Hidden Gems: Meet Leigh Ebberwein of Old Fort Press

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leigh Ebberwein.

Hi Leigh, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
One hot July morning in 2019, my husband, John, and I snuck off to daily Mass. Our favorite little Irish Monsignor was celebrating that morning, and his homily was about his homeland—Ireland. My mind began to wander, and before I left church that morning, I had outlined an entire story in my head. I went home, grabbed one of my children’s marble composition books, and began writing.

And I never stopped.

For the rest of the summer, I wrote whenever I could steal a quiet moment. Before I knew it, October had arrived, and I had finished a novel. The funny thing was, I hadn’t told anyone I was writing it.

When I finally shared with my husband I had written a book, he didn’t believe me—and who could blame him? Life moves quickly amid the chaos of seven children. “When did you have time to write a book?” he asked. In all honesty, I sometimes wonder that myself. But once I began reading it to him, it all became real. I had written a book. And that book changed the direction of my life.

Of course, writing that first novel was only the beginning. Then came the question I wasn’t prepared for: What in the world do you do after you’ve written a book?

The publishing world was difficult to navigate, so I did what I’ve always done best—I educated myself. I took classes, talked to people in the industry, asked countless questions, and immersed myself in learning how to take a manuscript from those first pages all the way to a published book.

As I learned more about publishing my own work, I became fascinated by everything that goes into creating a book—not only the writing, but the editing, design, production, marketing, and all the pieces required to turn a manuscript into something a reader can hold in their hands.

In 2021, that journey led me to establish Old Fort Press, an independent publishing house based in Savannah, Georgia. What began with my own experience gradually grew into something much larger. I began working with other authors and discovered how much I enjoyed helping them bring their stories into the world.

Today, Old Fort Press is dedicated to publishing compelling, thoughtfully crafted stories and building lasting relationships with the authors who create them. We work closely with our authors through editing, design, production, publicity, and publication, and I’m fortunate to be involved in nearly every part of that process.

As a third-generation Savannahian, I have a deep connection to this city and its history. I’m also curious by nature, so Savannah gives me an endless supply of things to explore. It has such a lively and quirky past. I love digging into its secrets and learning about the different heritages of the people who walked these streets before me. Inevitably, pieces of what I discover find their way into my stories.

That first book eventually grew into my Saints of Savannah series, which follows six close friends who met in high school and remained close throughout their lives. Each novel centers on a different member of the group and takes the story beyond Savannah to another part of the world. So far, my writing and research have taken me to Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Canada, and France. My current work in progress, the final book in the series, takes me to England.

So these days, I wear two hats—author and publisher. Some mornings I’m lost in one of my own stories, and a few hours later I may be discussing another author’s cover, reviewing edits, planning a book launch, or figuring out how to get books into the hands of more readers.

None of this was part of a carefully constructed career plan. It started with a wandering mind during an Irish Monsignor’s homily and a story I couldn’t stop thinking about. Somehow, that story became a book, the book became a career, and the career eventually became a publishing house.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In the beginning, one of the greatest challenges was simply learning the publishing industry. As Old Fort Press grew, the challenges changed. When you publish your own book, you’re responsible for your own dream. When you publish someone else’s, they’re trusting you with theirs. I don’t take that responsibility lightly.

There is also the constant challenge of time. First and foremost, I’m a wife, mother, and now a grandmother. I’m also an author who still loves writing my own stories and a publisher with authors and books that deserve my attention. There are only so many hours in a day, so I’ve had to become very intentional about how I spend them. I try hard to stick to a schedule—although schedules and creative people don’t always go hand in hand.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Old Fort Press?
Old Fort Press is an independent publishing house based in Savannah, Georgia. We publish thoughtfully crafted fiction with strong storytelling at its heart, and we work closely with our authors from the moment a manuscript is accepted through publication and beyond.
Publishing a book is incredibly collaborative. There are editors, cover designers, formatters, printers, distributors, booksellers, publicists, and many others involved along the way. My role as publisher is to bring all of those pieces together while never losing sight of the author or the story.
I think what sets Old Fort Press apart is how personal that process remains. We want to know our authors, know their books, and be actively involved in bringing each one into the world. Our authors aren’t simply handing over a manuscript and waiting for a finished book. We work together through editing, cover development, production, marketing, publicity, and launch.
I’m especially proud of the community that has developed among our authors. Publishing could easily be a competitive business, but that hasn’t been my experience at Old Fort Press. Our authors support one another, celebrate one another’s successes, share what they’ve learned, and show up for each other. That sense of fellowship has become an important part of who we are.
Ultimately, I want Old Fort Press to be known for two things: publishing stories worth remembering and making sure our authors feel valued throughout the process.

What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is my faith and my family. I’m grateful to have been blessed with a large family who truly love and respect one another. I’m also fortunate to genuinely love what I do. I love writing and discovering stories, and I find great joy in helping other authors bring their books into the world.

I believe God gives each of us gifts, and we’re meant to use them, whenever possible, in ways that benefit someone besides ourselves. Writing began as something very personal for me, but publishing gave me the opportunity to take what I had learned and use it to help other writers.

At the end of the day, I want the people around me to know they are loved, and I want the readers who pick up my books to find good stories that bring them joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: Leighebberwein.com ; oldfortpress.comin
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lebberwein/ ; https://www.instagram.com/oldfortpress/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lebberwein; https://www.facebook.com/OldFortPress
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leigh-ebberwein-04115b222/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/old-fort-press