In this episode, we sit down with Gerald Brennan, founder of Tortoise Books, a fiercely independent Chicago-based publisher that’s rewriting the rules of the literary world. Tired of the "hare today, gone tomorrow" approach of mainstream publishing, Brennan champions a slow and steady philosophy—where depth, longevity, and quality take the lead over quick sales and fleeting fame.
We dive into what it means to be a modern-day tortoise in an industry obsessed with speed. Gerald shares how Tortoise Books blends old-school publishing values—meticulous editing, strong pre-release strategy, and genuine author investment—with new-age flexibility through print-on-demand. The result? Books that are built to last, not just to sell.
If you’re a writer, reader, or creative entrepreneur looking for inspiration outside the mainstream, this conversation will spark ideas and maybe even remind you that the race isn’t always to the swift.
🎧 Tune in and find out why slow and steady still wins the race.
Gerald Brennan earned a B.S. in European History from West Point and an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University. He's the author of Resistance, which Kirkus called “an extremely impressive debut,” and four space books including Island of Clouds ("Speculative sci-fi at its finest." - Neal Thompson, author of Light This Candle) and Alone on the Moon ("Brilliant." - Rick Kogan, WGN Radio). His writing has appeared in the Chicago Tribune and Newcity, and he was on the latter's 2019 and 2022 and 2025 Lit 50 lists of notable literary Chicagoans; he's also the founder of Tortoise Books, a Chicago-based independent press that WGN Radio's Rick Kogan recently called “…one of the best, most provocative, and rewarding publishing houses in the entire country.”
For more information visit: https://500andgrowing.com
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