A Self-Interview with Bob Hostetler
It is an honor and a joy to join Tamela Hancock Murray, Dan Balow, and my long-time agent and longer-time friend, Steve Laube, as a literary agent with The Steve Laube Agency. So, for my first SteveLaube.com blog post, I took the time to sit down with myself for an in-depth, hard-hitting interview.
Why don’t you start by telling us a little about yourself?
Really? You’ve known me literally all my life, and that’s your first question?
Humor me. For the sake of this blog’s readers.
Both of them? Okay, then. I’m a thirty-year veteran of Christian publishing. I’ve been a writer, magazine editor, freelance book editor, and author of fifty books. I am a frequent speaker at writers conferences and retreats around the world and have encouraged and coached numerous writers to publishing success. I am an Ohio native who has been married for forty years to the lovely Robin, my teenage sweetheart and ministry partner; together we pastored four churches (though not all at once) and were foster parents to ten teen boys (though not all at once). We have two perfect children, Aubrey and Aaron, who have given us five perfect grandchildren.
Why become an agent?
I ask myself.
Yes. Why become an agent?
I see what you did there. I know firsthand how valuable a good agent is, and have been blessed for more than a dozen years to have the best. I also derive great satisfaction from helping other writers conceive and improve and succeed; I have a bookshelf in my office devoted to the books of writers I have taught and coached over the years. So when Steve Laube and I started talking about this possibility, it seemed to make sense.
Will you give up writing books of your own?
No. Why would you even suggest such a thing?
It seemed like a fair question.
I have several projects in the works as we speak.
What are they?
Oh no, you don’t. I’m not going to tell you. You’ve already stolen too many of my best ideas.
Okay, it was worth a shot. What kinds of books will you be looking for as an agent?
That will be the topic of my next blog post. Next Wednesday.
How about a hint?
Okay: bestsellers and blockbusters.
That’s not very helpful.
So read my next blog post.
Oh, I will.
See? My strategy is working already.
Isn’t this a tough time to become an agent?
Well, timing has never been my strong suit. And it is true that books in general and Christian publishing in particular are in a period of substantial change and uncertainty. And yet, that has been the constant state for decades. But I see that as an opportunity, not an obstacle. I think now is a great time to be a writer and an agent. Whatever changes the near future holds, God is going to speak, quality will win out, and I plan to work hard so that I and the authors I represent get to be a part of that process.
Thank you for taking the time to talk with me.
You’re welcome. I tease you a lot but you are one of my favorite authors. It has been an honor.
