Top Ten Debut Lessons from Young Adult Author Lisa Brown Roberts

Happy Monday! Today I'm so glad to host Young Adult author Lisa Brown Roberts who just debuted with Entangled Teen this spring, with the heartfelt contemporary How (Not) To Fall in Love.

Here's Lisa's top lessons she's learned (so far!) as a debut author.


Top Ten Debut Lessons 

1. One day, a box will arrive with copies of your shiny, new, beautiful book. You will squeal. You will cry. You will drink champagne. Your dog will be very excited for you and jump around with you. Your family and friends will be happy, too, but not as happy as you and your dog.

2. You will absolutely do that dorky selfie photo in the bookstore with your book because, come on…why wouldn’t you?

3. Your son will be very proud of you, but will respectfully request that you not write any more romances until he goes away to college. You will respectfully decline this request.

4. You will receive unintentionally hilarious backhanded compliments, such as, “You really are a good writer. I had no idea.” Or “I was surprised that I liked your book. I thought it would be boring.”

5. Lots of people will read your first book because they’re excited to know a “real author.” I mean lots. Your day-job boss. Your parents’ elderly neighbors. Your significant other’s coworkers. Your kids’ teachers. If you write romance, this is particularly….entertaining.

6. You will get bad reviews. Intellectually, you will think you’re prepared for this. All your author pals have warned you, given you sage advice, offered to screen-read for you. But you will shrug this off and dive into the one-star snarky GIF-iness that is the internet and your heart will break…but only for a bit…

7. Because you’ll reach out to your published friends who will talk you off the ledge. You’ll call your agent, who is reasonable and reassuring, and makes you laugh.  And your son will cook you an awesome dinner and your beloved will buy more wine and all will be right in the world.

8. You will also get lovely reviews. People might even squee. They will tell you that you’re now on their auto-buy list and you will be in awe. They will ask about your next book. They will tell you there should have been more kissing in this book, and you will agree.

9. You’ll be very, very glad that you completed more manuscripts after this one, because you’re able to tell readers when your next release is.

10. Your days will become more and more packed with writerly tasks, and there will be days you’ll feel overwhelmed at all you’re juggling. But then you’ll stop for a moment to breathe, to be grateful that your lifelong dream is coming true. You’ll embrace the roller-coaster world that is publishing,
grateful that your stories and your readers are finally finding each other.

Thanks, Lisa!

You can buy How (Not) To Fall In Love now available here: Amazon  B&N Indiebound iBooks

Or add to Goodreads here.

Lisa Brown Roberts still hasn't recovered from the teenage trauma of nearly tweezing off both eyebrows and having to pencil them in for an entire school year. This and other angst-filled memories inspire her to write YA books about navigating life's painful and funny dramas, and falling in love along the way.

Her almost forever home is Colorado, though she occasionally pines for the days when she lived within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean. Her house is full of books, boys, several four-legged prima donnas, and lots of laughter.\

Find and follow her here: Lisabrownroberts.com  twitter  Facebook  Tumblr