Anyone following this blog or who knows me personally realizes this was a very exciting year for me on a professional level. After ten wonderful years with Hartline Literary Agency, this summer I joined The Steve Laube Agency. I am thrilled to be working with Steve as my new boss and Karen Ball as my colleague.
Although I kept the same title of literary agent and both agencies are headed by Christians, they have different personalities and styles. The transition has been challenging but rewarding. I extend my gratitude to my faithful clients who remained with me through this time of change, and can’t wait to explore the many possibilities ahead for their careers. I am enthusiastic about forming new relationships with beginning and established writers. I see God’s hand in my career as He gave me the leaders I needed at the time I needed them. Joyce Hart gave me chance when I first moved from being an author to an agent. Steve Laube is working with me to help me reach my full potential as a literary agent. My excitement about being part of this great agency has not diminished one iota since I wrote my first post for this blog, Happy to be Here! My esteem for Steve Laube has only grown and over this past year we have formed a solid relationship based on mutual respect and trust.
On a personal level, the major landmark for my family is that my parents celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary this past November. We enjoyed a family celebration in their honor. My husband, John, and I love watching our two daughters thrive. Jill is a successful teacher in South Korea and Ann is an honors student in high school developing her talents in music and the arts. On a spiritual level, I am continuing my study of the works of Medieval Christians, emphasizing contemplative prayer.
Thank you for indulging me as I look back at my year in review. May the Lord bless you and keep you, bringing you His best for the future.
Your Turn
I’d love to hear about your year’s highlights. Feel free to share!
I have enjoyed your transition and the posts you have shared since you made this move. It has been a blessing to all writers who noticed.And will be a blessing for all those who find you in the coming year.
I am happy for Steve that you and Karen joined his team.
Love you bunches and bunches. God bless your endeavors for Him in the coming year!!!!!
Your year sounds wonderful, and I can definitely see God’s hand in your endeavors!
For our family, both of our sons (Rene and Kaleb) started the year with a mission trip to Trinidad. Then they continued college in the spring. Rene spent May working with a ministry in Malawi then the summer working with the youth at a church in Montgomery, Alabama. Kaleb spent the summer volunteering at the JH Christian Ranch in Elba, California. Both boys returned to college in the fall, and Rene graduated in December. They are about to leave to cross the U.S. speaking to colleges about the importance of Bearing Witness for Christ (ministry is bearingwitness.net).
My husband’s cheer company, ACE, won the World Championship in May, which has kept him busy this year (and helped us put over 50,000 miles on the company car). Luckily, I can work anywhere, and I often write my books from a hotel room 🙂
I had three books released this year and enjoy writing stories about faith, hope and love. I’m also thrilled to have a new partnership with the Steve Laube Agency and have you representing my work! There’s something incredible about a Christian work environment. I could tell the difference in our very first conversation and am excited to be working together!
Sharon, your comments made my eyes mist. Thank you so much! Love you back! I know God will keep shining His blessings upon you as well! 🙂
Renee: Wow! What a wonderful year you have had! Thank you for sharing with us. I am so thrilled and exited about our new partnership, too! And you are right on about working in a Christian environment. To God be the glory!
Tamela, I know what you mean about God bringing the people you need at the time that you need them. Both you and Steve have played that sort of role in my life, and I appreciate you both so much for it. As you may recall, change is not my thing. 🙂 But there has been a lot of it for me in the last couple of years. Some of it has been like sandpaper (especially in 2011!), other parts like velvet … all of it providing a lesson of some sort. I’ve actually found a way to be grateful for the sandpaper times as well as the smoother ones. But here’s hoping that 2012 is the velvet variety for us both!
Tamela,
I think those of us represented by you and the Steve Laube agency are blessed. I’ve enjoyed watching your career grow and change and I love that you have never changed with the success. You are still the sweet loving friend that you were before you became an agent.
This year I was blessed to become a part of the Love Inspired family. I’m so thankful you are here with me, every step of the way.
Love ya girl!!
In May and June, I had the privilege of traveling twice to Ukraine. The first time I led and interpreted for a group of Bible college students who joined me to minister in Christian children’s camps. The second time I did the same, but for a different group of believers who went to serve in different camps. After that, I let my second group of Yankees travel home while I continued on to Moscow, where I served as counselor for a group of 9-year-old boys at a Christian camp operated on the grounds of a facility that once served as a communist youth camp. I had to smile when one of the college guys (first group) declared, “Rick Barry has the best job in the whole world!” I praise God for such opportunities.
Hi Tamela! Congrats on all you accomplished in 2011.
2011 was a huge year for me as well. I finally received my Master’s degree (yippee!) and taught community college (ENG 101) for the first time. I also wrote the first draft of my first novel, which was a huge accomplishment. I hope to make 2012 even better!
Happy New Year’s to you and yours. 🙂
I signed with literary agent Barbara Scott of Wordserve Literary. A dream eleven years in the making. It’s amazing at looking back how I can see God’s hand guiding me every step of the way.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experience on this blog. 🙂
2011 has been a year of transitions for me as I tackled the difficult task of dismantling my childhood home and shifted through the whole estate settlement process. My writing has taken a big hit, really for two years. I’m looking forward to feeling like and being a writer in 2012! I’m thankful for you, Tamela.
One of my many highlights for 2011 is that my wife has joined my business. One of the goals in doing so was to allow me more time to write — and we are getting closer to realizing that goal!
Rhonda, your message made my eyes mist, too! I didn’t realize I’d need tissues after people read this post. I’m so proud of your progress this year. Love ya back, my friend.
Candy, some seasons in our lives necessitate us putting aside one goal for another. You have handled each situation with grace. I look forward to seeing what God does!
Sandie, wishing you velvet! Peter, Melissa, Lindsay, Rick — thank you for sharing your highlights. You have blessed us!
Enjoyed reading about your year with the Steve Laube Agency. I met you at Montrose several years ago and you encouraged me to continue writing. I now have two e-books published with two more contracted and continue to write Christian novels. Blessings to you and your family in the new year. June
Tamela, thanks for sharing. Looking forward to an exciting 2012 as well! Or shouldn’t I wish that we experience “interesting times”? LOL. Happy & prosperous New Year to all.
Tamela, isn’t it fun to look back over the year and see how God has worked in your life? You’ve had a wonderful year! 2011 will always stand out as the year my first book was released (thanks for you!) I’m so looking forward to what 2012 holds in store!
My writing highlight of this past year has been seeing my first book on the shelves! And after spending the past 4 months marketing it, doing blog tours and giveaways, travelling to do booksignings, etc., my goal for 2012 is to send my proposal off to a very special agent and get another contract so I can do it all over again!
Also looking forward to March 2012 as the proposed birthday of my third granddaughter (but first in over 10 years!) so I am looking forward to holding a newborn again!
God bless us all with all He has in store for us in the coming year!
At the risk of sounding like I’m sucking up, I can say that, without Tamela, I’d not have eight books in print, an NRCA win and Carol final behind me, and five more books and three novellas contracted for release in the next couple of years. How she became my agent is truly a God arranged situation, something the world would call a coincidence. That was nine years ago, and I hadn’t finished grad school or a novel yet. Not a novel worth reading that is. 🙂
In 2011, I faced more personal challenges that I have ever before endured, and she was beside me every step of the way, encouraging, interceding for me, being my friend and coach keeping me going.
And it’s been fun to watch her grow as an agent.
I’mso glad Steve showed the business acumen to take Tamela on board. And Karen, too. She’s a great person, too.
Really appreciate the kind words, Laurie Alice. I have enjoyed watching your career grow as well. I am privileged to be part of your writing ministry, and your friend.
Patty, I am so proud of you! Yes, it’s been awesome!
Thank you all so much for sharing. Reading everyone’s comments has been a highlight as I begin my year. Happy New Year to each and every one of you!