Melina Druga | Updates

My Books Are Back on Kindle Unlimited

Melina Druga — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Starting this fall, all my historical fiction eBooks will return to Kindle Unlimited. Why the change? It’s simple. That’s where my target audience finds the majority of its books, and it’ll make it easier for them to explore my catalog.

It may take some time for this change to occur. Kindle Unlimited requires eBook exclusivity with Amazon, which means the books must be removed everywhere else they are for sale. Once the process is complete, the books no longer will be available where they previously were sold. While I know some readers prefer other platforms, this move will help introduce these stories to new readers and make them more accessible to Kindle Unlimited subscribers. I appreciate your understanding and continued support.

Books Moving to Kindle Unlimited

If you've been wanting to try one of my books before purchasing or simply need an excuse to add a few new reads to your TBR pile, now is a great time to jump in. I hope you enjoy these stories, whether you're reading them for the first time or revisiting old favorites.

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A Fresh Beginning for a Fan-Favorite Series

Melina Druga — Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Rock Star’s Wife series is relaunching beginning Oct. 20, 2026, as the Misadventures of Modern Womanhood series. As you know, Amazon pulled the eBook version of Sexual Awakening (The Rock Star’s Wife #1) in November 2025 and never provided an explanation.

While there has been radio silence from Amazon, now I have a theory. The retailer has a list of banned words, and the book’s title contains one ̶ “sexual.” In addition, Amazon’s content guidelines specify they will not sell anything that contains “sexual exploitation of children.” Sexual Awakening is about teenagers. Is it possible the combination of its title and premise got it flagged? Products are flagged by an algorithm, not a human, which might explain why the paperback and hardcover were not removed from sale, although the paperback oddly was removed from the series’ page.

My theory isn’t a perfect one. Two other book titles in the series ̶ Sex & Surprises and The Pandemic Diaries ̶ also contain banned words yet they were unaffected. But, as I said, it’s an algorithm flagging books, so maybe I’m looking for logical patterns where there are none.

The book’s removal ruined my marketing plan for the series, and I have been longing for weeks to get Sexual Awakening back on Amazon. The only way to do that would be to republish it with a new ISBN. However, I’m afraid it would be removed again if republished with the same title. Or worse, more books in the series would be. Worst of all, Amazon could suspend my KDP account.

I’d love to maintain the original titles, especially the series title, but my only option is rebranding. All references to banned words must be removed from titles and blurbs. While relaunching makes sense from a business perspective, it does have one big drawback: I’ll be starting from scratch when it comes to reviews.

A New Chapter Begins: The Rebranding of The Rock Star’s Wife Series

Over the coming months, the series will be rebranded and relaunched with:

A new series title
New book titles
New cover art
New ISBNs

What Will Happen to the Original Editions?

You may be wondering what this means for the original versions of the books. They will be removed from sale. You still will have access to previously purchased copies.

What Readers Can Expect

The heart of the series remains the same:

Told with heat, humor and honesty, the series is a sweeping emotional saga for readers who love character-driven women’s fiction and realistic contemporary romance. The series follows Cassandra’s journey from her first high school crush to the tangled emotions of midlife and unfolds across decades of passion, heartbreak and self-discovery.

Each standalone book explores a new stage of Cassandra’s life: first love, independence, marriage, motherhood, fame, secrets, survival and legacy. Through it all, she learns that the most beautiful music comes from the heart.

This series celebrates the evolving life of a woman who refuses to fade quietly into the background. Prepare for strong language, situations that would make a nun faint, and adult themes that explore the messy, hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking realities of life, love, and the pursuit of a decent guitar solo.

Want to Be Part of the Relaunch?

If you’d like to help spread the word, share teaser graphics, or review the books during relaunch, I would love to have you join the team.

There are volunteer opportunities for:

ARC/review readers
Street team members/social media supporters

Join the Launch Team

The Romance Returns This Fall

Your enthusiasm, reviews, messages, and encouragement make projects like this possible, and I’m so grateful to share this journey with you. More details, including covers, release dates, and review opportunities, will be announced soon.

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Saying Goodbye to My Nonfiction Titles

Melina Druga — Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

After careful consideration, I have made a difficult decision regarding the future of my nonfiction catalog. Beginning in late August 2026, all nonfiction titles will be removed from sale across retailers and platforms.

As Sun Up Press has evolved over the years, it has become clear that its long-term business plan centers on fiction. While the nonfiction titles have been an important part of the journey, the books no longer align with the company’s direction, branding and focus.

This decision was not made lightly. These books represent significant time, effort and passion, and I’m incredibly thankful to readers who supported them over the years. However, this change will allow me to devote my full attention to the fiction catalog.

If there are any nonfiction books you’ve been considering purchasing, I encourage you to do so before they are officially delisted.

After the removal date, eBooks, audiobook and print editions will no longer be available for purchase. Readers who already have purchased digital copies through retailers should typically retain access, although this may vary by retailer.

Affected Titles

The following nonfiction books will be removed from sale in late August:

1914 — Discover how Canada and the U.S. experienced the start of World War I.
1915 — Gas, Ypres and the great divide between Canada and the U.S.
1916 — While Canadian soldiers fought in the mud of the Somme, Americans battled over neutrality at home.
1917 — America declared war and Canada won glory at Vimy Ridge.
1918 — Armistice and influenza — victory and tragedy in the same breath.
A Tale of Two Nations: Canada, U.S. and WWI — The Great War as seen through North American eyes.
Heinous: Forgotten Murders From the 1910s — Step back in time to a decade when crime ran rampant and justice was anything but certain.

If any of these books have been on your reading list, now is the time to purchase them before they are disappear.

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Amazon Pulls Sexual Awakening & Won’t Explain

Melina Druga — Wed, 3 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Amazon has pulled the eBook version of Sexual Awakening (The Rock Star’s Wife #1) and won’t provide an explanation. Removing the book was not my decision, and I am fighting to resolve the issue. Amazon is not making it easy.

Sexual Awakening went on preorder on Amazon on Dec. 2, 2022, and there have previously been no issues. The block happened some time between the evening of Nov. 24, 2025, when I last saw it on Amazon, and the morning of Nov. 26 when I discovered it was no longer for sale. My only clue was an automated note in my dashboard: “Your title is unavailable for editing due to either a copyright restriction or blocked content. Check your email for more details.”

I had not received an email so I contacted customer service. I spoke to a rude representative who told me the review team would contact me in three to five days. On the fifth day, I still had not received an email, so I contacted customer service again. This customer service rep said an email had been sent on Nov. 26 but since I had not received it, he would have the review team resend it in a few hours. Nearly 48 hours later and still no email, I contact customer service yet again. I’m told an email was sent on Dec. 2, and she would need to refer my inquiry to the review team. Expect up to four days for a response.

I cannot resolve the issue without an explanation, and Amazon's own guidelines say "If you have concerns about your blocked title, please contact us for more information." Yet, whenever I contact customer service, no one can help me or provide additional information.

I am receiving other Amazon emails yet I have received ZERO emails from the review team. In addition, I check my spam filter throughout the day to ensure nothing gets filtered there that shouldn’t. I know for a fact the review team never contacted me. I would have received an email otherwise.

Amazon has a reputation for not treating indie authors fairly. For this reason, I am not overly optimistic this issue will be updated quickly, if at all. I will be updating the timeline below to let readers know what’s happening.

Timeline

I am keeping detail notes of what is happening, when, who I spoke to and what was said. Here is a summary:

Dec. 2, 2022: Sexual Awakening goes on preorder.

Feb. 14, 2023: Sexual Awakening launches. The book is updated periodically with no issues.

Nov. 19, 2025: The latest update is approved. (This is a screenshot of that email.) If there was a problem, why was the book approved? Wouldn't it have been easier to have me fix whatever the issue is before approval than to block the book a week later and not tell me why?

Between the evening of Nov. 24 and the morning of Nov. 26, 2025: Amazon blocks the eBook version.

Nov. 26, 2025: I contact customer service and speak to Customer Service Rep 1 who tells me he will let the review team know I need an explanation and that they will contact me in 3-5 days. He then does the webchat version of hanging up on me.

Dec. 1, 2025: I contact customer service again and speak to Customer Service Rep 2. He tells me an email was sent on the 26th but since I had not received it, he will have the review team resend it. He tells me I will receive it in a few hours.

Dec. 2, 2025: I send an email to the only department I can find an email for – Author Central – even though it’s the incorrect department in the hopes someone there will forward it to someone who can help. The thank you message says to expect a response in 24 hours if not longer.

Dec. 3, 2025: I contact customer service and speak to Customer Service Rep 3. After I explain what has happened over the last several days, she says she is sorry my book was blocked and asks if I received an email. After I told her twice I had yet to receive an email. She then claims an email was sent to me on the 2nd. She also was rude and told me to expect an email from the review team in four days, if not sooner.

I posted about the issue on my social media pages.

Dec. 4, 2025: Amazon KDP responds on Instagram: "Hi, We see you’ve mentioned account closure. To protect your privacy and security, we do not reply to account- or title-specific questions on Facebook. If your account has been closed, you would have received an email from KDP. I know you mentioned you did not see it. Please check your spam folder. You can appeal the account closure by responding directly to that email. KDP reviews every appeal received."

First, the post was not about an account closure, it was about Sexual Awakening being blocked. Secondly, they were answering on Instagram, not Facebook, which tells me this response was copy/pasted. Third, how many times do I need to tell them the email is not in spam folder because I check my spam folder frequently.

Dec. 5, 2025: Amazon KDP on Instagram: "We do not address account or title specific issues on social channels. However, if you provide me the ASIN, I can flag it to the appropriate team. Thank you." I responded with the ASIN and "See what you can do because I'm getting no where on my own."

Dec. 8, 2025: I speak to Customer Service Rep 4. I am yet again told the issue will be referred to the review department and that it's probably in my spam folder. It is not there, which I have told them multiple times. I was told to expect an email in 72 hours, and then I was once again hung up on. Before the abrupt goodbye, I asked if it was true that if an author does not respond to the email within five days, the block becomes permanent. I was told this is true, but Customer Service Rep 4 couldn't tell me whether it applied in this case.

Dec. 15, 2025: I still have yet to receive an email. I feel my only recourse at this point would be to hire an attorney, which I do not have the budget to do. I also discover that I have lost most of my reviews as only two are visible with the paperback version. Weirdly, they are all there for the hardcover version.

Dec. 23, 2025: The paperback version of Sexual Awakening has been removed from the series' page. It is, however, still for sale.

Dec. 29, 2025: What you would have had to pay for on Amazon, I'm giving you for free. All you need to do is join the mailing list. (Please note: This offer has since expired.)

May 26, 2026: The Rock Star’s Wife series is relaunching beginning Oct. 20, 2026, as the Misadventures of Modern Womanhood series. Learn what this change means.

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