Crystal, it's amusing to me how a significant percentage of self publishers go on to become publishers, but after reading your account I think I'm starting to understand!
After all that learning, it must feel almost a waste to put it to use only on your own book(s).
There's another subject your account only hints at, that I'd be interested in hearing more about, and that's the matching of stories with illustrators. It'd be great if you said some more about that by filling out the form at the bottom of this page.