Do you know that Walt Whitman self-published his famous LEAVES OF GRASS? The first edition of the book was sold in only two stores initially.
Beatrix Potter self-published THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens was self-published.
Mark Twain was already famous when he turned to self-publishing.
Are you familiar with William Blake, Virginia Wolfe, Marcel Proust? They were also self-published authors.
Be proud you belong to this group of distinguished and successful writers.
Forget about the stigma. Thicken your skin. Publish your dream!