Today we’d like to introduce you to Lincee Ray.
Lincee, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2003, I stumbled across a “darling” little show called “The Bachelor.” I thought it was THE WORST. Of course, I was immediately hooked and tuned in every week to see how two crazy kids could fall in love in a matter of weeks. I randomly wrote my thoughts in an email, encouraging six friends to watch along with me. The next Monday, they all asked for their weekly recap and I was happy to provide hilarious insight and completely fabricated storylines. Several weeks later, a girl named Tiffany emailed me, asking permission to be on my “original list” because she didn’t get the recaps until Thursday.
Who is Tiffany and how did she get your information?
It never occurred to me that these friends were forwarding my words along to other friends and colleagues. The distribution list quickly snowballed and the tech guy at my PR job suggested I create a blog. I laughed, so he did it for me. That’s when things really kicked in. I created an actual website in 2008, assuming this silly little show would end any day now. “The Bachelor” just celebrated its twenty-fourth season. I’ll give you a moment to marinate in that sentence.
I chose the name iHateGreenBeans for my website because I wanted something memorable. I’ve learned that readers can’t ever remember if I love or hate them, but they definitely Google the green bean part, so I consider that a victory.
Along with recaps, I tackled other topics on IHGB, including movies, music, pop culture, and random stories about my life. One day, an editor at Entertainment Weekly emailed me to ask if I would like to recap television shows for them. It took zero arm twisting for me to say yes.
The blog/website slowly began working for me, offering many opportunities in the world of writing. Not only did EW come knocking, but so did The Associated Press, CBS.com, and InStyle Magazine. Once the work started piling up, I realized my “side career” could be a full-time one if I had the guts to walk away from my PR job. I summoned the guts six months after this thought entered my brain.
It was the summer of 2015. I was on a beach in Florida. I was reading a light-hearted book that was just awful. I wondered how this person was ever published. Then I thought, “I could do a better job than this.”
I always wanted to write a book, yet I thought that’s what other people did. But that day, I decided to really look into what it would take for me to have an actual book with my name on it sitting on a shelf. Instead of researching, I asked an author friend to give me the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The next day, I pitched her agent. One week later, I was accepted by the agent as a new client. Four months later, I was on a hospital table about to have my appendix removed, when I learned that I had just been offered a two book deal.
There were many ups and many downs through the book writing process. In the end, “Why I Hate Green Beans” is an actual book with my name on it that sits on a shelf beside my other book, “It’s a Love Story.”
My favorite part of this entire journey is that the website has also allowed me to start my own podcast (iHateGreenBeans) and speak in front of women about a multitude of topics. I’m a very lucky lady.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I loved writing my book. I was excited for people to read it. What I didn’t expect was having to work so hard to pull attention away from Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, and Gmail. Books don’t sell like they used to. Remember when you used to go to the beach or sit on a plane or wait at a doctor’s office? You read something. You picked up a magazine or grabbed the book from your purse and got lost in a world for a few moments.
Today, you probably pull out your phone and check your email, text, fool around on social media, or stream a show or movie. Don’t get me wrong. I think readers will always read. It’s that secondary group who doesn’t purchase books anymore. Here’s an example: I asked my friend if she thought I was in her target audience. She answered, “Of course! I love your books!”. Then I asked her, “What’s the last book you read?” She thought for several seconds. If you have to think about it, you’re not an avid reader. Marketing a book to a majority of people who don’t read is quite the task. I had to get creative.
Please tell us about your work.
I do a little bit of everything, but to put it in general terms, I would say that I am a communicator. How do I communicate? – Writer on my blog/website – Host of a podcast – Author of two books – Recapper of TV shows – Speaker. I think I’m mostly known as a Bachelor blogger, but I’m proud of my book accomplishments and speaking engagements. I think what sets me apart from others is my humor. People want to be entertained. And I think I do that well.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
1. I just happened to email my friends that day with a recap. 2. Tiffany just happened to email me asking me to get on the original list. 3. My blog just happened upon the editor’s desk at Entertainment Weekly. 4. Publishing houses hated my first book pitch, but were intrigued by the ONE SENTENCE description of another book idea I had included in the document. Spoiler: I totally made it up to show that I wasn’t a one-hit wonder. Cue me scrambling to get a pitch together for THAT imaginary book idea.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ihategreenbeans.com
- Email: lincee@ihategreenbeans.com
- Instagram: @LinceeRay
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lincee.ray
- Twitter: @Lincee
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-hate-green-beans-with-lincee-ray/id1262935946
Image Credit:
EraLight Studios
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