I hear ya, Linn. Although in my experience, most of the stress has come from the publisher/owner/s. I know also that distribution here can be expensive, depending on your target market, but in rural areas, Canada Post and local small printers can really be the small publisher's friend, plus most local stores let you leave stuff free.

My biggest problem with most publishers was getting them to pay me - and then running for the nearest bank to cash the cheque in hopes there'd still be money in the account. The guy I worked for three years for was completely untrustworthy and continually broke. The one I freelanced every month for five years had the money, but hated paying me - he thought I should be so honoured by the work I should do it free. Another one laid me off after a year of part time because they got a free student to train. Then there was the young, extremely handsome, amusing, and exotic Ferrari driving Italian I freelanced for over several months - almost worth not getting paid so I could listen to his dulcet flattery and ridiculously funny excuses.

Going back to full time at the daycare was a financial relief - no worries about getting paid on time!