Conundrum, anyone?

First off, I stand by my use of the word conundrum. Merriam Webster lists the meaning for this word as: (noun) an intricate and difficult problem. And, for me only perhaps, the following is just that.

As an author, it’s sometimes hard to gain credibility. To become known, seen, heard, even. Often, I see authors about which I know little, but who will identify themselves as best-selling author so and so. Or award-winning author. Or internationally published author. And I think, great for them! Really. Those are excellent and brag-worthy achievements.

And then I think–

I am all those things, too.

Perhaps not on a steady basis, but these things have happened to me in my writing career. So, it should mean something, right? I should brag, even if quietly. Yes?

Best-selling author doesn’t always mean NY Times best-selling author. It’s up to us to assume, I guess, if it’s not stated directly. Quite a few years ago, a novel of mine (written as Celia Ashley) spent an entire fifteen weeks on a well-known online bookseller’s best seller list. That’s something which makes me a bestselling author.

Award-winning author isn’t always some hugely coveted award recognized worldwide, but it is an accomplishment, nonetheless. I earned a reader’s choice award for the books in my Shadow Journey series (written as Jo Allen Ash). Again, this should be something I toot my horn about. Books in this series have also sold in the UK, Germany, Belgium, Canada, and more.

Writing as Alyssa Deane, the publishing rights to my historical romance Once & Always were sold by my publisher, Kensington Books, to various publishers in Germany, France, Russia, Denmark and elsewhere, where they were released in translation. Well, holy crap, this is also a thing I might want to mention more frequently than never. I am internationally published.

In addition, an online book club group voted Once & Always the book they most wanted to see made into a movie. Well, heck, that’s something I might want to mention occasionally, too.

The very first cover of Hurry Home for Christmas (written as Robin Maderich and the first book in the Connor Falls Christmas series) earned first place in a broad-based book cover contest. I could brag about this one, as well, since I designed the cover for it. I hadn’t even entered the cover into the contest. It was actually seen by the public, tossed into the arena, and voted on. Also, the books in the Connor Falls Christmas series seem to interest the French, for which I thank them.

Faith and Honor, my debut as an author years ago, had a cover (not designed my me–by a wonderful artist employed by Warner Books) which was in hot demand for a while by collectors. No bragging rights there for me, of course, but an interesting little fact.

So, my conundrum is this. Should I join the ranks of other authors and add all of this to my bio, or on my website, or on my books, or on a poster whenever I do book signings? Or…not? Writers out there, what do you do?

Readers, writers, let me know what you think.

Seriously, folks, let me know. I would like your feedback.

Because I believe I suffer from imposter syndrome. Time to cut that crap out.