A year ago today I accidentally published my novel…

Oh babies you know the story, but for those who don’t, a short recap. Once upon a time Vickie Lester had agents who turned down one publishing deal and proposed another with a small indie firm that sounded just right. So, the wheels were in motion as 2013 turned into 2014 for my first novel to be published. I worked with two wonderful editors — one in London, one in NY — the book cover was designed, we were poised, just inches away from going to press, and the small indie firm folded.

For better or worse, I left my agents, and decided to publish “It’s in His Kiss” on my own. Had I been a little more knowledgeable about the process the first thing I would have done was change the title, as there are now three novels out with the same moniker. The second thing I would have done was cool my jets, because there are advantages to having agents and publishers that become very clear when you plunge into the sea of self-publishing. A sea where you can wave your arms and blog until you’re blind, and you still won’t be visible to the readers who will rescue your book from obscurity.

Here’s where the “accidentally” comes in — or as I refer to it now — “how I prematurely published.” I clicked the wrong button on CreateSpace, the one that sent the printed book out into the world with at least two typos, and the Kindle version with six. At the outset I was hesitant to pull the copies and make the corrections because the books were moving. And now that so much time has passed I think I may have forgotten how.

What am I up to? Forging ahead trying to heed the lessons learned in the transitional/traditional upside-down new world of publishing, truly enjoying the friendships extended to me online (thank you!), writing another novel, and planning on tackling representation and everything that follows later. To paraphrase Scarlett,

“Hollywood! Home. I’ll go home. And I’ll think of some way to get published. After all… tomorrow is another day.”