The first year...

I intended to write this post back in June, but things were so crazy with us moving and getting Delicate ready for release.

It's been over a year since I published Grounding Quinn, (June 12, 2011.) 

Throughout the past year,

I've had friends question my sanity for self publishing my work, and even try to talk me out of it;

I've gone back and forth about whether I made the right decision or not;

I wondered whether I'd killed my chances of publishing "the real way." 

I felt like a hack in my group of traditionally published friends;

I shrugged off attention when my husband proudly proclaimed to our friends at dinner that, his wife "is an author."

I also...

Released more books;

Started telling people that I know in real life that, "I write books!"

Met some writer friends in real life;

Found a supportive group of writer friends that get it. All;

Discarded the belief that only traditionally published authors are "real" authors;

Got an amazing agent; 

I sold enough books that my husband was able to quit his job and go back to school for something that has been his dream. 

I still...

Hope and dream of having one of my books in a brick and mortar store, and pubbed by a traditional publishing company;

Think there's a stigma to self publishing, but the amazing pool of indie authors is growing. The writing is getting stronger. And the success stories are getting more and more amazing and attainable. 

And I've learned: 

It's not a competition.

There doesn't need to be an us-against-them mentality between indie and traditional. Good books are good books, plain and simple.

and,

It's not a race. 

Just like in traditional publishing, there's rampant jealousy and it just doesn't need to be. 

Every indie author that does well, is a good thing for ALL of us indie authors. 

That book you put out that isn't selling as well as you'd like, well, it's not your last book. There's another story in you that may rocket to the top of the Amazon Best Sellers List. 

There's no rhyme or reason to what sells sometimes, and comparing your success to others is a complete waste of time.