Let me start off by saying that I support indie authors. I respect their work and what they're trying to accomplish. I have been in this "business" for five years and I've been writing even longer. I've gone the agent route only to fall flat on my face. I've gone the "indie" route and have found a sliver of success. And I need to address this issue:

At Kendra Kilbourn Books (my Facebook author page) we follow many many independent and agent-represented authors. The one thing that really gets under my skin is authors crying or complaining over bad reviews, rejection letters, and/or books being returned. If you want to survive in this business, get a thicker skin.

NOT EVERYONE WILL LIKE YOUR WORK!

I've been accused of ripping off Stephenie Meyer (never mind that I don't write vampire fiction). My work has been called both "talented" and "talentless". I've been told to not quit my day job (on the same day I received a wonderful piece of fan mail from the UK). I've had both good and horrible rejections from agents. I've had my books pirated and returned many times. If I get upset and cry about this every time it happens, I'd be fifty pounds lighter. The point is, if I let the bad press get me down, I'll miss out on all the amazingly good press that I do get.

Being pirated sucks. Rejection sucks. Bad reviews suck. But this business will chew you up and spit you out if you can't handle a little bad press. So, I lovingly implore you to pull up your big girl (or big boy) panties and get over it. Let the rejection roll off your back like water.

Because let's face it: You're living YOUR dream. Don't let anyone take that away from you.