When is Your Book Going to be Published?

Note: This post originally appeared on my lifestyle blog, Howdy Girl. This website was partly created to document my journey as I work toward self-publication. 




I get that above question a lot. Ever since inkpop and my harpercollins review. That was almost three years ago. Crazy to think, three years ago, I was hovering in the 40s, struggling to get my book higher. I remember going on vacation for a week and having to tell all my friends "take care of my baby while I'm gone!" because I knew whatever damage happened while I was gone was going to hard to undo. 
Three years.
That's after I kept my writing private for two and a half. I still remember the day I came across inkpop, but that's another story. In August.....no, September, it'll have been six years since I started my book. Six wonderful, frustrating and agonizing years.
But you can only retell the story so many different ways before you either hit gold or hit the wall.
And I think this time I've hit gold. 
A few friends have read the just finished (but still needs MAJOR editing) draft, and the response has been wonderful - giving me hope.
The plan has always been to eventually finish it, query, snatch an agent, land a book deal and become a best selling author. Those were the rules of the game, that's how they've pretty much always been.
Then last week, I saw the plan change in a instant. Well, okay, maybe it didn't change in an instant, but I saw the change in an instant. In fact, I feel like this has been a long time coming. 
I decided to hell with the rules. I want to make my own rules. 
Which is why I'm going to self-publish. 
But.... There is a catch. Because of my financial situation (thanks college!), I'll only be publishing it as an ebook, at least for the moment. I know The Assassin will be on kindle and nook, that's a given. iBooks is to be determined. There's a lot of research that goes into it. I know those are the three major ebook platforms, but if there are others, please, by all means, let me know! 
As far as when it'll be available, I don't know. Probably some time next year, maybe May? That's a total shot in the dark, it's got a lot to go through before it's ready for the world to see, but I'm excited. 
So, now, this is where I need y'all. Self-publishing is scary and exciting, but I can't do it on my own. Publicity is hard, I worked publicity in the publishing industry - I know. Any love you wanna give me, I will love you forever! 
But, to everyone who has followed me and supported me throughout the years - thank you times a gazillion, and I hope you'll stick around just a little bit longer!