I've never considered myself a risk taker. When I was little, I grew up in a twice-divorced family and the ground underneath my feet never seemed solid. In elementary school, I went to four different schools and had to learn how to make friends over and over again. I think that's why I loved reading--I could get lost in books and could re-read them whenever I wanted. As I got older, I decided to take control of my creativity and started to write. Once I started writing, I realized that I could imagine worlds that others would read. Even today, I still think that the relationship between an author and a reader is one of the most intimate.
My 2017 Self-Publishing Full Expenses and Sales Report with an Analysis from 2011-2017
Another year has come and gone and I'm going to list for you all my expenses for my self-publishing career, going through my year's business plan, share all my sales and then give a thorough breakdown not only of this year, but review the trends from my last three years of data.
I'm going way deep into the weeds on this one. Why? I've been an indie author now for six years and I want to share what I've learned with other authors—especially new authors who are just starting out.
How to Learn from a Failed Book Launch
How to Practice Self-Care
Do You Feel Like You Belong? Brené Brown Braving the Wilderness
I remember being in 5th grade and going to gym class, dreading it. I was a skinny kid, tall like a reed, and born with what my Uncle used to joke a "sunken treasure chest." I used to change for gym and be so embarrassed because my chest looked sunken in rather than a chest like Tarzan with big pecs. The medical terminology for the condition is Pectus excavatum and it's more common than people might think—1 in 1,000 births.
Let's Discuss Sexual Harassment (Warning: Trigger Content)
I'm writing this to you right after the Harvey Weinstein news has broken and women from all around the world are sharing their #MeToo stories. On a personal level, I logged into my Facebook account and was flooded with women sharing their stories of being sexually harassed and assaulted. The number of women I knew who had spoken up shocked me. And that's a good thing.