Getting Published

I used to believe that it would be easy for my book to be attractive to literary agents and publishers. I wrote to about seven or eight agents in hopes of selling my book immediately. I got six rejections, and one who never wrote back. I entered a Pitch contest through a brilliant website called WriteOnCon, in which any author can submit a query for an unpublished book and have an assigned agent read it and suggest changes or request a submission to their agency. Some of the authors actually acquired a publishing deal through this contest, which is amazing for them! The agent who read my query wasn't a huge sci-fi fanatic, and therefore didn't ask for a submission, which I understood. And after a little while longer of submitting queries, I decided to take responsibility for publicizing my own novel. And that’s when I remembered a comment given to me by another blogger months before it all began.

“Why don’t you try publishing on Amazon?”
Huh. Amazon.
I brushed it off at first. Self-publishing was for desperate people, in my opinion (sorry to offend anyone, but now I'm self publishing so I guess I'm insulting myself...) But then I decided, what have I got to lose? I started researching self publishing by reading some success stories (Amanda Hockings' was particularly inspiring) and scouring forums for advice. Then I did something I never thought I’d do: I signed up to Amazon. Not just as a buyer, no. I signed up to a program called Create Space.
From there, I became obsessed. I had someone design my cover (posted below), I started making a template of my novel and I spiraled deeper and deeper into the amazing world of self-publishing. And let me tell you something: despite how difficult it is for non-US authors to get paid by Amazon (don’t get me started on royalties and taxes), self publishing is actually quite easy. The best thing about it? I control EVERYTHING.
So now that I have my claws on an official book and have organized promotions and marketing through my websites, I'm hoping and praying that when my book will be available on Amazon (and other affiliates), there are enough people who know about it and wish to buy it that I will make at least some profit.
Which is why I need your help. Sure, I’m just like any other indie author out there who wants their book to become the next Harry Potter or 50 Shades of Grey (maybe not) but doesn’t it all begin with the fans? With the people who spread the word? I’m new to this, so I have no idea where to start, and there are so many markets out there that I’m dizzy just thinking about it. But I need your help. I need to get my work out there. In just over a month, I’ll have my book available. And I’m terrified and ecstatic to discover what will happen.
So, in the meantime, spread Rouge like wildfire and hopefully, maybe, there’s a chance my story will be read by people who appreciate heroes and the hope they bring.

Peace X