Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Carnes.
Hi Robert, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m an Atlanta native and studied print journalism at the University of Georgia. My initial goal was to write for newspapers and then publish books—but only part of that worked out. I ended up working in marketing for a few local nonprofits out of college. Being thrown into the deep-end to do every facet of marketing is one way to learn a new industry. Along the way, I started a freelance side-hustle helping other businesses and organizations tell their story. I also self-published a few books about what I learned in storytelling. Now, I work for a Marietta-based digital marketing agency, overseeing strategy and content for our clients. My first middle-grade fantasy novel, The Storymancer, was also published in 2025 by an indie press. I hope to continue publishing books and honing my storytelling skills.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Graduating from college at the height of the great recession made it slightly difficult to get a job. I remember applying to dozens of jobs and not hearing any responses. It took a lot of perseverance to keep going and find my first job—in an industry (nonprofits) that I never expected to work in. Learning that determination as a skill has helped through my career—especially with creative project like books that usually get plenty of rejections.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Besides my full-time professional work, publishing books is my creative outlet and passion. Most people I meet talk about how they want to publish a book, but don’t know how. I also didn’t know how until I set about teaching myself when self-publishing my first book. The process of creating and releasing a book requires even more effort that writing the book itself. And I enjoy talking to prospective authors about bringing their vision to life.
As to my books themselves, they have two primary things in common: stories and humor. I love storytelling as a discipline and it’s a subject that attracts plenty of interested readers. But the sense of humor is what sets these books apart. Being funny in writing is a challenge, and one that I enjoy pursuing.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://jamrobcar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamrobcar
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamrobcar
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamrobcar/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jamrobcar
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/jamrobcar.com
