My Dream of Being Like Reese or Zibby by GP Gottlieb

I’m probably not the only author to dream of having a platform like Reese Witherspoon or Zibby Owens. They’ve helped hundreds of authors with their recommendations. Oprah Winfrey was amazing at helping some authors sell thousands of books too, but I was never good at public speaking and wouldn’t want to be on television. 

My dream goes in many directions - I imagine having assistants scouring the internet and presenting me with intriguing novels by deserving authors, but of course, I’d take suggestions from my author friends. I envision a section devoted to turning the best books into movies or TV series, and I’d work hard to build audience support for the authors I love.

I wouldn’t accept queries because that would require disappointing people, and I know how it feels to be rejected. Instead, I’d send an email, seemingly out of the blue, and the lucky author would be astounded, maybe cry tears of joy. They’d know that being on my platform would guarantee automatic success.

Every week I’d publish a list of at least five must-read mysteries, because in my dreams, I’ll have time to read an entire novel nearly every day. I’ll take one day off to binge-watch movies, and I’ll have plenty of time to do so since I’ll no longer have to grocery shop or do errands – life’s mundane details will be taken care of by my imaginary team! Of course, I’ll still bake on occasion, but as soon as the tray hits the oven, my team will clean up and whip the kitchen back into shape.

I’d include an occasional suspense thriller in my weekly book diet, even though I’m still having bad dreams from a few I’ve read in the past. My assistants will know not to suggest any super scary books that give me nightmares. They won’t offer mysteries in which the protagonist heads over to the empty harbor or abandoned warehouse at dusk when there’s a killer on the loose. And I won’t read about characters who eat donuts and chocolate all day without ever gaining weight or being reprimanded by their doctors who remind them to eat everything in moderation. 

Yes, my dreams also include peace on earth and an end to suffering and war. Children in need are placed in loving, nourishing homes, diseases are eradicated, and the antidote to all drug addictions turns out to be something having to do with chocolate (or licorice – it’s still being studied). 

But when I can’t sleep, tormented by plot structure and character development, or working long hours to market my books, I turn to my favorite scenario, the one in which I’m like Reese or Zibby, and just mentioning a book means it’s going to be a massive success.

It could happen, right? Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted, and maybe I’ll mention yours!

GP Gottlieb is the author of the Whipped and Sipped Mystery Series (Battered was re-released September 2025 and is available in Paperback, Kindle and Nook). She’s a member of the Blackbird Writers, on the Sisters in Crime Chicagoland Board, and a member of SinC Colorado and SinC Wisconsin. She likes posting on Facebook, reads voraciously, and has interviewed over 260 authors for New Books in Literature, a podcast channel on the New Books Network. Her stories have been published in Pure Slush, Another Chicago Magazine, Grande Dame Literary, and other journals and anthologies. Over 250 of her essays on travel, music, culture, writing, and things that annoy her are available in various publications at Medium.Com .