Self-publishing is definitely the way to go for almost everyone these days. Some years ago I was shopping a book and I was told that publishers will take only two kinds of new authors: celebrities and people who are on the speaking circuit e.g., some kind of self-help seminar or the like, where you can selll books in the lobby. And they will invest $0 in promoting your book, that's all on you. I thought I was savvy but I wound up with a vanity publisher that has a habit of not bothering to send their authors their royalties. I self-published three books and I am amused to see a buck or two trickle into my Amazon publishing account every now and then. I am way out on the long tail!