Obvs, plenty of folks buck this trend: any number of small press debuts where you hit later, and I certainly have A career, even if not a MASSIVE career. But a big debut with big money and big publisher support is a better place to start from.

But beware because if you don't fulfill expectations, out you go. Never get complacent. Luckily now, as shitty as the landscape is, it's much more varied than it was. Small press, indie, you have options. But go as big as you can out the gate.