26 Comments
User's avatar
Heather B's avatar

This is so serendipitous, as I want to publish a coffee table book of my husband's paintings and have no clue where to start. Thank you so much for introducing us to Jerry, Jenna. He sounds like a sweet soul who would be easy to talk to about it. I love these spotlights!

John Wright's avatar

It would be interesting to hear Jerry's take on publishing a photography book. Doing that through the company that I print my photos with is very expensive, those books are astronomical to do with even just 30 pages or so!

These spotlights are the BEST!

Heather B's avatar

I did one using Amazon's publishing company Kindle. That photo book of Swans that was on my spotlight. Photos do make it much more expensive. And it's not hard bound.

John Wright's avatar

Oh... I'm addicted to hard cover!

She Speaks Truth's avatar

I second this - love the spotlights ☺️

🌱Nard🙏's avatar

Serendipitous. My girlfriend is trying to publish a book independently …just sent her Jerry’s contact info (and followed him on Linked In). Thanks, Jerry, for what you do! I got hooked up w a sheister in the publishing world years ago…glad to know there are good guys out there💗.

John Wright's avatar

Hmm... sounds like I need Jerry in my email contacts list!

But phones over computers??? Are you crazy Jerry? 😇 Writing a book on a phone would be torture!

Edit: I have to comment on Jerry's form: I *hate* forms that *require* phone numbers! I hate phones! What's worse than spam emails? Spam phone calls!!!

Jenna McCarthy's avatar

Can you imagine? When I write (even this stack, let alone a book) I use two HUGE monitors and have at least 3 browsers, 7 apps, and 156 windows open at once! :)

John Wright's avatar

156!!! Otherwise that sounds like my normal status (two large monitors, three browsers, multiple tabs open, plus a few word processing documents and a few spreadsheets).

🌱Nard🙏's avatar

My husband just scolded me for such a thing last night. IT guys🤷‍♀️.

Phxrising8's avatar

Jerry, you had me at “winter in Arizona” and the grin on your face while sandwiched by cats! My kind of man!

Jim Moore's avatar

Jerry writes: “And if there’s one small thing that can still get under my skin, it’s people who don’t use their turn signals. It just feels like the polite thing to do.”

YES, YES, YES! That and drivers who fail to shoot a friendly wave of thanks when you politely accommodate their driving motion by pausing yourself (sometimes placing yourself in harm’s way!). Argh. Must be an upper Midwest thing. (native Wisconsinite here; howdy neighbor 👋🏼)

KatWarrior's avatar

Hey Jerry! Pleasure to meet you. Always good to know another good soul and publishing guru!

I am a “jack of all trades, master of none,” so I definitely need to read your book.

As for the beer mile, that is frigging hilarious and just wrong on so many levels 😵‍💫😂

I am a fairly accomplished runner and the mere thought of guzzling a 12 oz brewsky and then logging one quarter mile is puke worthy! Add three more in, and well… impressive, remarkable, really!

Thanks for sharing your story and keeping Jenna on the straight and narrow! Ciao, ciao.

Carla Howell's avatar

Jerry may be just what I need right now.

Kitt Lo's avatar

I will definitely be keeping him in my back pocket! Sounds like a great guy!

Kendra's avatar

Thanks for this. I've written and published a book through ISTE and it sold well - we did a second edition in 2022. However, I split royalties with my writing partner and the publisher does relatively little to promote it. I may be obligated to give them first crack at a new book on brain health for classrooms but I have a couple other ideas related to nutrition that I'd love to self-publish. Thanks again.

Keith Jajko's avatar

Awesome feature. Kudos to Jerry for a number of details here. Always refreshing to learn about a giving winner among us, especially one with a good attitude and perspective on life. Too often it sometimes feels a rarity these days. ✌️

Keith Jajko's avatar

PS: Jenna, I think I'm a paid subscriber. Are there levels of subscriptions? I'd like a copy of the Yankee Doodle book. 🤗

Jenna McCarthy's avatar

Keith! Please email me your mailing info (jenna at jennamccarthy dot com) and I'll get one right out. Thanks for the support! :)

Karen Bandy's avatar

Jenna, that’s a clever way to write your email. Recently I sent mine to someone in substack and I was bombarded with lib newsletters such as CNN and the Times. It took weeks but I think I’m finally rid them, there were dozens! Coincidence? Maybe 🤔

Jerry seems like a great guy and a great friend. Can’t believe he’s a grandpa!

Pastor Mike's avatar

Always interesting to see how different industries / companies / business "people" work ~ like Jerry's. On Saturdays I fit Jenna (if that's her real name?) in between Humble Dollar and "Jeff". As a side note, that's a different look for Jenna. Doesn't hardly look like her. 🤣

Mary Ann Caton's avatar

Nice to meet you, Jerry!

Victoria Bell's avatar

Jerry sounds like an all-around great guy. Were I the 'writing' type instead of the 'reading' type, I'd hit him up. As a nurse, I recommend all his activities except beer miles and wheelies after age 14.

Ron Canyon's avatar

Nice to know someone in the Jenna Community who is in the publishing business. I have only ever self published and it’s a lot of work! Im checking out those whiskey labels!

Dave Scrimshaw's avatar

Is this the same Jerry Jenkins of Left Behind fame?

Roberta Stack's avatar

Another interesting spotlight! Sounds like Jerry is a guy we would all like to sit down with and have a chat. Nice to meet you Jerry. And I’m also perturbed by people not using their “blinkas.”