When I first met Susan Toy, almost four years ago, I had already written my first book and had it edited.

The hard part was done, I thought, eager to see it published.

Susan said to me that day, “Be patient. Don’t publish your book before it’s ready.”

 “Is my book ready?” I asked myself when we parted.

No, I realized, it wasn’t, so I kept working on it. I rewrote entire chapters and shortened or expanded others.  I decided to split my book into two volumes. I made significant structural changes, and I even added two new characters. One of them would become the hero of my next book.

I published my Red Cliffs Chronicles when they were truly ready – almost three years after my conversation with Susan.

“Be patient” turned out to be the best piece of advice about self-publishing I ever received.

 On October 6^th, at the Calgary Public Library, Susan presented her 12-Step Program to Successful Self-Publishing. This link will take you to the complete presentation as well as to a list of further reading about self-publishing.

Susan is the author of Island in the Clouds and That Last Summer and a tireless promoter of fellow authors, particularly of those from Alberta. She’s been a bookseller and an award-winning publishing sales representative.