J. A. Konrath
A digital-age pioneer who upended publishing conventions by betting on himself and winning a direct line to thriller readers.
Born 1970 (age 56)·American writer·Birthday: March 29·Generation X
Biography
J.A. Konrath, born Joseph Andrew Konrath in 1970, is a Chicago-based writer who became a central figure in the self-publishing revolution. Long before e-books were mainstream, he was a traditionally published author of hard-boiled mysteries like the 'Jack Daniels' series, known for their dark humor and relentless pace. Frustrated by the slow grind and limited control of the old system, he began experimenting in the late 2000s by releasing his out-of-print titles and new work directly as e-books at aggressive price points. His blog, 'A Newbie's Guide to Publishing,' became a must-read manifesto, filled with transparent sales data and blunt advice that empowered a generation of writers to go indie. While he writes gripping, often gruesome horror under the name Jack Kilborn, his most lasting impact may be as a pragmatic and outspoken advocate for author entrepreneurship, proving that a direct connection to readers could build a sustainable career.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
J. was born in 1970, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When J. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1970
#1 Movie
Love Story
Best Picture
Patton
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
J.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1970Born
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1975Started school
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1983Became a teenager
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Could drive
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1988Could vote
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Turned 21
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2000Turned 30
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 40
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 50
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 56 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became a seminal case study for successful self-publishing, often reporting six-figure earnings from his early e-book experiments.
- Authored the long-running 'Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels' mystery series, featuring a female police lieutenant.
- Pioneered the use of a popular blog to demystify publishing economics and advocate for author independence.
- Successfully launched a parallel career writing extreme horror under the pseudonym Jack Kilborn.
Did You Know?
He wrote his first novel, a horror story, when he was in the fifth grade.
He is known for his extensive and often humorous public speaking engagements at writers' conferences.
Early in his career, he collected over 500 rejection letters for his short stories before making his first sale.
He is a vocal proponent of pricing e-books at low points to maximize volume and discoverability.
“There's a word for a writer who never gives up... published.”
