I've just found this forum and I'm hoping someone out there will have experience of this. I had a look at some of the threads and there are people who have used KDP and been pleased with the results.
A bit of background - sorry if it's long...
I started writing YA fiction in 1998 and self-published a series of related short stories (same characters) over four volumes between 2000 and 2003. I sold some, but had no real idea as to how to promote them. Yet those who read them seemed to like them, which helped my confidence at least! I wrote these under a pseudonym.
Then I was asked to write an educational article for a magazine aimed at sixth-form students. I ended up writing 24 of these, from then until the present day. Most of them were commissioned, and I actually got paid (!) so at least someone thinks my writing style is OK - for non-fiction at least. I used my real name when writing these.
But since I retired in 2013 I've been wanting to go back to YA fiction. I read about 70 novels by other people in order to get a feel for the genre, and then wrote my first YA romantic fiction novel last year. Three months to write, six months to edit, cut, rewrite, etc.
I thought I would try KDP and finally published it at the end of October. Unfortunately, it's currently languishing below position 2000 in its category. And I don't know what to do about it.
It seems to be a chicken and egg situation. In order to read it (and possibly review it) people first need to find it. They are unlikely to stumble upon it unless it's in the top 100, yet to get there it needs sales and good reviews.
Some people have read it - but these are people who I've mentioned it's existence to. And it seems to appeal to a wide age range (14 to 64, that I'm aware of). I've had some good feedback too, but how on earth to make it more widely known?
Any advice would be most gratefully received.