I've written more than a dozen short stories and three novels, but didn't start pursuing publishing until I wrote Son of the Great River, an adventure story set in the Bronze Age with beautiful illustrations by my wife.  After my first rejection, which came in the form of an askew and grainy photocopy from a major publishing house, I began to think about the state of the traditional publishing industry and question my pursuit of its approval for my own work.  I knew the industry wasn't about quality of writing anymore, a simple perusal of the shelves of your local bookstore would tell you that, and that even a contract with a major house did little to ensure any real financial stability, so I decided to take the plunge and release Son as a print-on-demand book in March of 2009.  As reviews and sales have begun to trickle in, I've found myself happier and happier with this choice.  We write to be read, and now I have that opportunity as an individual, without kow-towing to the intermediaries, and I enjoy the added responsibility to make sure my own book has the highest quality of writing, editing and illustration.  My own experience studying digital media in academia helped lessen the intimidation of the act.  The hardest part is getting the word out, but there's a growing community for support for writers outside the traditional publishing industry.  It's all very exciting, and I can only hope that my small addition to the world of books will bring some joy to people.