I did it! I wrote a novel, had it edited, commissioned the cover, uploaded it, am actively marketing it, and finally I am a published author!

But now what? What they don’t tell you often is the work that goes into your debut novel, or any self published novel, after it’s been published.

For starters, I can’t simply stop posting about it, at least not if I want people to actually read it. The only way it’s going to reach readers is if I’m constantly on social media telling readers about it. (Which, if you haven’t, you should totally download Awakening Fate now! Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, ect. just to name a few. And then leave me a review, if you’d be so kind!)

That in itself is work, hard work. You have to find the right social media for your kind of book, and even then you have to almost be obnoxious about putting it in front of people. There is no marketing team taking care of it. It’s you, babe.

Awakening Fate is also book 1 in a trilogy, so I have to plot out and write book 2. I’ll have to get it edited, get a cover made for it, constantly market it, ect. You see where I’m going here. It’s a never ending circle.

Let’s add more to that pot. I have a standalone book that I’m really excited to be writing. It’s also a fantasy (my take on Wizard of Oz from an adult point of view) and the writing in it is even better than in Awakening Fate. So while book 2 of my original trilogy needs to be written, this is what I’m also working on. It’s going to need the same love and attention, with marketing, that the others are getting.

Not enough? I’m a one woman show and I happen to be a stay at home mom who is starting homeschooling. My kids are up by 6:30am at the earliest and are in bed by 8:30pm. That’s when I go down to the computer room to get things done. I wear all the hats.

I knew what I was getting into, only because I’m a research fiend. But I want to make sure I talk about it for those that haven’t a clue what it takes. Because it takes effort, constant and unrelenting. At least, if you want your novels to be somewhat successful. And this is something I plan on doing for decades.

I long for the day I have a back list of novels for people to read, but in order to get there I have to work for it. Not just write the book and then move on.

I’m not complaining, I’m thriving on the organization and control that being an indie author contains. And one day I’ll look back an appreciate my past self for sticking to it and putting in the work.

The goal? 2 -3 books a year while my kids are young. Maybe more when they’re older. It doesn’t seem like much just looking at it, but when you plot out what needs to be done by when, it all adds up.

The success or failure of my career as a published author rests on how much work I’m willing to put into it. How bad do I want this career?

Stick around and find out.