2021 in review: my first year as a full-time author
2021 is nearly at an end, so it’s time for a yearly reflection! I’m not usually married to this practice, but this year is an exception, as it’s been quite significant for me as an author.
Most notable is that I went full-time as an author in February. Ever since Legend of Tal did well for me upon release in 2020, I’d been dreaming of doing as much, and my amazing wife brought me around to committing to the deed. It was both scary and liberating to leave behind the day job, and there are coworkers I miss. But there’s nothing better than getting up each day and working toward my goals and dreams, unfettered by other employment.
I won’t lie, though; there have been challenges. Money, and how it ebbs and flows, is difficult to accept mentally. We’ve made things work financially, fortunately. I’ve gone through a lot of growth with it, and hopefully I’m better equipped to handle those realities in 2022.
Being my own boss and coming up with my own priorities proved harder than I thought it would. I’d already been working from home for my job as a training developer, and I’d been publishing for a few years by the time I went full-time. Yet it remains that once fiction became my sole occupation, it changed my relationship to it, and there have been times where my head spins around and around over what I should do next.
But even with these challenges, I wouldn’t trade this job for anything else. This is what I love to do, and even on the days when it’s difficult to write, I’m grateful for this career.
If you’ll allow me a bit more time, there are a few accomplishments I’d like to highlight from the year:
My first audiobook came out in June, produced by my partners at Podium Audio, and I'll have three total by the year's end.
I re-released the first two books of The Famine Cycle trilogy with new covers and a fresh edit.
I released two new books, The Throne of Ice & Ash and An Emperor's Gamble.
The Throne of Ice & Ash became a SPFBO Semifinalist.
I also have two more books just about ready to go (The Crown of Fire & Fury and Requiem of Silence), plus Ranger of the Titan Wilds is a good ways into its composition and A God's Plea is ready to be edited. 2022 should be a great year for releases, as that's at least four planned right there!
I started up a Patreon (some exciting changes on that front coming soon, so stay tuned!).
Just this month, I started up several other ways readers can get involved in my stories, with a Facebook group and an advance reader team.
All in all, it's been a fantastic year as an author, and I still think the right one to go full-time. Thanks to all you readers out there who have helped make my dream a reality. I am massively indebted to you and can only hope my future books are sufficient repayment.
Now, here’s to hoping 2022 will be even better. I have big plans for it… but those will have to wait for another post, as this one has gone on far too long.
Your humble bard, Josiah