11 Quick Updates
Hi Medium followers! So sorry for the long break. I’ve been writing on Substack here. But I haven’t forgotten about you! So much has happened since March 2023.
Here are the top 11 things you should know.
- My debut novel Blank came out! It’s about a former bestselling author who can’t think of an idea for her next book, so decides to hand her book in completely blank, no words, as a commentary on the publishing industry. Isn’t it all about marketing anyway!? The decision turns her life upside down. Really it’s about her relationship with her three best friends from college, her troubled marriage, mothering two kids, and dealing with all of it. The main message is that it’s never too late to start your next chapter. And guess what?! Then Blank became a bestseller! So meta!!
2. I launched a boutique publishing house Zibby Books to help publish other authors. (No, I didn’t publish my own book — that was done long before and came out from Little A.) We’ve released a novel or memoir every month with the goal of making the author experience the best it could be, making every book a lead title, doing some creative marketing, and working collaboratively on everything. Two of our bestsellers have been The Last Love Note by Emma Grey and Here After: A Memoir by Amy Lin. Both were Book of the Month Club picks. Emma’s was also a Target Book Club pick. But they’re ALL amazing! Subscribe to our Zibby Media Minute newsletter to get updates on all of that.
3. Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica opened in February 2023! It’s an indie bookstore on 11th and Montana Avenue. We host author events three to five times a week. You have to stop by! It’s the new community staple. We curate our books by emotion and interest. Each shelf is a curated collection either selected by an author or on a theme. Think: motherhood malaise, reeling from divorce, into the outdoors, books that make you laugh, etc. It’s designed to enhance discoverability of all types of great books and authors. (That newsletter is here.)
4. We’ve hosted eight Zibby Retreats, weekend escapes with fellow book lovers always with several featured authors. We’ve gone to Charleston, Austin, Asheville, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, and beyond! We also host day-long Petite Retreats and have done so in The Hamptons, New York, and Chicago. Four more to come next year!
5. Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, my award-winning, top author interview podcast, continues to grow! I’ve now interviewed more than 2,000 authors. Insane. I’ve done the podcast daily for years but have recently gone down to three episodes a week. This week I have Nicholas Sparks and Richard Powers among others dropping. All my author interview episodes are about books I’ve thoughtfully curated and reveal new things about the book and the author — and hopefully compel you to learn more about the book afterwards. It won the Webby Award this year!
6. I’ve also edited an anthology which is about to come out. It’s a collection of 75 personal essays called On Being Jewish Now: Reflections from Authors and Advocates. It’s how we all think and feel about being Jewish in the aftermath of the horrific October 7 attacks, but it’s really a celebration of our unique culture. Profits are being donated to Artists Against Antisemitism. The ebook and audiobook come out October 1. Trade paperback comes out November 1. I’ve become quite outspoken in my support of my fellow Jewish people in the face of so much antisemitism, particularly geared to the author community. And I’ve written my next novel, Overheard. That won’t come out until October 1, 2025, but I’m finalizing the edits on it now.
7. I’ve taken the show on the road. For “The Zibby-verse Tour” which I organized to launch Blank, I went to 20 different states, almost 50 towns/cities, and did even more events and virtual events. I’ve met so many of you and can’t wait to keep doing it. Here are the top 12 lessons from my tour.
8. We’ve partnered with so many fabulous brands at Zibby Media. We have pop-up bookshelves in the gift shops at all the Montage Resorts. We have our own stationery collab line with Felix Doolittle. We worked with Social Goods to produce hats, mugs, the coziest sweatshirts ever, and t-shirts. (We also worked with Girls Meets Boy for a tour t-shirt.) For our influencer boxes and launch events, we’ve worked with Glossier, Bybba, Caffe Luxxe, and so many others. Plus J. McLaughlin sponsored my tour!
9. I’ve poured out my heart pretty much daily (usually three times a day — ha!) on Instagram where the community has been so amazing. Please be sure to follow me there, too.
10. I’ve continued to lead Zibby’s Book Club once a month. This month we’re reading Ann Leary’s I’ve Tried Being Nice. Hilarious essays. Obsessed.
11. Finally, I’ve written my next novel, Overheard, which comes out October 1, 2025. I’m doing edits now. I like writing so much more than editing.
I’ll be posting here, too, now that so many of you are reading, but if you’d like access to my exclusive content, head to Substack for a paid subscription which gets you VIP invites, more author content, exclusive interviews, and behind the scenes.
Now you: what have YOU been up to!? Let me know!
Warmly,
Zibby
