Amazon announced today that thriller writer John Locke is the first self-published author to sell more than a million ebooks via the online retailer. 

Locke has reportedly sold 1,010,370 Kindle books using Kindle Direct Publishing.

Locke joins an elite group. Stieg Larsson, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Charlaine Harris, Lee Child, Suzanne Collins and Michael Connelly are the other members of the so-called Kindle Million Club.

“Kindle Direct Publishing has provided an opportunity for independent authors to compete on a level playing field with the giants of the book selling industry,” said John Locke, in the Amazon press release. “Not only did KDP give me a chance, they helped at every turn. Quite simply, KDP is the greatest friend an author can have.”

The Louisville, Kentucky man is the author of nine novels including “Vegas Moon,” “Wish List,” “A Girl Like You,” “Follow the Stone,” “Don’t Poke the Bear!” and the New York Times bestselling ebook, “Saving Rachel.”

Locke’s latest book, “How I Sold 1 Million eBooks in 5 Months,” is a how-to guide for self-published authors.

Self-epublished authors continue to make a name for themselves by showing up on the bestseller lists. Lower price points could be helping them along. I know I’m more likely to try a new author if her ebooks sell for under $3.

For the week ending Feb. 6, 2011, three of self-epublished sensation Amanda Hocking’s young adult paranormals appeared on the USA Today bestseller list.  All three were in the top 50. (According to Publishers Weekly, the New York Times ebooks bestseller list excludes self-published ebooks.)

According to USA Today, Hocking sold more than 450,000 copies of her nine titles in January alone.

Hocking, 26, lives in Austin, Minnesota. On her website, she reports her trilogy has been optioned for a film. She is represented by agent Steve Axelrod.

Hocking’s blog also says that her eight self-epublished books sell for between $.99 and $1.99 – and that she’s sold 900,000 copies of her books (including a novella) since April 2010.