About Zibby Owens
BIO
ZIBBY OWENS is the bestselling author and editor of six books including Blank, Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature, Princess Charming, and the On Being Jewish Now anthology, which has spent 29 weeks on the USA Today bestseller list and inspired a companion essay platform and a stage adaptation. Her seventh title, Between Books: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot, comes out September 22. Owens has contributed to Vogue, Oprah Daily, Good Morning America, and the Washington Post, and writes a weekly bestselling Substack. She hosts the award-winning podcast Totally Booked with Zibby with more than 2,300 author episodes, and the weekly TV show Totally Booked with Zibby on JBS (Jewish Broadcasting Service). A frequent speaker, moderator and broadcast guest, Owens is known for highlighting the book industry’s most anticipated new releases and emerging authors. In 2021 she founded Zibby Media with the launch of Zibby Publishing and unique year-round hosted retreats and events for book lovers. In 2023, she opened Zibby’s Bookshop, the independent bookstore in Santa Monica, CA. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Business School, Owens, a mother of four, lives in New York and L.A. with her husband.
Instagram: @zibbyowens
Substack: www.zibbyowens.com
Company site: www.zibbymedia.com
Literary Agent: Joe Veltre, Gersh
Podcast Agent: Josh Lindgren, CAA
Speaking Agent: Debbie Greene, UTA
Latest News and Press:
People, “Zibby Owens Unfurls Her Literary Journey in New Essay Collection”
The Hollywood Reporter, “Zibby Owens to Stage Adaptation of ‘On Being Jewish Now’ for Live and Online Audiences
Forbes, “These Women Are Redesigning the Publishing Industry” (3/11/26)
The Times of Israel, “Zibby Owens is Totally Booked and in Her Element”
JTA, “Literary Powerhouse Zibby Owens Takes Aim at Antisemitism”
Forbes,“Zibby Owens Shares How to Start a Popular Podcast”
Page Six, “Hollywood Stars and Stans Flock to Zibby Owens’ Santa Monica Bookshop”
WWD, “Minnie Rose to Open Pop-up Bookstore with Zibby Media”
Aish,“Antisemitism in Publishing: These Authors are Writing Their Own Terms”
L.A. Times, “A New York Book-fluencer Launches a Brick-and-Mortar… in L.A.” (2/8/2023)
Vulture, “New York’s Most Powerful Book-fluencer Runs a Podcast on Park Avenue” (9/17/2019)
The Algemeiner, “The Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life, 2024” (2024)
L.A. Times, “Book People are My People: Why Your Next Vacation Should Be a Book Retreat” (10/30/23)
NBC News Today, “Zibby Owens has a book empire. Why she decided to write her own novel” (3/18/2024)
Katie Couric Media, “Zibby Owens on the Art of Recommending Books and Reading to Heal”
The Skimm, “The Ultimate List of Reads from Book Expert Zibby Owens”
Clips:
And They’re Jewish with Hen Mazzig
In the Spotlight with Abby Pogrebin
Totally Booked with Zibby on JBS with Dani Shapiro and Sam Sussman
Zibby Owens at the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly 2025
Keynote: Erma Bombeck Writers Conference: “Did You Know I Almost…”
Louisville, KY Federation event: From Jewish Joy to On Being Jewish Now
The Z.I.P. Membership Program
Become a Z.I.P. (Zibby’s Important People) member today! This is a members-only community for readers and listeners who want exclusive content, discounts, behind-the-scenes access, and more. It’s called Z.I.P. — Zibby’s Important People.
Z.I.P. perks include ($12/month or $120/year):
10% off all purchases at Zibby’s Bookshop
Member pricing on live events
Discounts from brand partners
An exclusive Z.I.P. podcast from me called Zibby’s Voice Notes — personal, candid, behind-the-scenes thoughts of what I’m obsessed with, what I’m up to, what books I’m excited about, and more
Members-only essays and round-ups
Invitations to intimate Z.I.P. Zoom conversations, including once a month with the author of my book club pick and regular members-only Zooms
More access to authors
Early news and information about Zibby Publishing releases with author extras
An e-book of my upcoming essay collection Catching Up
Members only chat
Input on Zibby Media activities: we want your opinion!
Founding Z.I.P. Members ($250/year) get all of the above plus:
A signed hard copy of my upcoming essay collection Catching Up
Earlier notifications about exclusive happenings and collabs
Recognition in newsletters/events (optional)
Invitation to an exclusive, in-person, annual Founding Members event
Special bonus content
Super supporter status!
FAQs:
Q: Do I need to be a paying member to be a Z.I.P.?
A: Yes. Z.I.P. is a paid membership program. Only paying members get access to exclusive podcasts, essays, Zooms, and more.
Q: What happens to the old monthly Zibby’s Book Club Zoom?
A: The monthly Zibby’s Book Club Zoom will become a Z.I.P. Zoom. You’ll still get author Q&As and discussions!
Q: How often will content be posted?
A:
Voice Notes podcast: 2x/ month
Notes to Z.I.P.s: Essays / round-ups: 1x per week (Wednesday)
Z.I.P. Zooms: 1x per month
Q: Will this affect the Totally Booked with Zibby podcast?
A: Totally Booked will release three episodes per week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. This will include two full-length (30 minutes) podcast interviews per week. Z.I.P. podcasts are exclusive extra content for members — just from me to you.
Q: Can I gift a Z.I.P. membership?
A: Yes! Please do. Memberships can be given as gifts through Substack’s subscription system.
Q: What do free subscribers get?
A: Occasional posts and access to all public content.
Looking for Zibby Media?
If you’d like to peruse the books we publish and titles we sell at the bookshop, head to zibbymedia.com and sign up here for our bookshop or publishing newsletters!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram, too: @zibbyowens
Featured Press Hits.
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