For over two decades, I chose to remain largely silent as misinformation, smears, and targeted attempts to discredit me and my work circulated online.

But silence has its limits. And in the face of renewed attacks—amplified by viral videos and recycled rumors—it’s time to respond. Not with anger. Not with retaliation. But with truth.

Because what’s at stake isn’t just my name. It’s the right of authors to create freely, and the right of readers to decide for themselves what’s worth reading.

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.

What the Smear Campaign Misses Entirely

The video claims to expose hidden truths. In reality, it rehashes long-debunked forum gossip with dramatic edits and false conclusions.

It doesn’t investigate—it impersonates journalism.

It doesn’t present facts—it manipulates timelines and source material to fit a narrative born of bias, not evidence.

Most of the supposed “controversy” centers around events tied to books first released in 2001—discussed by people who weren’t even reading yet, let alone involved in publishing or the indie movement.

So let’s walk through some of the biggest distortions.

The VOYA Review Lie

Claim: “No professional reviewers ever reviewed Stanek’s work.”
Fact: My book The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches was reviewed by VOYA Magazine—a professional journal written by and for YA librarians. It was a respected industry publication, and its contributors were professionals with real credentials. Claiming otherwise is revisionism.

The Brian Jacques Photo Conspiracy

Claim: “Stanek photoshopped himself into a photo to appear alongside Brian Jacques.”
Fact: The photo in question was taken by my wife, clearly shows my children beside me, and never claimed I was touring with Brian Jacques. The post—still online—states exactly what it is: a fan tribute from a meeting in Olympia, WA.

Twisting a fan tribute into a smear is not only dishonest—it’s absurd.

The RA Salvatore Tour Twist

Claim: “Stanek claimed to be on tour with R.A. Salvatore.”
Fact: The original page on my site explicitly states it was Salvatore’s book tour. My forums discussed his work. Fans shared favorite characters. That’s it.

And just to highlight how obvious this is: the photo from the event includes a visible “Meet the Writers” sign featuring Salvatore’s name, face, and book cover.

I was a fan in the crowd, not an author at the table. To suggest otherwise requires willful misreading.

The Review Numbers Deception

Claim: “Stanek had 500,000 fake reviews.”
Fact: In the early 2000s, hundreds of reviews on indie books were significant—especially without mainstream support. And those reviews were real, from real readers.

If critics actually used the Wayback Machine honestly, they’d see what’s been public all along.

Legal Action? Maybe. But the Real Fix Is Truth.

I’ve been asked: Why not sue?

And yes, I’ve considered it. But legal threats won’t fix a culture that thrives on weaponized misinformation.

What does fix it?

Speaking up.

Sharing facts.

Letting the work speak for itself.

I’ve never relied on PR firms or paid hype. Just stories that connected—and readers who passed them along.

Why It Still Matters

This isn’t just about me.

It’s about:

• Indie creators who wonder if they’ll be targeted for finding success their own way.
• Readers who want to choose books without gatekeepers.
• The next generation of writers wondering if it’s worth it to try.

That’s why I’m speaking now. Not to engage trolls—but to help others see beyond them.

Want to Know the Truth?

Don’t take a YouTube narrator’s word for it. Don’t take mine either.

Read the books.

Read the original reviews from journals like VOYA and The Journal of Electronic Defense.

Read the letters from librarians, teachers, and fans who’ve championed this work across two decades.

Then decide for yourself.

A Story Still Standing

Winds of Change – 25th Anniversary Legacy Edition
Coming February 10, 2026
Preorder at: robertstanekbooks.com

This story was never about approval. It was about truth.

And now more than ever, it’s time to read it for yourself.

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.”