With metaphorical shovel in hand, I have approached this blog’s grave and started digging.

This year has been an eventful one for me, and saying that I haven’t had much time to blog would be true. In many ways, it’s been a good eight months, or at least a very full eight months. In March, I began copy editing on a more full-time basis. In April, I finished my final publishing course through TMU, and at the end of June, I graduated. Somehow, in all of this, I have also found myself considering a move across the country again, all while Into Shadow was under consideration by a publisher. Perhaps part of the reason I haven’t posted in some months was that I felt like I was holding my breath while I was waiting, hoping I might have good news to share. 

Ultimately, after eight months, the publisher passed on Into Shadow, which was crushing, but it’s also given me an opportunity to regroup and reassess. 

After much consideration, I’m so excited to announce that I have made the decision to self-publish Into Shadow. 

In many ways, this was not an easy decision. Throughout the querying process, it’s always been a tricky balancing act between what’s best for the project and what’s best for myself. Querying has challenged me in so many ways. Rejection is never easy, but when it involves something you put your whole heart into, as well as years of work, the rejection becomes more challenging. The hardest thing about deciding to self-publish is not knowing if perhaps the next query would have been successful, but in the end, I know that I have to take my mental health into consideration. Rejection is so hard mentally, and at times, it has really shaken my perception of my worth as a writer. I feel that I’ve given querying a solid try, and I finally had to make a decision: do I want this book to waste way on my laptop, or do I want to share it?

After this book was a finalist in a publisher’s contest, and after receiving positive feedback from many readers, I am convinced that this is a story worth sharing. While I love the act of writing, my goal has always been to share my stories with others, to inspire, to entertain, and to comfort. I feared the decision to self-publish would feel like a defeat, but it’s the opposite. If anything, I’m taking a step to bring me closer to where I want to be.

It’s hard to describe just what fantasy means to me. Fantasy novels have gotten me through some of the hardest times in my life. While I’m going into self-publishing with low expectations, if I can touch even a few readers with my work, it will have been worth it. This story means a lot to me, and I sincerely hope that it can mean a lot to even a few readers, too.

I hadn’t realized how much this decision was weighing on me until I made it. Now, I’m ready to get to work and bring you the best book possible, and I’m thrilled that I get to share this story. It’s been my privilege to spend so many years with Wren and company, and I’m looking forward to more as I continue to work on this trilogy.

Thank you to those who have followed along with this journey. I hope you will continue to follow along. More details (including a planned release date) to come. 

With gratitude, 

Laura