
Episode #297
297 Zibby Owens | How to Get Published & The Truth About the Book Business
Bookshop owner, publisher, and author Zibby Owens joins Jamie this week to chat about her upcoming essay collection, Between Chapters , out September 22nd. Zibby shares the winding journey of trying to get published since her 20s, building a media empire that started with a podcast in 2018, and why authors need to stop viewing rejection as an indictment of their talent. Whether you are an aspiring writer trying to navigate the traditional publishing submission process or a devoted reader curious about how your favorite books hit the shelves, this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes insights. How Zibby’s podcast, originally started as a side project in 2018, evolved into five episodes a week and a massive literary platform. The logistical realities and unexpected community responsibilities of opening an indie bookshop in Santa Monica. Why traditional publishers rely heavily on "lead titles" and how Zibby Publishing aims to disrupt this by treating every book like a priority launch. Actionable advice for writers looking to get published, including why you should perfect your manuscript before showing it to the industry. Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction & Writing Between Chapters 07:11 - The Entrepreneurial Drive and Starting a Podcast 13:20 - Zibby's Winding Journey to Becoming a Published Author 20:48 - Founding Zibby Publishing to Champion Authors 30:40 - The Truth About "Lead Titles" in the Book Industry 39:05 - Opening an Indie Bookshop and Curating Shelves 49:55 - Final Advice for Writers Trying to Get Published Support the show on Patreon ! And get extended episodes, ad-free and a week ahead of everyone else. For audio listeners: Spotify Apple Amazon Listen to The Chosen Ones and Other Tropes, Jamie's other podcast with Melissa Welliver and Naomi Gibson! Spotify Apple Amazon Follow on socials! Instagram TikTok Twitter






