Wattpad Superstar Lindsey Summers on Launching with KidsCan New YA Imprint

How many authors dream of having millions and millions of readers? For Lindsey Summers, that dream is real. One of the most popular authors on Wattpad, the internet hotspot for sharing original stories, Summers' stories (published under her screen name, DoNotMicrowave) are read by tens of millions of people regularly. 

Showing that traditional publishing and new online methods can work in concert, KidsCan Press had Summers pare down her serialized WattPad mega-hit The Cell Phone Swap into a young adult novel, Textrovert, which was one of a handful of titles that launched the press's new YA imprint, KCP Loft. 

Textrovert tells the story of how a simple cell phone mix up changes the lives of teens Keely and Talon. Funny, absorbing, and full of unexpected revelations, it's a YA story with heart and style. 

We're thrilled to welcome Lindsey to Open Book today to talk about her Wattpad success (including the fact that The Cell Phone Swap was the first story she ever wrote!), adapting Textrovert for KidsCan, and what it means to belong to a community of online book lovers. 

Open Book:

Tell us about Textrovert's journey, from a Wattpad mega-hit to publication with Kids Can Press. How did you originally envision the story's path? 

Lindsey Summers:

Textrovert originally started as a story called The Cell Phone Swap on Wattpad. It was a fun side project, but I didn’t think anything would come of it especially since it’s the first story I’ve ever written. However, soon the story started picking up traction, and before I knew it, I was getting a publishing deal.

Editing the manuscript took a lot of work. Since I was serializing the story on Wattpad, there was a ton of content that didn’t make sense for the published version. I went from a hundred and twenty thousand words down to fifty thousand. Some scenes were harder to cut than others but I’m happy with the results. Textrovert takes the best parts of The Cell Phone Swap and streamlines it into a cohesive novel.

OB:

How does it feel be part of the launch of Kids Can's new YA imprint, KCP Loft?

LS:

When I first got the news that KCPLoft was interested in publishing my story I didn’t believe it. There are millions of manuscripts to choose from, but they chose to put their faith in my story. It’s humbling and I feel blessed to be a part of their debut lineup.

OB:

You're a huge part of the Wattpad community. What does Wattpad mean to you as a writer?

LS:

Everything. It took over three years to write the first draft of Textrovert and honestly, I don’t know if I would have completed it without my readers demanding updates. They believed in my story even when I didn’t. To have that kind of backing means the world to me.

OB:

The writing community on Wattpad is equally as supportive. Wattpad authors are eager to help and offer advice. No question is too small or dumb to ask. I can’t tell you the amount of times I would message Wattpad friends, freaking out over something, but they were always there to listen and to help.

LS:

I think sometimes people miss the point of Wattpad. Yes, it’s a reading and writing platform, but there’s so much more to it. We, as a community, rally around each other. Every Wattpad success is our success, and I think that’s an invaluable resource to have.

OB:

The original incarnation of Textrovert, (The Cell Phone Swap) had over 90 million Wattpad readers. How does it feel to know you're reaching that many fans? And how does the interactive process and feedback from Wattpad readers shape your writing process?

LS:

It’s overwhelming, and to be frank, a little intimidating to know that many people are reading my words especially since everything I post on Wattpad is a first draft. However, I keep doing it because the readers motivate me to keep writing. Their comments are a great tool to have. I can see right away if they connect with my characters, are interested in a certain plot line, and if I’m showing a certain emotion or scene correctly. They even catch plot holes and continuity errors before I do! However, I don’t let my readers dictate my story. I take all their feedback into account and make changes that are right for the plot and the characters.

OB:

Your writing clearly resonates deeply with your readers. What advice would you give to emerging writers looking to forge that kind of connection with readers?

LS:

Readers are intuitive. They can feel the passion you have for a story so write what makes you happy. If you’re disconnected with the story, your readers will be too.

OB:

Who are a few of your recent favourite authors, on Wattpad and off?

LS:

I adore Anne Bishop’s fantasy series The Others. The heroine’s journey throughout the five books is well executed and the romance is slow but meaningful. On Wattpad, I just started Fallon DeMornay’s Stiletto Sisterhood, which is about friendship and female empowerment. I’m also loving A.V. Geiger’s Follow Me Back and Isabelle Ronin’s Chasing Red.

OB:

What can you tell us about your next project?

LS:

I’m in the process of writing several new stories. One is a YA novel called Lies of a Makeup Junkie. It’s about a teenage girl who lies to become the personal assistant of her favorite beauty YouTuber. Another novel I’m writing is Pledge to Perry, a new adult romance/mystery about a woman who finds the journal of a dead man who dares her to go beyond her limits. All my stories are posted on Wattpad. If you’re interested in reading, my username is DoNotMicrowave. 
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Lindsey Summers is a self-proclaimed bookworm. Growing up, she begged for new books rather than clothes. It wasn't until Wattpad that she gained the courage to start writing her own stories. Her first novel, The Cell Phone Swap, has received more than 79 million hits online.

Lindsey credits being born in Hawaii for her aversion to closed-toe shoes. While she'll always be a local girl at heart, she now lives in Los Angeles, California. When she's not writing, Lindsey can usually be found drinking coffee or at the beach with her nose in a book.