when I announced the forthcoming release of the 25th Anniversary Edition of The Kingdoms & the Elves of the Reaches. Almost immediately, a familiar pattern re-emerged.
Some of the same voices who had fueled disinformation campaigns in the early 2000s—and others who have maintained a pattern of online harassment since at least 2015—resurfaced. Within days of the announcement, new videos began circulating, rehashing claims that had long since been publicly debunked.
The first video, posted around April 17, revived several known falsehoods. It included personal attacks against my wife, distorted facts about a publicly documented photo from the Distinguished Flying Cross Memorial (which clearly displays my name), and misrepresented my photography collections as “nonexistent” book series—demonstrating either willful misinformation or careless research.
On April 22, a second, more aggressive hour-long video followed—escalating the attacks and forming the basis of the response that follows. To be clear, the video draws extensively on material lifted—nearly word-for-word—from a notorious blog known for recycling long-debunked falsehoods about me dating back to the early 2000s. These claims have been investigated, discredited, and publicly refuted for years.
The Video, the Myths & the Real Agenda
The video resurfaces decades-old internet lies under a new label—claiming to “investigate” while really repackaging smear tactics and mocking creativity.
The truth? These attacks didn’t start now. They’ve been circulating since the early 2000s. They just found a new audience—and a new excuse to spread misinformation.
Let’s walk through a few of the worst offenders.
The VOYA Magazine Review
The Lie: “No professional reviewer ever reviewed the books.”
The Truth: The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches was reviewed by VOYA Magazine, a respected journal written by and for young adult librarians. The review was legitimate. The claim that “anyone could submit a review” is pure fabrication.
The Brian Jacques Photo Smear
The Lie: “The photo was faked to claim Robert was on tour with Brian Jacques.”
The Truth: The photo—taken by my wife—shows me
squatting beside my children and Brian Jacques. The caption has always
stated the obvious:
Photo shows Robert Stanek and his family, and
Brian Jacques. Taken by H. Stanek in Olympia, WA.
The page was a
tribute. Nothing more, nothing less. And has always explicitly stated it
was Jacques’s tour.
The RA Salvatore Fiction
The Lie: “Robert claimed he was on tour with R.A. Salvatore.”
The Truth: I never said that. The article on my site explicitly stated it was Salvatore’s tour. I met him as a fan. Our community discussed his books and celebrated his work. The photograph in question even clearly shows standard Meet the Writers signage from the bookstore—with Salvatore’s name and photo beneath.
Review Counts and Conflation
The Lie: “He had 500,000 fake reviews.”
The Truth: In the early 2000s, hundreds of reviews were a remarkable feat—especially for an indie author with no publisher machine behind him. These were real readers. Real reviews. A simple trip to the Wayback Machine proves it.
Should We Litigate?
Could we sue? Maybe. But the bigger issue isn’t one creator—it’s a culture that rewards cruelty, devalues truth, and ignores nuance for viral soundbites.
What fights that?
Facts. Integrity. And a record of doing the work—day after day, decade after decade.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
This goes beyond me. It’s about:
- Indie authors targeted for daring to bypass the gatekeepers.
- Readers misled by algorithms and outrage.
- Creators erased not because they failed—but because they succeeded on their own terms.
When lies go unchecked, they become accepted. So we answer them—not with drama, but with facts.
Where the Truth Lives
Don’t take a stranger’s word. Look at the record.
Read the books.
Read the reviews from VOYA, The Journal of Electronic Defense, and educators across the world.
Explore what real readers have said for over two decades.
Then decide for yourself.
The books are real.
The readers are real.
The story is still standing.
And no one spends 25 years trying to bury something—unless it matters.
This time, we tell the story our way.
This time, the trolls don’t win.
Celebrating Worldwide Recognition & Success
Beloved Series & Bestselling Titles
Ruin Mist • Bugville Critters • After the Machines • Scott Evers Thrillers
Chart-Topping Achievements
- #1 Fiction — Audible.com
- #1 Kids & YA — Audible.com
- #1 Mystery/Thriller — Audible.com
- Top 10 Kids & YA — Audible.com
- Top 50 Sci-Fi & Fantasy — Amazon.com
- Top 50 All-Time Bestseller — Audible.com
- #1 Free Dystopian, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery/Thriller — Amazon.com
As Featured In
The New York Times • Publisher's Weekly • VOYA Magazine • Foreword Magazine • School Library Journal • Library Journal • Children's Bookshelf • Parenting Magazine • The Journal of Electronic Defense • OverDrive’s “ContentWire for Libraries” • Ancient Art of Faery Magick • The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Elves & Fairies • Popular Series Fiction for Middle School and Teen Readers
Trusted by Leading Platforms
Audible • Emusic • Epic! • Kobo • Spotify • Tales2Go • Playaway • Findaway World • Ripple Reader • Sony Ebooks • Google Play • Apple Books • Walmart • ThriftBooks • OverDrive • eLibrary • Ingram Digital • EBSCO • Chirp Books • Barnes & Noble • Scribd • Hoopla Digital • Bookshop Org • Tolino Media • Target • Storytel • Librofm • Audiobook Store • Downpour Audio • BookPage • eBrary • Proquest • Baker & Taylor • BookSource • and dozens more over the years to ensure our stories reached homes, schools, and libraries everywhere.
Acclaimed Worldwide by Readers, Critics & Professionals
Ruin Mist / Kingdoms & the Elves / Service of Dragons
- Instant Bestsellers (2002): 26 weeks on Amazon’s Sci-Fi/Fantasy Top 50
- Audible Milestone (2005): #1 for 14 consecutive weeks; Top 10 Kids & YA for 3 years
- Millions of readers reached via Amazon, Audible, OverDrive, and more
- VOYA Review: “Dramatic illustrations draw the reader into the Tolkienesque world...”
- Foreword Magazine: “Three compelling stories, fast-paced and suspenseful… Brisk, accessible prose.”
- Publisher’s Weekly Cover Feature: April 2009
The Pieces of the Puzzle
- #1 Fiction & Top 10 Mystery Bestseller — Audible (2005)
Bugville Critters
- Follett Early Learning: “Essential early learning series.”
- Foreword Magazine: “Colorful and instructive, reminiscent of Little Miss Spider.”
- The Audio Book Store: “One of our most featured and respected Kids authors.”
- Parenting Magazine: “Recommended Series.”
Stormjammers
- The Journal of Electronic Defense: “Ride along with Stanek’s crew in 32 Desert Storm missions.”