Tell us a little about yourself
I served in the US Marine Corps from 1993 until 2010, hence some of the title Uncle Sams Misguided Children. I left my small hometown two days after my 18th birthday for Parris Island in the summer of 1993 and never looked back.
During this time, I was stationed at Naval Submarine Base Kingsbay, Georgia (Security Forces), 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) at Camp Pendleton, California (Infantry Scout), India Battery 3/14 in Reading, Pennsylvania (Forward Observer Scout), Special Operations Training Group/Combined Arms Staff Trainer II MEF at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina (Chief Instructor), Sierra Battery 5/10 (Liaison Chief), RCT 7 in Al Asad/Fallujah, Iraq (Fires Chief).
I ended my career as a Gunny, where I then settled down in the Philadelphia area birthplace of the nation, the Marine Corps, and home to Tun Tavern, the most iconic bar in the history of the Marine Corps. Today I work for the DOD as a civilian, I’m a father, a husband, a soccer coach, a Leatherneck Nation Motorcycle Club brother, and now… a published writer.
Why Do you write?
I have always loved writing and storytelling. My writing combines both. Born in a Bar allowed me to share my stories with other Marines, and reminisce about our shared experiences. It’s therapeutic in a way, it brings laugher and happiness trying to piece together events that happened years ago in a time where everything is too serious or heavy.
It also brings great satisfaction knowing that Marines who participated in sharing their stories have been able to bond with others and rekindle friendships from years past.
What genre do you write and Why did you pick this genre?
Humor. Born in a Bar was twenty years in the making. A close friend of mine made a comment one night about documenting the hilarious drunken adventures that we had gotten into over the course of a career in the Marines. For years I had to ask myself why anyone would care to read stories about drunken nights and strippers. Then COVID happened. Several veterans that I knew committed suicide over a year and a half. It was truly heartbreaking.
A junior Marine of mine commented to me one day about sharing an adventure my section took in San Antonio, and I did. The story created a whirlwind of laughter and comments. This became me “why.” If I can share stories to make people laugh in a time where everything is seemingly negative, and that makes veterans reach out to other veterans to laugh about their stories then I just created a buddy check-in itself.
Tell us about your book
Born in a Bar: The Untold Stories of Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children is a book, unlike anything I’ve seen or read recently. It’s a collection of short humorous bar-type stories submitted by Marines to make people laugh at the dumb shit we do on a daily basis.
Marines are known for our professionalism in uniform, our prowess in war, but rarely are our off-duty antics of drinking, swearing, tattoos, and dating strippers talked about outside the confines of the barracks. This book includes all of that.
How much time do you dedicate to your author career?
*According to my wife, TOO MUCH. It’s a difficult balance between work, family, and writing. Besides having daily conversations with veterans about their stories, a near back-and-forth with my editor, I had to do a lot of research on self-publishing. That was extremely time-consuming.
Once this project began to take off I was also invited onto several podcasts which typically were at night on a weekday and last anywhere from one hour to three hours. I thought once the book was finally published I could slow down a bit but that hasn’t happened. Instead of phone calls and emails containing stories, I’m now responding to friends and family telling me how funny the book was.
I’d love to say I only spend an hour a day, but time adds up quickly trying to respond to all of them, not to mention promoting on social media trying to meet my book goals of donating $1775 to Save22. Eventually, when I retire, I’d love to dedicate all of my free time to writing.
How long on average does it take you to write your books?
*Born in a Bar took me eight months from start to publication. This being my first book, it took longer than I expected. My book is also very different than most traditional books. Since I included stories written by other Marines, I had to find Marines willing to submit a story funny enough to be included and edit them to make them actually readable. Marines aren’t usually associated with our writing ability. This took up a lot of time.
The learning curve of using WORD, and self-publishing was huge. Little things like page numbering, mirrored margins, and order/layout were a constant battle. Now that I have a better process for editing, and have figured out some tricks using WORD and KDP, the second book will be much easier.
What is the best money you have ever spent on your author career?
Without hesitation, my editor. My original plan was for this book to be written by Marines specifically for other Marines. I wasn’t going to worry about acronyms, or explaining certain military jargon. This book was for my crayon-eating military.
A good friend of mine, with zero military background, read a story I posted on Facebook and offered to help edit my project, and sent back one of my stories. What I thought I had done an excellent job on came back loaded with red marks. After speaking to her, I came to realize how important it would be to not only have a book that can be read and understood by anyone but has the feel of professionalism of a published book. What a difference it made.
What is the most difficult part of being an author?
*Fear. Having the fear that no one will read it. Having the fear that the people who do read it will hate it. Since I dedicated my book to Save 22 Veterans, and included names of veterans submitted by their families on a dedication page, I was completely consumed by making sure the dedication page was correct.
The anxiety of having a veteran’s loved one read a book filled with stories of drinking and strippers was very taxing. For the first week or so after publication, I could only think, “My god… what if they hate it?” Thankfully, many of the relatives who submitted names were very happy to not only be included, but many suggested it’s exactly what their veteran would have wanted.
What is the best piece of advice you have for other authors?
Find your WHY. I was told on numerous occasions by several publishers that new authors (who aren’t celebrities) won’t sell more than a hundred books, and will never make real money. So what. Writing a book in itself is a huge accomplishment and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Be proud of what you have done.
Don’t listen to naysayers, listen to and believe in yourself. Do your research and don’t give up. Seek out those who have done it and are willing to help. I didn’t write my book to become famous or get rich. If that is your only goal, you may struggle. My WHY was a hope that I can help one veteran.
What is your favorite book?
I have so many, but one comes to mind immediately. Tell my sons: a father’s last letter written by Lt Col Mark Weber. Tell My Sons is a story that any parent, military or not, can and will relate to – thoughts of dying without our children really knowing who we were and what we stood for.
Mark, an Army officer, not only had to deal with multiple deployments and war but a life-threatening disease – cancer. Instead of giving up, Mark writes a series of letters to his children about what he learned throughout his life from courage and fear, seriousness and humor, to leadership and overcoming challenges.
It’s the book that makes you want to hug your kids and your parents. Ironically, it’s the complete opposite of Born in a Bar, which I hope my kids and family don’t actually read.
Provide direct book link for purchase
Social media sites
facebook.com/jesse.esterly.9
IG: BorninaBarUSMC
Website:
www.borninabar.com
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