Lately I’ve been preoccupied with ROI (Return On Investment) for all of the work I have been pouring into my author career these past few years. And to be completely honest, I have been frustrated and even feeling sorry for myself. The amount of money it takes can sometimes feel overwhelming. This isn’t just a hobby, it’s both a profession and a calling—without a steady paycheck.

As an author, I have often explained the time and financial commitment it takes to launch a book and to do it well. These past few days, I have been reflecting upon whether it has been worth it or not. An author does not get paid until their books start selling and even then, it takes many books to just break even. Despite my book sales and great reviews, I haven’t even gotten close to that point. So why should I stay in this difficult profession when it is so hard to make a profit (or merely break-even)?

Like so many other professions where people are committed to helping others in some way, we don’t get into it for the money. While I have been banging away trying to figure out how to make my literary endeavors pay off, I came to a fuller realization today—that they already have. The pictures below are just a tiny fraction of my ROI. Many people have been part of my author’s journey and contributed to my payday in ways while intangible, are eternal—and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything!

By the way, if you were wondering about the title, well, my son Josh is also a writer. Whenever this topic comes up, he says we don’t write for money but to bring our stories to the world in hopes of having a positive impact both on ourselves and our readers. Josh is right…

All that said, if you would like to support my author career, please consider buying me a cup of coffee—All funds will go directly to support Nancy Golden Books, so that we can continue to offer books that are a “Light in the Darkness.”