Jill Ebstein: From MBA to Marketing Self-Published Books
Indie Author Insights Featured Author Series
Jill Ebstein has spent her career interviewing customers and dabbling in writing. Now, she mostly writes and dabbles in business interviews to capture different voices that inspire conversation. Jill is the founder of Sized Right Marketing. She has a BS from Washington University and an MBA from Wharton. Jill loves dogs, tennis, her “wonderfully odd” family, business, and writing about a variety of topics including humor, life, sports, culture, and fiction. You can learn more about Jill, her books, and her indie author insights by reading the interview below and visiting JillEbstein.com.
You have a book series! How did that happen? What’s it about?
To be honest, I wasn’t planning on a series. My first book in the series, Alfred’s Journey to Be Liked, wasn’t supposed to even be a book. We were in our first year of Covid, and everyone had retreated into their own safe space. Our social skills were becoming very rusty. I wrote a piece for the Muddyum humor publication on Medium where I featured a 14-year-old boy trying to build friendships and falling short. A coach is brought on to remind him of basic social skills. It was actually meant for us as a social bootcamp, and the piece was well received. Thirty-nine pieces followed, and a novel was born.
The biggest surprise wasn’t that I wrote a novel—which was really surprising. The biggest surprise was that professionals, including psychologists, educators, social workers, clergy, and even a psychiatrist, told me I had created a neurodivergent boy and that my portrayal was accurate (so they said). I contested that he was neurodivergent until I gave in.
That was book one. Alfred, the teen, builds a great friendship with Hannah, the subject of book two. Hannah has a lot of anger but doesn’t know why. She uses a journal to understand its source. I’ve been told the book is funny, wise, and good for all ages. I love humor so if I’ve given it to Hannah, I’m happy.
So now I had two novels, and then readers told me they wanted to know more about Alfred’s mom, Ellie. Ellie is smart, a bit spectrumy herself, and the kind of person you root for. Coming of Age at Forty is the third book— just out and profiles Ellie’s search for understanding and growth. The Ellie at the end is not the Ellie at the start. Same thing about the writer, who btw, had to learn how to write and convey romance.
Bottom line: I somehow have three novels out, but only the third one was done with real forethought.
Is your trilogy complete?
I’m not sure. There is one character who exemplifies a tremendous amount of grit, who overcomes the odds and makes a good life for herself. Her name is Lucy, and she appears in book two. I kinda want to tell Lucy’s story. If I do, that will be the fourth and final book, but I’m not yet committed to that pursuit.
What do you want readers to take away from your series?
Positivity, humor, our ability to change, improve our lot, feel empowered, and build some very deep and meaningful relationships that help anchor us. The first book reminds us what is needed to build friendships. The second book reminds us that we need to understand the root cause of our anger in order to manage and reduce it. The third book helps us to understand that we are coming of age all the time—at all ages. This is what I hope readers take away from my series.
Do you have another series?
Yes. I solicited and edited essays that became books. Each book was focused on one topic.
The first was about the range of choices women make in living their lives. Some are on the autobahn going full speed, and others are on the carriage road taking life at a more leisurely pace. I titled the series “At My Pace,” and the first book is “Ordinary Women Tell Their Extraordinary Stories.”
Book two focuses on the one lesson from mom that made all the difference in our lives. Sons and daughters share their stories, which are poignant and insightful.
Book three is about twenty-somethings finding their way. What do they need the adults in their lives to understand? All these books are profiled on atmypacebook.com.
Are all your books self-published?
Yes. My first At My Pace book was published in 2015. I engaged with agents to discuss going to a publisher, but they all said the book would need to feature “famous” people. My point was that the people sharing their thoughts were like you and me. That was my premise, and so I knew I could never sell it in the way I conceived it.
With each book, I learned how to self-publish a little better. I love the speed and control of the process—until you launch, and then it’s up to readers to make a difference.
When I started the Alfred series, I revisited my decision to self-publish. Now, there were millions of authors, and I didn’t see how I could break out. I spoke with two publishing houses through a well-connected friend and decided that if I fought the battle to get my book out, it would take me probably three-plus years—if I could even find someone who said yes. It wasn’t worth it.
You said you’ve learned a lot about self-publishing. What are some of those lessons?
I’ve learned where I want to spend money and where I don’t. I won’t spend on a PR agency, for example. I did that once and didn’t get enough out of it to justify the dollars.
I spent money on audio/voice training so that I could cut a few tracks about what I was thinking when I wrote that “moment,” and that was money well spent. I will never be Morgan Freeman, but I am better and more aware of what I need to do to “sound” my best self.
I’ve learned that I need some beta readers but not too many because, otherwise, the old adage applies: “Too many cooks spoil the soup.”
I’ve learned that formatting and cover design are essential. Don’t skimp there.
I have finally learned that not everyone is my reader. As authors, we need to devote real time and thought to who our readers are. I have a better handle on that now.
Do you have any specific goals for Coming of Age at Forty?
Yes. ☺ I hope to make different mistakes than the ones I’ve already made. I know I am going to make many. It’s simply part of the process.
I hope to stir people’s thinking and as they’re thinking, to be filled with positivity that growth and affirmation are there to be had.
I hope to add to my circle of connections—both authors and readers. That was a major impetus for me becoming a member of your newsletter. And finally, I hope I can give back to other writers in meaningful ways.
Thank you for becoming a member and supporting other indie authors. We appreciate you! If someone wants to buy your books, where do you send them?
To Amazon. Coming of Age at Forty is in paperback currently and will be in Kindle format in the next two weeks.
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Thank you, Kathy for all your support. Much appreciated