Dear author with the newly-released book,

The publication of your first novel is exciting. Just ask any author who has gone before you. I'm sure you're awash in so many emotions it's difficult to choose just one. That's understandable, and we certainly don't want to take any of your happiness away or steal your joy. What we want to do is give you some insider tips that will come in handy now that you've become a published author. 

These aren't strict, dyed-in-the wool guidelines you must follow. They're just things we've noticed, obstacles we've overcome, and mistakes we've made that you, hopefully, won't have to make because we're sharing them here. 

• Don't focus so much on the reviews. This is your first book so cut yourself some slack and don't obsess because Reviewer A didn't like your work. --Rachel Carrington
• Educate yourself on the ever-changing industry and stay educated.--Lisa Renee Jones
• Engage with your readers. Being a writer doesn't have to be a reclusive job. --Rachel Carrington
• Don't get disappointed if you don't hit the USA Today Bestseller List with this book or even your next one. Building readers can take time which means good sales can take time. --Rachel Carrington
• Or in Tim Havens' words, don't expect to get rich quick! 
• Be nice to your readers; they're your bread and butter--Trista Ann Michaels
• Your work has just begun; it's publicity time!--Lynn Tincher
• Be true to yourself and your readers by writing what you know and not what you don't. Your readers will know when you don't know what you're talking about.--Leslie Montgomery
• Do thorough research and go the extra mile in doing so. It will pay off.--Leslie Montgomery
• Network, network, network, and network with everyone. You never know who the person is you're talking to - they could be a person who buys twenty of your books. --Leslie Montgomery
• Try not to give away too many books. You worked hard, and this is your pay off for doing so. --Leslie Montgomery
• Don't wait to write your next book - get on it now.--Leslie Montgomery
  
• Your first published book only comes once so enjoy it! --Louann Carroll
• Listen to your editors. They don't hate you, and they're not out to make your life miserable. Their experience is your direct key to industry knowledge, and pride won't get you very far. --Stephanie Taylor
  
• Research is your best friend. Don't rely just on your friends or the first things you find on the internet-dig deep, dig hard, and verify, verify, verify!--Cynnara Tregarth
  
• It takes time to succeed. --Bridget Goller Lashbrooks
• Avoid the urge to respond to a negative book review. You're not going to change that reviewer's mind, but you could damage your reputation as an author. --Rachel Carrington
• Appreciate your readers. They give you impetus, accolades, income, and inspiration. The first is always the one you will remember most for a lot of different emotions: elation, euphoria, crushing let down, and the black hole of your next project. Bask, indeed, but do not lose your discipline. And make your fans your friends. Good Luck. We all share in your joy and success. --Muffy Wilson
• Word of mouth is your best friend. Tell people about your book. They can't buy it if they don't know it exists. --LaShaunda Hoffman
  
• Get a Publicist and create a unique logo. Print business cards and book marks and give them away at every opportunity.--Lori Leigh
  
• Now that the book is completed, the work begins to brand your name. --Lori Leigh
  
• Never give up; there is always more to come. --Shirley Kiger Connolly
  
• Writing is only the beginning. Signing a contract to publish is only your first hurdle. Getting your name out there is a sea of others is key to success. Never forget, your readers are your best form of publicity, support them as they support you. --Dottie Taylor-Lillie J. Roberts
  
•  I recently read a quote by Maya Angelou that resonated with me. Ive added it to my own website, and at least for now, it's the advice I'm giving new authors (via Maya): "Write it so that people can hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart." --Delia Dawson Latham
  

So there you have it. Some truths from authors who have taken the journey you've just started. We've all been published; we've all made mistakes; and we've all survived them. You can, too, but you have to commit to this career. Writing isn't a get-rich quick scheme. It might not be as back-breaking as digging ditches or repairing roofs, but it takes the same amount of effort. And you have to determine you're in this for the long haul. It won't be easy. There will be times you'll feel like quitting. But if this is a dream for you, a true calling, you'll never give in to that urge. Because writing is your life. 

I survived another Valentine's Day without a significant other! It might not seem like such a feat, but when you're surrounded by hearts, candy, flowers, and cards, surviving is just about all you can hope for. My main goal is not to cry because Sally got more lovin' from Harry twenty-five years ago than I've gotten in...well...quite some time.

So my Valentine's Day went a little like this. Stayed up as late as I could the night before so I could sleep in that morning. Went to work for a couple of hours which is a great distraction normally. However, that particular day, all the women were getting flowers from their devoted husbands and boyfriends. I was a little grumpy. 

After I finished sucking up to the boss, I left work and went to visit a friend who lives thirty minutes away from me. (That hour round-trip erased some more time!) She and I chatted until her husband and daughter got home. Her eighteen-year-old daughter needed help picking out a gift for her boyfriend so I gladly volunteered to take her. 

We trekked through Walmart (and anyone who knows me knows I loathe that store) for what felt like two hours. Turns out it was only twenty minutes. They didn't have what she was looking for, so we headed off to a sporting goods store/hunting store/everything that makes a man drool store. There we find the bows for his compound bow. Well, we find the material. The bows have to be assembled. 

Off we go next door to sample appetizers and catch up on all the happenings in her life while we wait for the gifts to be prepared. An hour later, Maid Marian has the bows for Robin Hood, and we're on our way back to her house. By this time, it's already six o'clock. See how this is working out?

My friend and her husband are still getting ready for their night on the town so we chat some more. I don't leave until seventy-thirty or so. By the time I get home, it's after eight (because of lovers' traffic), and the night is almost over. 

Once I'm home, I feed my cat who is a little surly since I haven't been home all day. There's no way I'm turning on the TV to hear "every kiss begins with K", but I know I can control what I see on my laptop. I navigate around all the happy wishes on Facebook, barely miss a HUGE heart someone pasted on a blog I read, avoid Pinterest altogether, and dive into my latest manuscript.

That particular chapter I wrote does not contain one ounce of love, sensuality, or happiness. Nope. That was the night I let my inner Wicked Witch out, and I sent the characters on a mad, miserable dash through the maze my love-starved brain had invented. Within a couple of hours, they were apart due to a rather satisfying argument, my cat and I were friends again, and Valentine's Day was nothing but a distant memory. 

So how was your day?