@MLClark Decades ago, self-publishing was considered a stigma, an admission that you're strictly an amateur.
I think that stigma is going away.
Publishers have long acted as gatekeepers. With the Internet, that power is slowly shifting to the writer.
You do a great job of that, but the balance of power still rests with "credible" publishers.
I'd rather publish my book myself, unedited, but I need the imprimatur of a university to give my book credibility. (1/2)
@MLClark You remind me of a friend who walked away from her doctorate in planetary science to pursue a career in space consulting. She worked for CASIS, then a couple startups, and finally decided to strike out on her own.
She raises four children while also running her own self-employed space consulting business. She shows up on CNN as a space pundit. (Living in Atlanta helps.)
She's also self-published two books. Her third is with an established publisher. (2/2)