We’re in full celebration mode. Our very own Chick Kellye announced this week that her Pay Day series will be published by Midnight Ink starting next year! To honor the occasion, the Chicks are offering her advice from their own experiences publishing their first novels! But first, a word from Kellye…

  Kellye Garrett

I don’t have advice for myself because that would be, well, weird. Plus, I try to give myself advice all the time (Don’t eat any more cookies!) and I never follow it. So instead I’ll say that I’m super excited to announce my book deal—especially with such an amazing publisher as Midnight Ink. I’ve known for weeks but my mind is still blown that this time next year I’ll be holding my book in my hands. Eek! There were so many times I never thought I would say that. I was five when I first told my parents I wanted to write books. Though they were the first people to support my crazy dream, they weren’t the last. Lisa, Marla and Ellen have definitely been among my biggest supporters throughout this journey and and their support has meant so much to me. I can’t thank them enough. So here’s one more time. Thank you, Lisa! Thank you, Marla! Thank you, Ellen!

Marla Cooper

This is the day I’ve been waiting for since I first met Kellye: the day we’d all get to celebrate her book deal! I already knew she was smart, funny and awesome, and approximately two paragraphs into her book, I was like, “Yep, this is absolutely going to happen.” My main advice? Just keeping being you. Because you’re proof that talent gets rewarded. Also? Enjoy every minute of this crazy, exciting ride. There will be ups and there will be downs—like readers who will give you one-star reviews because they think one star is good—but hang on to your sense of humor and you’ll get through it just fine. I can say with confidence that you will have fans who will adore you. And who knows? You might just inspire someone.

Lisa Q. Mathews

Yay, Kellye! (*Lisa turning congratulatory cartwheels, or trying to, since she couldn’t do them as a kid, either*) It just dawned on me that, as much as I love to give advice—solicited or not—I’m probably the last writer on the planet who should. I have no clue if I’m doing anything right (kind of like those cartwheels). Just do your best, which I already know you will, because you’re 100% talented, hardworking, caring, funny, and an overall-awesome Chick! But here’s something else: Even if you really, really want to, you can’t please all the readers all the time. I think it’s the First Principle of Authordom or something. But if anyone can manage that feat, it’s YOU! Congrats again, Kellye, and oh, one last thing to remember:  The Chicks are with you all the way!

Ellen Byron

Sooo excited for you, Kellye! Here’s my advice: don’t spend twice your advance on swag and conferences.  I know someone who did that. Okay, it was me. And I regret it. Okay, I don’t. So DO create fun swag and DO go to conventions and conferences so you can meet authors and best of all, fans. To paraphrase a cliche I hope you never use in your books, developing a readership is a marathon, not a sprint, so every bookmark or postcard or measuring spoon – yeah, me again – you give out is an investment in the future of your series. At least that’s how I justify it to my husband, and so far he seems to be buying it. Speaking of buying… Dayna Anderson lip balm? Sunglasses? Little fake Oscars?  Just a few swag thoughts…

Anyone else have a few words of wisdom for newly-minted author Kellye? Please share in the comments below!

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