The Steve Laube Agency is committed to providing top quality guidance to authors and speakers. Our years of experience and success brings a unique service to our clients. We focus primarily in the Christian marketplace and have put together an outstanding gallery of authors and speakers whose books continue to make an impact throughout the world.
Our Service Philosophy
Content
To help the author develop and create the best book possible. Material that has both commercial appeal and long-term value.
Career
To help the author determine the next best step in their writing career. Giving counsel regarding the subtleties of the marketplace as well as the realities of the publishing community.
Contract
To help the author secure the best possible contract. One that partners with the best strategic publisher and one that is mutually beneficial for all parties involved.
Recent Posts
Letters I Hate Writing and Letters I Love Writing
At my office, we make every effort to respond to serious queries and proposals. Now, maybe the manufacturer of metal pins based in another country is serious, but we send those emails to the trash bin. Or more accurately, the image of a trash bin on the computer. At least that trash bin doesn’t require Hefty citrus-scented trash bags and is in no danger of attracting hungry bears. And by the way, I’ll never understand how or why the metal pin manufacturer found us, or why they think we’re in the market for such an item, since we construct books, not houses.
But I digress.
I HATE Writing…
My least favorite to write is always a rejection letter. Sending declines even for wildly unsuitable submissions is painful, because that author is trying.
Some authors ask for more feedback, but we don’t offer additional input on a firm decline. Why? Because another agent may LOVE what the author has written exactly as it appears and knows an editor asking for that type of project.
If you’re getting rejection letters, persevere and consider any feedback, even if you don’t agree. You can choose to incorporate feedback, keep trying other agents, or both.
And by the way? When an agent does offer advice, follow up because the back and forth may lead to an agreement for you to work together.
I LOVE Writing…
My favorite letters to write are pitch letters. I relish the chance to praise my clients. I can go on forever about how their writing is prize-worthy, and how wonderful they are as people and professionals. I’m just a bit partial, but I think my writers have the sweetest and most beautiful spirits in the industry.
Writing letters of praise may sound superfluous, but think about Proverbs 27:2:
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. (KJV)
My letters to editors on behalf of my writers show I support them and that I have every faith and confidence that the publisher will be successful with their work. After all, I signed the author. An agented author has shown the ability to garner an agent’s confidence. The author doesn’t have to say the equivalent of “I’m the best ever!” because we can instead!
Your turn: What’s the best feedback you’ve received? The kindest rejection letter?
Leave a CommentAsk a Literary Agent: Writing Q&A With Steve Laube – Free Webinar, May 13th
Thomas Umstattd, Jr. and I have periodically come together to discuss various topics related to the book world. We are going to do it again! I don’t want you to miss out on the FREE webinar. Date: Wednesday, May 13 Time: 5 p.m. (Eastern Time) We are planning an hour or more of conversation on the questions most pressing to writers and a little about my new book, Sacred Margins, which officially releases a few days later. But Amazon is starting to ship books today! Thomas Umstattd Jr. is the host. He is the head of Author Media and has …
Monday Moments – May 4, 2026
Today’s moment is the third in a series of brief meditations I’ve created based on my new book, Sacred Margins: On the Spiritual Life of a Writer. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. The transcript of the video is below. If you cannot see the video, click through to our website or to YouTube, where you can view it. The book itself will be released on May 19th in paperback, ebook, and audio formats. You can preorder the book here: https://amzn.to/3P5jVj8. The first episode, “Why the Margins Are Sacred,” can be found on the series YouTube channel; click …
Fun Fridays – May 1, 2026
Gotta get me one of these! [If you cannot see today’s video in your newsletter feed, please click through to view it on our site.] ShareTweet
The Inciting Incident (Part Three)
We’ve covered a lot of ground in this series. You now know what the inciting incident is. You know what it must do. So, let’s wrap up this series by talking about what goes wrong—and how to get it right in your manuscript. The Four Biggest Mistakes Writers Make with the Inciting Incident Mistake #1: Confusing the Hook with the Inciting Incident This is one of the most common mistakes I see, and, honestly, it’s an easy one to make. Your opening scene is dramatic. It grabs the reader by the throat. Surely that’s the inciting incident, right? Not necessarily. …