You’d think after 25 years, the rumors would fade. That time would bring perspective. That the record would speak for itself.
But no—because when the truth refuses to be buried, the lies just get louder.
What we’re seeing now isn’t new. It’s the same tired claims—repackaged, re-edited, and thrown back into circulation to stir outrage and harvest clicks. Videos framed as “exposés” rely not on research, but on recycled forum threads and willful misrepresentation.
And for those of us who’ve actually been here the whole time? It’s like watching an old play performed in a new costume—one that still doesn’t fit.
So here’s the real story, again. For the readers, the creators, and the quiet ones who wonder if truth still has a place in this industry.
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.
That Title Change Theory? Completely False
The Claim: I renamed my books in 2016 to piggyback on George R.R. Martin.
The Truth: The revised 10th Anniversary Editions began in 2012. And the so-called “copycat” titles? Those were already years old by then.
The names—like Winds of Change, Pawn of Dragons, Reign of Dragons—came from the structure of the original YA editions, where I introduced named and numbered paths to help readers explore the world in multiple ways. Inspired by my time living in Japan and my love for manga-style arc structuring, this was a creative choice—not a marketing mimic.
To say otherwise is to ignore the facts, the publication history, and the books themselves.
YA vs. Adult Editions: A Smart Strategy, Not a Scam
The Claim: Offering both YA and adult versions was misleading or opportunistic.
The Truth: This practice has been embraced by major publishers for years—Tor, HarperCollins, Orbit among them. My approach with Ruin Mist simply did it earlier, and independently.
Young readers got accessible versions with thematic focus and illustrations. Adult readers received combined editions with a denser narrative flow. Both were clearly labeled, properly marketed, and designed with care.
That’s not deception. That’s understanding your audience—and offering both experiences with integrity.
Writing Sci-Fi for the Wrong Reason? Another Misread
The Claim: My sci-fi work was an opportunistic grab to ride the Hunger Games wave.
The Truth: My earliest work in the '90s was science fiction. My nonfiction career has long focused on advanced technology, AI, and societal systems. After the Machines was born from that same long-standing engagement—not a reaction to market trends.
That book and its sequels are rooted in thoughtful speculation about AI, power, and resistance. Not fads. Not fiction-as-commerce.
The Emily Asimov Accusation? Cruel and Baseless
The Claim: That Emily Asimov’s name was meant to imply lineage to Isaac Asimov.
The Truth: Her bio says she grew up on books and admired her grandfather’s writing. That’s it. She makes no claim to Isaac Asimov, and jumping to that conclusion is not just irresponsible—it’s damaging.
Authors use pen names for privacy, identity, and creative freedom. Dismissing a woman’s work because of her name, and then launching a smear based on a guess? That’s not accountability. That’s harassment.
That Fan Forum Theory? Wildly Inaccurate
The Claim: I impersonated hundreds of users on the Ruin Mist fan forums.
The Truth: The forum still exists—10,000+ posts, nearly 700 members, peak traffic over 400 users in one day. No smoke and mirrors. Just a thriving fan community that lasted nearly a decade.
Accusing me of writing every post or “paying” fans to engage isn’t just wrong—it’s a desperate attempt to erase the reality of that organic support.
Only a Handful of Fans?
The Claim: That only a few “real” fans ever existed.
The Truth: The opposite. My work has reached readers around the world. Was read in classrooms, libraries, and homes across the country and beyond. It inspired fan art, essays, and online communities.
But when the gatekeepers couldn’t make sense of that success, they tried to minimize it. To erase the readers. As if an indie author couldn’t possibly connect on that scale without some “scheme.”
It’s not just false—it’s insulting. To me, and to every person who shared those stories.
The Deleted Reviews Myth
The Claim: My reviews were fake—and later mass-deleted as punishment.
The Truth: There was real manipulation, yes—but not from me. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted six individuals in a $100M Amazon bribery scheme involving fake negative reviews, delistings, and other sabotage. Insiders were caught targeting competitors, taking payments, and erasing positive coverage.
So yes—my reviews disappeared. So did thousands of others.
And it wasn’t because we cheated. It was because the system was broken.
The Bigger Truth
I didn’t get here by playing safe. I got here by writing stories that mattered to people—sometimes in ways that defied explanation.
And when the stories wouldn’t disappear, the attacks shifted toward me.
If the work wasn’t fake, maybe the fans were.
If the fans were real, maybe the books weren’t.
And if none of that worked—maybe the author should just go away.
But I didn’t. I’m still here.
And Here’s Why:
This isn’t just about my name. It’s about:
- Independent creators fighting for legitimacy.
- Readers trying to discover new voices without being shamed for it.
- The right to build something meaningful outside the establishment—and not be punished for succeeding.
So If You’re Still Wondering...
Don’t take a troll’s word for it.
Read the books.
Explore the timelines.
Visit the forums.
Look at the receipts that have been public for decades.
And if the lies make you curious?
Maybe that’s the best reason of all to read Winds of Change – the 25th Anniversary Legacy Edition.
Because stories built to last don’t crumble when shouted at.
They stand.
And so do I.
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.”