The Countdown Is On

I know what you are probably thinking, the countdown is on to the December holidays. And you're right, but in my case the countdown is on to the release of my Chanukah novella. After much debate over the last few months and several drafts of my story, I decided to take the plunge and self-publish my story. I did not make the decision lightly. I have studied the market, considered the pros and cons of going at it alone (and yes there are both) and debated if this novella is a good first step into publishing. I know that some people decry self-publishing as the place where authors who can't find a publisher go. Likewise there are some who are so pro self- publishing they can't see that there are reasons an author might want to be published with a big New York house or even a smaller, well-established e-press. I may address both of these ideas in a later blog, but for now it is enough to say that for this project I saw the value in trying to release it on my own.
However, that doesn't mean I just slapped a story together for the holidays. This story has been in the works for a while in different forms. It has been read by several established authors and editors, all of whom gave me valuable feedback and made me think of my story and writing in new ways. I have also hired a freelance cover artist to design my book jacket. As I finish my current rounds of edits, I am excited by what the future holds for my writing career. I know there is a lot of competition out there, but hopefully those people who give my novella a try will find a warm, heartwarming holiday tale and that will be a wonderful reward.