Hello everyone. I look forward to learning about your experiences as an aspiring author. I am considering self-publishing, but some aspects seem daunting. Especially the marketing end of it. Also the cover art. I have so much to learn. I hold a BA in writing with a minor in drama. My professor's predicted I'd have success as a novelist. That definitely hasn't happened. I've completed five novels, with a few more in the works. I believe my writing compares favorably with those of established authors; but my many, many agent rejections have eroded my confidence. Research concerning trad publishing has been an eye opener. Even if a debut author is lucky enough to procure publication, publishers will spend piddly on marketing their books. Ninety-five percent of a publisher's marketing budget is devoted to authors with name recognition. As a result, book sales for a debut author in the first few years are disappointing. I was chagrinned to learn that established authors are offered contracts for books they haven't even written yet. Often these authors rush to meet deadlines, and as a result, the books are often poorly edited. Publishers don't care. Said authors rest on their laurels. It's becoming harder and harder to find a really well-crafted book these days. Bottom line: Maybe self-publishing, (self-empowerment) is the only way we can take a stand against the unfair practices of the publishing industry.