Finally Cooking with Fire!

For years, I dreamed of becoming a published author—but like so many aspiring writers, I thought traditional publishing was the only real path. It wasn’t until I stepped into the world of self-publishing that I realized how much power and possibility I had within my reach. Releasing my first title was more than just a milestone—it was a personal breakthrough. I now own my work, my ISBN numbers, and the majority of my compensation. (After years of contacting literary agents and traditional publishers, I ran into radio silence that equates to “no” and several predatory “vanity” publishers—then later learned that traditional publishers take a large cut of authors’ compensation and limit what authors can do with the ISBN numbers they purchase for authors! No thank you, please!) Every decision is mine to make, and that level of freedom has changed how I see myself as a creator.

Self-publishing has not only given me full control—it’s also lit a fire in me to keep going. I feel more confident, more capable, and more comfortable standing in my own authority. With at least four more projects on the way this year, I can say with certainty: this path has opened doors I didn’t even know were closed. If you’re deciding between traditional publishing and self-publishing, DO YOUR RESEARCH on both to decide the best option for you! A few things I considered were my bad luck with literary agents and query letters, whether I want/need to create a legal entity to protect future assets, which method provides the most compensation, and limited versus full control of my intellectual property, creative process, and ISBN numbers. Just know that self-publishing isn’t about cutting corners—it’s about claiming your space and shaping your own story, your way.