No fork required for this waffle

I have a critique partner who writes amazing historical Scottish Highland romance. She’s yet unpublished, but I know she'll soon find her place in the literary world.



As with all new writers, and I was no different, she’s waffling in indecision of whether to pursue publication via Traditional with an agent, Indie publishers, or Self-publish on her own.
While that may not mean much to readers because, after all, you just want to read the damn book, this is one of the toughest decisions a new author faces after entering the writing world.
There’s no going back to restart the beginning of your career. There are no do-overs — not unless you reinvent yourself under a new name, that is. This decision will set your course for the next few years, if not longer.
She asked what I thought, and I told her it’s a crap shoot. It depends on a variety of things:
v  What you’re willing to give or takev  How much time and money you can investv  If you’re willing to educate yourself  (which relates to the bullet point above)
I started out by seeking an agent to represent me. With suggestions of a few published author friends, I submitted my work to ePublishers. I made the choice to take a chance on a new Indie publisher when a contract was offered.
Folks, some gambles just don’t pay off. It’s part of the crap shoot. The new ePublisher closed their doors unexpectedly four days after Remedy Maker hit the virtual shelves. I'd been a signed author for less than six months.
Ouch – reality bites.
For every new author, there’s a different answer on which way to throw your career dart. I don’t think one publishing method fits all. Perhaps multiple streams of publication is the answer.
I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure it out.
Maybe the mighty Zoltar has the answer.
Have you been affected by the rise and fall of an Indie publisher? Has Self-publication been overwhelming and not what you thought it would be? Are you happy to write your stories and let your agent or Traditional publication house handle the rest?

I’d love to hear your opinion of the world of publication — pro, con, or indifferent.