Rants, Rita, and Realities – A Grace Full Life
I discussed how two events in the last week influenced my perspective on the path I should pursue with my book. I got a reiki reading and I finished a good book. I feel I gave up submitting query letters to agents too soon.
When a literary agent requested a book proposal from me in November, deep down I felt I was going to get a contract. When I was rejected, I was so disappointed that I could only think about the rejection rather than the excellent advice she gave me.
This winter, I felt unmotivated and stuck. I believe the reiki session and the book were both necessary for me to hear some unpleasant truths.
For the first time in over a year and a half, I changed the quote over my desk from Keep Going to this:
I came up with this quote on my own, which is unusual for me. It felt like it was appropriate for this post and podcast.
When searching for a book on Amazon, you may browse through categories such as Best Books of the Month, Celebrity Picks (my least favorite section), Amazon Book Review, Popular Authors and Series, and so on.
When you visit a physical bookstore, they also have a variety of sections. They even have an As Seen on TikTok section at my local Barnes and Noble.
But you know what none of the preceding have? A section titled Self-Published or as Amazon calls it, Independently Published. A section for authors who do the majority of the work themselves.
In a nutshell, so as not to bore those of you who did not want a self-publishing lesson, I’ve spent the last three months attempting to navigate these waters, and let me tell you, I don’t have a life jacket and can’t find the person who knows where to obtain one. Well, I can, but it will cost me $3,000 to do so.
It’s a lot of running around in circles and there aren’t a lot of definitive answers on which path to choose. I’m not usually good at that kind of thing.
Who do you know who has written and self-published a book?
Now that I understand how difficult this process truly is, I want to help authors who are doing this alone.
Below are some of the self-published books I was able to find.
And We All Breathe the Same Air: A Poetry Anthology by Augie’s Bookshelf and Molly Wolchansky
The Things I Didn’t Say in Therapy by Logan Duane
Always Only You by Chloe Liese
It Matters: See, Hear, and Say by Tony Gardner
Always Only You by Chloe Liese is available on Bookshop.org but it is currently backordered. Chloe is also now represented by a literary agent, so this must’ve been her first book. I love a good ending, don’t you? You can see all of her other books on her website.
Melancholy & Cinnamon: A Journey Through Mental Hell by Gabrielle G.
The Words I Wish I Said by Caitlin Kelly
Natures Bounty: A Chapbook of Poems About Nature by Justin Farley
Through the Fog: Navigating Life’s Challenges While Raising Kids with Hearing Loss by Valli Gideons
The BEST Thing Ella Ever Did by Shavon Ortiz and Jessica Lugo (Illustrator)
Taking Back Old: Poetry Celebrating Old Women by Leona Nicholas Welch
Then There Was Larry: A Memoir by Marie Estorge
Mayhem at the Happy Valley Motor Inn and Resort (The Happy Valley Series) by Leslie Noyes
Length of Light by Deborah Weaver
Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit by Valerie Dunsmore
If you’ve self-published a book or know of someone who has, please share it in the comments. In the coming week, I will be adding a permanent link at the top of my blog.
A Grace Full Life 
Leslie Noyes self publishes. Happy valley Murder I think?
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Ooh, I’ll look into her. Thank you!
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👍
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I’ve known a few people who have self-published, but that was before the www. In those cases it was costly, and then they had to market the books themselves. I’ve also known a few people who used university presses to have their books published, but they always had an angle to get those presses to publish for them. They still had to market the books on their own. I wish you well. I know you’ll do great.
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Oh LAWD, I know! When I see “don’t mail in your manuscripts” at the top of the submission guidelines, all I can think about are the authors who came before me. God bless all of them.
Thank you, Ally. It’s the journey, not the destination, right? RIGHT? 🙂
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As someone who is hoping to begin the soul-sucking query process soon, I read this with great interest. So much luck to you as you embark on the self publishing journey!
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I had no idea you were embarking on this path as well! I am always available if you have any questions or just want to rant. I wish you the best of luck as well! XOXO
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I self-published comics and zines back in the day. A couple of self-published authors I met here are Claudette Labriola (Erotica), Aspasia Bissis (Vampires), Susi Bocks (Poetry Anthologies)
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I’d never really knew what zines were until my friend Rebecca explained them to me a few months ago. During my research, I came across a cool independent publisher called Microcosm Publishing, which you might dig. I’m not sure if it’s your thing, but they are quite cool.
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Yeah some stuff looks cool.. although they say they are far left (that to me means radical) but I might see if anything suits me. It might be an avenue to self publish a comic. Thanks 😁👍
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You’re welcome! 🙂
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I love that you are not giving up and are looking at things from a different perspective. Keep going, but also, There Are Other Ways. (So prolific Kari!)
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I love that I’m not either. It feels like a new beginning. 🙂
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Joanne Tracey is one of my favorite self- published authors. She write cute little chick-lit type stories that have great character development and she blogs about her whole writing process too. I actually “found” her book through her blogging. I want to say she has 8 or 9 of them out and I know she’s currently working on at least two more.
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Thank you, Joanne! I will look now.
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I’m interested in following your journey and where it leads you. Here are two self-published authors I know:
R. Ann Siracusa became city planner of Rome in the 1960s when she couldn’t get a job in the US because she was a woman. (She had to learn Italian quickly!) She’s my husband’s aunt. Her career includes city planner of LA, building the Metro Rail and then city planner of Santa Monica — all while self-publishing eight or nine books! https://www.amazon.com/R.-Ann-Siracusa/e/B002BM1P5E%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
A childhood friend self published “The Edge” last year. You can find it on Amazon under his writing name Clark Douglas. I ordered it and I really enjoyed reading it.
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Thank you, Elizabeth! I will add them. 🙂
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These are not authors I know 🙂 But I did read that The Celestial Prophecies was initially self-published (and sold out of the author’s car?), and 50 Shades of Grey was initially self-published (and initially published as Twilight fan fiction).
I also read that Chicken Soup for the Soul (not self-published) was rejected a whopping 144 times (I couldn’t make up that number if I tried), and he persisted. And it became a best-seller. Just saying.
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I did hear that about 50 Shades of Gray!
I have to keep all of these rejection stories in mind. Just keep swimming. 🙂
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I’m poking along writing my memoir and once I have it done, yikes -THEN WHAT? Will anyone want it? I feel like writing a book is such a lofty project with no promise of a desired end result. I REALLY wish it wasn’t this hard. I wish you all the best and I’m glad that you’ve taken a new approach, fresh start. So hoping your dream becomes a reality my friend.
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You’re right when you say there’s no promise. But you wrote a book, which is something to be proud of in and of itself. 🙂
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The publishing world is so crazy. I do know someone who has self-published, my friend Valerie. https://www.valeriedunsmore.com/ I hope your dream comes true, I think you are a talented writer and the world will benefit from hearing your voice. xo
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Ooh, thank you! I will check her out.
Thank you, Nicole! Xoxo
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My friend, Deborah Weaver has written a couple (a few?) non-fiction books but I honestly don’t know if she self-published. I can either ask her or put you in touch with her.
What is a Reiki reading? I mean, I know what Reiki is (I better – I’m level one; want to be certified in level 2 this year), but I’ve never heard of someone doing a reading using Reiki.
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I can look into her, thank you!
I’m probably using the word incorrectly. It was the ACT of Reiki that she performed on me? Does this make more sense?
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Yes! 🙂
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🙂
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Book covers! Omg same! Especially when I was younger. Such a sucker for book covers.
That’s awesome you had such a meaningful reiki reading (also I have so many questions about getting a reiki reading lol. I am fascinated!).
YES to focusing on the positive, trying another way! Your quote is fantastic & so so meaningful that these are Your words! There are other ways. We need to make space for positive things, other ways, not closing doors prematurely. I am rooting for you Kari!
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I plan to write a post about book covers. Because I have a certain cover in mind for my book, I created a Pinterest board dedicated to book covers!
It was such an amazing experience. I went in with an open mind and came out feeling so much lighter. I would suggest it to anyone who is feeling blocked in their lives.
You are so kind, Maddie. Your words mean so very much to me and to my book. You’re all such an important part of this whole process. 🙂
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