Self-publishing

There are, of course, pros and cons to self-publishing. I would have preferred to submit my latest novel, Dream Home, to NeWest Press, which has published four others of my books. But I finished it in late April and decided the content was far too time-sensitive to hold it back for long. The book can be read as a standalone story; but many will read it seeing satirical references to current events in Alberta. Therefore, best to get it out to readers while those events remain current. Going to a publisher would likely have meant a delay of two years.
Self-publishing can be expensive. It can also take months if you're going the full route involving distribution to bookstores. The practical alternative is Amazon KDP. Choosing Amazon limits publicity options and means no physical presence in bookstores. On the other hand, I finished the last proofreading of Dream Home in the third week of April and had it available for sale on Amazon and through other online e-book retailers by May 5. The process was speeded along by the fast provision of a cover design and interior layout by The Killion Group Inc., which does good work and has people who are easy to get along with.
But aside from the practicalities, there's an added attraction to self-publishing. Going with a "real" publisher gives you a feeling of being a "real" author of a "real" book. Being an independent author and publisher offers a different feeling of accomplishment. It's similar to what I felt publishing an independent newsletter on Alberta politics for eight years, after working for large news organizations the previous 32 years. The sense of independence and self-reliance (while acknowledging the reliance on Killion Group and on Amazon) has proved as fulfilling as running a small business for eight years. I'd like to go back to a publishing firm, but for the reasons noted above, it's good to have a different path available to an "indie author."