Winds of Change – 25th Anniversary Legacy Edition
Launches February 10, 2026
A restored celebration of the story readers championed—then and now.
Preorder & Learn More »Reader & Library Milestones
- Adoption in school and library programs worldwide; recommendations in journals like VOYA and Foreword.
- Millions of readers and listeners across Amazon, Audible, OverDrive, and more.
- Families discovering Bugville Critters and educators using Bugville Jr. for early learning.
What “Bestseller” Means (Plainly)
In publishing, “bestseller” reflects a title’s documented performance on recognized sales charts for a given platform or list—such as Audible, Amazon, or national lists like USA Today. My work reached #1 on Audible and held top positions for sustained periods, which is the essence of a bestseller moment: real readers choosing a book in large numbers over time.
Moments That Mattered
- Feature placements and homepage visibility on major platforms during peak interest windows.
- Global audiobook discovery that introduced new generations to Ruin Mist and companion series.
- Steady library circulation and teacher‑led read‑alouds that kept the stories in motion.
Lists change. Trends fade. What lasts are the stories that earn trust—one reader at a time. I’m grateful for every shelf, device, and classroom where these books found a home.
—Robert Stanek
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.”