Thank you, self-publishers

I'm a little choked up today. Thanksgiving is a good moment to reflect on the good things in life. 

The economic news has been so bad this year for middle and low-income families that you may be wondering, What's there to be thankful for? We're experiencing a recession, although some would call it a depression. Unemployment and foreclosure rates are unacceptably high. Many of us writers have no health care. A mere 2% of the population controls the resources and vast wealth of the world.

Like many of you, I've gone through my share of hard times. It may seem counter-intuitive, but still I'm thankful.

I'm thankful for my supportive family, friends, and self-publishing stars. 

I'm thankful for continuously evolving technologies that allow us to publish easily and cheaply.

I'm thankful for the self-publishing industry. 

A staggering 764,448 titles were produced in 2009 by self-publishers and micro-niche publishers, according to statistics released this morning by R.R. Bowker. The number of "nontraditional" titles dwarfed that of traditional books whose output slipped to 288,355 last year from 289,729 in 2008. Taken together, total book output rose 87% last year, to over 1 million books. Source: Publisher's Weekly

Despite haterism from various sectors, we're publishing our books our way. I love that can-do, I'll-do-it-myself spirit. 

What are you thankful for? This is not a cliche question. When you become grateful for everything that happens to you – the good and the challenging – your perspective begins to change, and you become empowered. Opportunities to prosper that have been hiding in plain sight begin to reveal themselves to you. 

Gratitude is so powerful that if we practiced saying "thank you" on a daily basis, we would be much better off.

So be thankful for everything and everybody. Happy Thanksgiving!

Donna Marie

Look back for the clues to your destiny

Photo by Willi Heidelbach

This photo of movable type brings back so many memories. In high school we had to take a shop class, so of all things I chose print shop. If I close my eyes I can feel the weight of the little pieces between my fingers. I can smell the metal. Talk about a destiny clue!

A destiny clue is an event, opportunity, or person that reminds you of what you're supposed to be doing with your life. I also believe in Carolyn Myss' concept of the "sacred contract," where at a certain level of consciousness we have agreed with various soul mates to help each other out to make things happen. 

So many of us are feeling rudderless right now. The economy, unemployment, and this psycho political season no doubt have contributed.

Don't let this shaky moment in time get you down. As a responsible grown up, your focus has been on making money and paying the bills, but I submit that this moment is about you getting back on track with your life mission. 

Try to remember what you loved to do as a child. Can you remember? When my son was a child I told him it would be great if he could get a job making toys. Guess what, he's the manager of a video game store!

Many of you have been laid off, but if you're reading The Celebrity Editor, that means the 9 to 5 probably isn't for you anyway. Believe me, I know how difficult it is to be suddenly jobless, but sometimes we need a kick to get us going.

Trust. Know that once you commit to your destiny, all that you'll need will be given to you – the right people, the right information, the right resources, the right opportunities. This is how blessings operate. They prepare you for your success and prosperity.

Donna Marie