Traditional or self-publish?

The game was getting interesting. I had the ball, and was moving in the right direction. There was an idea, a story, and a main character, but who would help it to become reality? I had to do some research. I had invested my time for the idea and the story, and now had to put in some work towards publishing. I read plenty on the game and tried the traditional route. I wrote queries, and contacted several publishing houses, both small and large. Of course I was unknown, new, untried, and not to be trusted to produce the kind of work they wanted. I knew that all great writers and storytellers went through tons of rejection before finally catching a break. I was, however, up against the final, most tragic deadline. My mother was fighting cancer, and had just months to live. We both wanted her to see my idea come to fruition. I had gone to Los Angeles to see her and that trip helped me make the decision. I came home and started my search for a reputable self-publishing company, a search that would lead to much needed information. A journey that saw its fair share of ups and downs, smiles and tears, satisfaction and heartbreak.