Good morning WriteOnCon-ers and welcome to day 2! This morning we bring you a very special guest who has some extremely valuable information about an author’s debut year. Please join us in welcoming Lindsey Leavitt, author of the Princess for Hire series and Sean Griswold’s Head (March 2011).

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  1. Leigh Ann Kopans on Wednesday 17, 2011

    I felt like an idiot even watching this, because the concept of “my debut year” feels so far away and foreign right now (probably because it *is*) that I was like, “what’s the point?”

    Oh, there is a point. I’m so glad I did.

    Highlights:

    [b]“omigosh. She hates me. My editor hates me.”[/b]

    You are hilarious. Completely hilarious.

    [b]“The people. The people are going to read it.”[/b]

    *doubles over laughing*
    Because this is obvious to me and also COMPLETELY TERRIFIES even me, a lowly unpub, at the same time.

    [b] “See? I’m not good at endings. Someone. Edit me. Please.” [/b]

    AWESOME.

    You are awesome. I’m going to buy your book now.

  2. Candie Leigh on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thank you! That was really helpful and when I have a release party, you are definitely invited! :-)

  3. Wendy on Wednesday 17, 2011

    That was fantastic! Thank you so much Lindsey!

  4. Brigita on Wednesday 17, 2011

    This was so much fun to watch! Thanks for sharing with us what it’s like to be a debut author with all the positive and negative sides to it. I wish everyone visiting this Con will one day experience it (and invite me to their release party)!

  5. Natalie Aguirre on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thanks so much for sharing all your advice Lindsey. It was so helpful knowing more what to expect. And I really think your point that you are not your book and your self worth as a person is not tied to it is very important. Thanks so much.

  6. Jamie Corrigan on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thank you so much for doing this vlog and sharing your experiences with us all. It’s so hard to remember that you are not your book once you’ve worked so hard on it for so long. And I thought your ending was cute! Thanks again!! :)

  7. Stacey on Wednesday 17, 2011

    That was AWESOME! I learned so much from just your personal experiences. Thank you sooo much.

  8. Darcy Faylor on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thanks so much for sharing your personal experiences. That was really helpful.

  9. Heather Reid on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Lindsey, thank you so much! It’s great to hear the highs and lows of what happens after your debut. :)

  10. Sheri Dillard on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thanks, Lindsey! I always enjoy your presentations — so helpful and funny! :)

  11. Catherine Johnson on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Great vlog Lindsey! Thanks for sharing the scary bits with us. :)

  12. Tamara on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Ah, Lindsey, you’re such a gorgeous person! Thank you for all the wonderful wisdom. Here’s hoping I get to that stage one day so I can rewatch this vid and take all your advice <3

  13. Theresa Milstein on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thanks for the advice, Lindsey. I especially liked the part about savoring the debut. It’s probably hard to let things go, like bad reviews, but we can’t let it eat us up. Now to find Lisa Schroeder’s post!

  14. DelilahSDawson on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thank you! I seriously needed to hear everything you said, and I’m already on Lisa Schroeder’s site, checking out the timeline.

  15. Jennifer Pickrell on Wednesday 17, 2011

    This was great – funny and helpful and glad the end wasn’t edited b/c it was sweet!

  16. Karen Collum on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Absolutely loved this! Thanks so much, Lindsay. It’s great to get some advice from someone who’s been there. You were great to watch/listen to, too! :)

  17. Katie Mills on Wednesday 17, 2011

    I LOVED this. I can only hope I get there some day but this really funny and informational. Thanks so much!

  18. TS_Marlin on Wednesday 17, 2011

    I rarely leave comments but that was … well…inspiring. Nice to know we have a roller coaster ride of emotions to look forward to if we ever achieve the impossible (or at least highly unlikely).

  19. Crystal Collier on Wednesday 17, 2011

    LOL! Loved it. Very encouraging, very sobering, very helpful. And funny. Did I mention funny?

  20. Jess on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thanks so much! This was so inspiring (and entertaining) to watch, and it really gave me an insider look at a lot of questions I’ve had while daydreaming about future possibilities :) Love your approach to reviews and separating yourself from the book–”You are not your book.” Fantastic stuff!

  21. Christie Wright Wild on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Oh, that was such a humorous wealth of information. I’d love to have the link to the blog post you read and found so helpful about making your own marketing plan. And your “ending” was the best part, so FUNNY!

  22. Mary Ann Scott on Wednesday 17, 2011

    I love the analogy of marriage! That was fabulous, Lindsey. Thanks for sharing your experience and giving us all things to look forward…uh,…ahead to. :-)

  23. PatriciaJO'Brien on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Who can laugh at 6 a.m? Me, watching Lindsey Leavitt! That was hilarious and insightful. Yay, you!

  24. Tori Scott on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Wonderful, wonderful information!

  25. Jill Hathaway on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Great advice, Lindsey! Thank you!

  26. Katie Anderson on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Oh Lindsey! That was awesome, informative and the cutest dang ending ever. Thanks. Great topic for writeoncon!

  27. Erinn on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Simply amazing. I cried a little. Thanks for the advice

  28. Molly on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thanks so much for posting this! This is honestly the most I’ve ever learned about what happens after your book is bought. Thank you!

  29. Terry Tibke on Wednesday 17, 2011

    I have no idea if I’m a fan of your writing. Yet. I’ll check it out. But I do know, I’m now a fan of YOU. Fantastic job, Lindsey! You alleviate me.

  30. Sarah Frances Hardy on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Lindsay, you are too cute, and GREAT advice!!!

    sf

  31. Lydia Sharp on Wednesday 17, 2011

    “youre genre dies before your book even comes out…” LOL! That’s an awful, awful thought. But somehow hilarious.

    This whole vlog is made of WIN. Thank you so much! :D

  32. Shari Bird on Wednesday 17, 2011

    You. Are. Darling! Thanks for the advice. And I REALLY enjoyed SEAN GRISWOLD’S HEAD!

  33. Joan Stradling on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thank you so much for your honesty and sharing that it’s not all sunshine and roses after signing a publishing contract.

  34. Cathi O. on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Lindsey, I saw you speak at Springmingle in Atlanta, and you are such an inspiration. You tell it like it is, no holds barred, and in such a funny and charming way. I think you’ll be invited to a lot of Release parties, so you’d better clear your social calendar!

  35. Tara on Wednesday 17, 2011

    You are too cute, Lindsey. Thanks so much for this vlog. Like others, the debut year is nowhere near reality for me, but this was one of the most helpful posts of the con so far for me!

  36. Stephanie Ruble on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thanks for sharing info about being a debut Lindsey and making it so entertaining! Oh, and Happy Birthday!!! :D

  37. coleen patrick on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Great info and delivery Lindsey! By the way just wanted to tell you I finished Sean Griswold’s Head last week–I loved it. :)

  38. NeverGrowUp on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thank you Lindsey for treating such a serious, stressful topic with humor and wit! It helps us control freaks to relax. :)

  39. S A Putnam on Wednesday 17, 2011

    That was fantastic, Lindsey!! Thanks for sharing both the positive and negative aspects of being a debut author.

  40. K. M. Walton on Wednesday 17, 2011

    That was EXACTLY what I needed to hear – my book comes out in January. Thank you, Lindsey!! And I will definitely look up that Lisa S blog post.

  41. Ryan Graudin on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Great advice, Lindsey! You captured the feelings well. Thanks for the encouragement at the end as well!

  42. Angelica R. Jackson on Wednesday 17, 2011

    Thank you so much for letting us peek into the mind of a debut writer! It’s kind of scary in there–like a first date when the other person lets out all the crazy at once instead of rationing it out over the course of the relationship. But, you know, I mean that in a good way!

  43. Mea Smith on Wednesday 17, 2011

    I absolutely loved this! Thanks!