Go For It!
I’m a late bloomer. There’s no doubt of that. I’ve been writing all my life but never really did much about it. Oh sure, I sent my stories in to magazines periodically, had some poetry published in small literary journals, even won Honorable Mention when I was seventeen in a contest for writers. But not much else until my friend died of lung cancer and I realized, suddenly, shockingly, that life was passing me by and my dream was gasping for air. So in 1995, I formed my own children’s press, Chicken Soup Press, because I realized the large publishing houses were going mainly with their tried and true authors and if I ever wanted to see my name in print, I would have to take charge of my writing life.
I always felt that my writing was good. I had faith, I had inspiration. I had very little money. But I did it.
Yes, I did it, I took the gamble, shelled out tremendous sums of money which meant certain bills weren’t paid, did copious research and published some books. I made mistakes, a lot of mistakes, but I persevered. I published 3 children’s color books out of a series of twelve I’d envisioned. I published my Lyon Saga 5 book series on the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island, North Carolina, circa 1587. That had moderate success and a glowing review from School Library Journal. But I had 9 more novels waiting in the wings and knew my little children’s press couldn’t do them. So I did more research and finally found a publisher, a self-publisher, which I could afford. I published Joachim’s Magic, the story of Queen Elizabeth I’s metallurgist, who went on the 1585 expedition to the New World and faced danger from the local hostiles and extreme prejudice from his fellow explorers. You see, he was a Jew and the age-old hatreds and superstitions existed.
I put all my love and heart into this novel and it’s receiving great reviews already.
There’s nothing wrong with self-publishing. It takes courage and bravery and, above all, faith in your work. These “indie” books are being recognized all over the publishing world. Great writers who might have been turned down by the big presses are being discovered every day.
My advice – GO FOR IT!
I always felt that my writing was good. I had faith, I had inspiration. I had very little money. But I did it.
Yes, I did it, I took the gamble, shelled out tremendous sums of money which meant certain bills weren’t paid, did copious research and published some books. I made mistakes, a lot of mistakes, but I persevered. I published 3 children’s color books out of a series of twelve I’d envisioned. I published my Lyon Saga 5 book series on the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island, North Carolina, circa 1587. That had moderate success and a glowing review from School Library Journal. But I had 9 more novels waiting in the wings and knew my little children’s press couldn’t do them. So I did more research and finally found a publisher, a self-publisher, which I could afford. I published Joachim’s Magic, the story of Queen Elizabeth I’s metallurgist, who went on the 1585 expedition to the New World and faced danger from the local hostiles and extreme prejudice from his fellow explorers. You see, he was a Jew and the age-old hatreds and superstitions existed.
I put all my love and heart into this novel and it’s receiving great reviews already.
There’s nothing wrong with self-publishing. It takes courage and bravery and, above all, faith in your work. These “indie” books are being recognized all over the publishing world. Great writers who might have been turned down by the big presses are being discovered every day.
My advice – GO FOR IT!
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