On-Publishing: Publishing A Book Is Success All On Its Own

Welcome to my Let Love Glow ABCs of Writing and Publishing Blog Series! This past Monday, I posted the first On-Writing Post, and today, we'll start the On-Publishing part of the series.

Before we begin all of the fantastic how-to's of self-publishing your book, I want to ease your mind a bit when it comes to looking at your publishing journey. So many writers when they're approaching publishing a book for the first time worry about whether or not they'll be "successful." It's really a totally unnecessary fear, even if you define publishing success as most authors do by the number of books you'll sell.

Do you know that 95% of published authors sell less than 1000 books?!

Let me repeat that:

Ninety-five percent of published authors sell less than 1000 books.

And that statistic is an industry-wide number, meaning it doesn't matter whether you're Traditionally Published by one of the New York Publishers ( such as Harper Collins, Hachette, Penguin/Putnam, Simon & Schuster, etc.) or you're Self-Published/Indie Published.

But...and here's the fun part! "Success" can look like this...

After almost six years since my debut release (BOOTSCOOTN' BLAHNIKS) hit cyber shelves the world over (August 2010), I've sold over 400,000 books. And that debut book, on its own, has been downloaded over 600,000 times (for five years, it was a FREE download on all of the major ebook stores...more on that later). So, all told, my books have been downloaded over one million times, and I've released 36 books in six genres in just 6 years.

My books have appeared over 300 times on International Bestseller Lists, including:

~Amazon's Top 100 Bestselling Books List (the paid list) four times, including at one point having two books in the Top 100 at the same time

~Amazon's Movers and Shakers List three times

~The #1 Free Book on Amazon

~Barnes & Noble's Top 100 Bestselling Books List

~Barnes & Noble's Top 10 Bestselling Books List

~Barnes & Noble's #1 Pubit Book

~ Bestseller Lists within Genres hundreds of times (example: Amazon's top 100 Bestselling Humor List alongside super-funny authors like Tina Fey, Chelsea Handler, Shirley MacClaine and Jennifer McCarthy)

~Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble Hot New Releases in Humor and Mystery multiple times

~Apple's International Bestseller Lists for Romance and Mystery multiple times

I'm not sharing my "success" with you to brag. Not at all.

I'm sharing it with you to inspire you to continue on with your Self-Publishing/Indie Publishing Journey regardless of where you are on that journey. And I'm sharing it so that you define your own success. Success doesn't even have to be about the sales numbers, at all! And...your definition of success can and will change along your writing-for-publication journey.

Here's the thing...

Just having the courage and stamina to publish a book is success! And enjoying the journey to publication is an even a greater success!

I'm a huge believer in the adage "You create your own luck."

In other words, if you want your publishing stars to align, then first, you must toss them up into the sky full of readers.

And no worries about carrying out your action plan (and yes, I realize you may not have an action plan, and that's okay, too...I'll help you make one). You're not alone in your star-tossing adventures.

Throughout this series, as well as in my Online Classes and Live Classes (where we'll go into much more detail on an individual basis), I'll help you find and/or create your own stars. Then, we'll toss them up into your publishing journey sky together.

I didn't build my constellations of success by myself either. I had a lot of help along the way. So, I'm honored to be able to pay it forward to all of you.

Nothing Beats Writers Helping Writers Reach Readers!

I know how to successfully reach readers and build quality, long-term relationships with them. And, I'll share my secrets to doing just that.

So, get comfy and open your mind and heart - 'cause it takes both of those in this business - and let's begin to build your own Self-Publishing Empire.

Hugs Love Namaste and Happy Publishing --- D. D.