Hi. My name is Ansha Kotyk and I’m planning to self-publish my novel. Here’s why:

I’m planning to self-publish my upper middle grade novel GANGSTERLAND in December.  That’s my target anyway.  I’m still working on revisions and then it goes to the copy editor and finally into production (that would be me again.  I’m former IT, I can figure out formatting, right? Right?)

People have asked that I talk about why I’ve decided to self-publish. And for me the simple answer is that it feels right for me to go this route. I’ve also been writing fiction as my profession for the last 5 years, having studied it for about 10 years prior to putting words to the page.  I’ve attended SCBWI conferences for years and have had my work critiqued by some wonderful agents and editors not to mention my awesome and talented critique group. I know my work is ready for my readers. But I’m also hiring editors to make sure.

When self-publishing lost its stigma of vanity and Amazon introduced its marketing prowess to the eBook world with Kindle, I felt that my career would be best served by self-publishing.

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. When I was 10 I would sell my crafts at yard sales that I would create on the fly, no one came except the neighborhood kids.  Guess I had to learn a bit more about marketing and promotion. I still do, if I want to continue with self-publishing.

I was querying and revising when I came across Joe Konrath’s blog.  Not really sure how I found him. Someone tweeted something that caught my attention and I followed. I read his blog and realized I wanted to go into business for myself.  And that’s what self-pub let’s me do.

As soon as I realized this and let go of querying, which was leaving me depressed, story ideas for the series I had created, filled my brain. I was creative again.  I was free of the market, free of the rejection letters and free to begin working for myself.

Having said all this I’m not a diehard Indie fanatic.  I am still open to traditional publication.  There’s nothing wrong with going that route.  But for me, right now, I’m excited again and creative again and that’s important if I want to continue a career as a writer.

Caveat: Any new business requires an initial investment.    Self-publishing is not cheap, in time commitment or money.  I’ve used the internet and connections to find a content editor, a copy editor and an illustrator.  All require payment for their services. My husband and I are willing to put some money up front to start this new business.  We’ll see where it leads.

When you see GANGSTERLAND on sale in December, do me a favor, buy it.  I’ll need the money to pay for my next book’s editors and illustrators!  Thanks!

And if you have any questions for me about writing or self-publishing ask away, I’m here to share my experiences. Good Luck with your own publishing decisions.

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In the blog series “My Choice in Publication” we explore the varied avenues of publication and why we have chosen our own routes.

Tom M. Franklin:Franklin, Ink

Heather Kelly: Edited to Within an Inch of My Life

Kristine Asselin:Writing. For Real.

Lynn Kelley:Lynn Kelley: LynNerd’s Random Acts of Writing.

Ansha Kotyk:Ansha’s Blog – A Writer’s View of the World<– You are here.

Tina Laurel Lee:Tina Laurel Lee: Watch Me Practice

Anita Laydon Miller:Anita Laydon Miller’s Blog