When Amazon Says Yes Before the Sun Does

Saturday, February 28, 2026 — Orlando, Florida

“Sometimes the clouds in the sky are mistaken. They didn’t come to block the sunlight. They came to embrace it.” — Kaylee Stepkoski

Late winter days—no matter your zip code or circumstances—have a knack for being gray and a touch moody, even here in Central Florida, where the chill is more suggestion than reality. Today is one of those “almost spring” days when the sun turns shy, hiding behind a thick veil of gray-white clouds so the world feels as if it’s been dipped in black‑and‑white film. With meteorological spring arriving tomorrow, the air is refreshingly cool—69°F (21°C), just a few degrees shy of the forecasted high of 73°F (23°C).

After posting yesterday about the ethics of reviewing books—and my preference for honesty over mindless digital cheerleading—I turned my attention to sprucing up Reunion: Coda’s presence on Amazon. That meant logging into my Kindle Direct Publishing dashboard, heading to the “Add A+ Material” section, and building several modules that blend graphics, headlines, and text reflecting the novel’s characters, situations, and settings—without giving away any spoilers, of course.

The idea had been simmering since I published Reunion: Coda last April. And since my creative energy wasn’t quite up to tackling The Jim Garraty Chronicles, it felt like the right moment to finally give these A+ modules a try. I’ll admit I was nervous; the last thing I wanted was for my book’s product page to look like the digital equivalent of a homemade science fair project gone awry.

It took about half an hour to choose the right modules—there are plenty of options, depending on what you want to highlight—and I aimed for that elusive sweet spot of visually appealing and story‑relevant. I wrote headers, captions, and copy to match each illustration I’d selected and uploaded, pausing often to make sure everything felt just right.

The process wasn’t nearly as intimidating as I’d feared. You don’t need a master’s in computer science or a minor in fine arts to make it work. Amazon and KDP have made adding A+ material surprisingly user‑friendly—almost fun, even. Still, since I was serving as my own art director, copywriter, and quality‑control department, I took my time. I didn’t want to rush and risk turning the page into an eyesore. I didn’t keep a stopwatch running, but I’d estimate the whole affair took between 35 minutes and an hour.

When I finished, I gave everything a thorough once‑over (and then a twice‑over, just to be safe). I do wish I’d had a better headshot illustration for Marty, but sometimes you have to dance with the image you brought. I focused on perfecting the headlines, captions, and body text, reading each section carefully to catch typos or awkward phrasing. Satisfied that all was in order, I took a deep breath, admired my handiwork one last time, and pressed Submit.

A pop‑up informed me that my submission was under review and could take up to 10 business days to appear on Reunion: Coda’s page. That’s par for the course when you’re an indie author, so I closed out of KDP and left the rest to the Amazon gods.

Either those gods were feeling generous, or I was incredibly lucky, because less than an hour later—far sooner than I expected—my A+ modules were approved. After the tense wait for the Audible release of Reunion: Coda, the fast turnaround felt nothing short of miraculous.

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🌟 Take a Look at the Updated Reunion: Coda Page

If you’d like to see the new A+ material—images, captions, and all—you can visit the Reunion: Coda page on Amazon. The added modules give a richer sense of the story’s emotional landscape without spoiling any of the plot.

📚 A Gentle Ask for Readers and Supporters

If you’ve enjoyed any of the Jim Garraty stories—Reunion: A Story, Reunion, Reunion: Coda, or Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen—I’d be grateful if you’d consider picking up one you haven’t read yet or sharing the books with someone who might connect with them.

And if you feel moved to write an honest review on Amazon or on your blog, it truly helps more than most readers realize. Thoughtful, candid reviews—positive or critical—are invaluable to indie authors trying to reach the readers who will love their work.