The Best Part About Being an Author

There are so many cool things about being an author and publishing your book. It's not always easy, but it's definitely worth it — and so fun! So just before The Secret of the Codex launches tomorrow, I thought I'd list a few pretty cool things I've found about releasing my book.

Cool Things About Being an Author

1. Setting up your author page on Amazon.com
2. Someone putting your book in their TBR pile on Goodreads (actually three someones — check them out at the bottom!)
3. Someone actually reviewing your book, and on #authortube, no less!
4. And that same person posting the review on his blog, on Goodreads, and on Amazon too!
5. Reading all the words of encouragement and support on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
6. Finding your book on Barnes and Noble
7. Submitting a guest post and getting it accepted! You know, three times. On Positive Writer, Shayla Raquel's website, and The Write Practice.
8. Creating all the book swag and promotional items 
9. Successfully funding a Kickstarter (still not sure how I pulled that one off — oh wait...only with the help of all my wonderful family and friends!)
10. Seeing my name on a book cover (see below)
11. Holding my actual book in my hands 
12. Searching my ISBN and finding out that my book apparently has a Google Books page. I didn't even know this was a thing.
13. Getting to plan a launch party that feels a little bit like a baby shower... (for my book baby!)
14. But the one thing I'm most proud of, the one thing I can't believe I actually accomplished, was creating this picture.

I know, you just saw the heavens open and heard angels singing, right? Because this is a thing of beauty. Let's just take a moment...Haha, just kidding. (It just took me forever to figure out how to do it and I really wanted it for the launch!)Thought I'd share a lighthearted post about being an indie author before the craziness starts tomorrow. I mean, TOMORROW. IN LIKE 10 MINUTES. I CANNOT BELIEVE IT.<3 Melissa