Interview with Jenna Hollentein

Author of Eat to Love: A Mindful Guide to Transforming Your Relationship with Food, Body, and Life

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I grew up on Long Island and now live in the Upper East Side of Manhattan

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

Nothing surprising. Went to Boston for grad school, stayed there 14 years, and then moved back to NYC for love.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

My first book was part of a series so I was asked to write it by the editor of the series.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My books are quite different from one another. The first was not a topic of my choice: a primer on how to understand dietary supplements. The second a short self-published memoir about my decision to quite drinking before hitting bottom. The third, my “heart book,” an examination of the spiritual underpinnings of our relationship with food and body.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Seekers, people who are trying to live honest, authentic lives. People who care about helping others.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

That the writing gets done not in long, romantic, sweeping periods of flow, but in short, specific, ordinary bites.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Writing a book is not the end all be all. It’s fun to go down the rabbit hole of a specific topic, but it’s also intensely ordinary, boring, and frustrating at times. The process is so much more important than the end result, but the end result is also very satisfying.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Basically everyone who’s ever struggled with food, alcohol, and their bodies.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Getting the message out!

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Writing. I love going down that rabbit hole. It’s my happy place.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Definitely marketing. I struggle to find the right language and venues to find the ideal readers even though I firmly believe so many could benefit from the ideas.

When do you think you will write your next book?

Working on two book proposals currently, with a third in the hopper. I think it might be another addiction.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

My first book was published by an academic press, my second was self-published, and my third was published by a new female Buddhist imprint.