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The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Where are the Worthy Characters?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 5, 2014
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I just finished reading a general market novel that left me wishing I had used that time to read a good Christian novel instead.
I am not going to name the book because it isn’t my intent to offer a review. But the novel reminds me of many others in the general market. Well-written, well-received, heavy with social commentary. And populated with characters I didn’t like and couldn’t root for. The character who got her unhappy ending didn’t deserve the outcome. The characters who got a happy ending didn’t deserve theirs. I was left feeling not uplifted by the read, but vaguely depressed. So to the end of evoking emotion in a reader, the author achieved success.
True, not every novel can or should be all rainbows and unicorns, but I think they should at least be populated with deserving characters, characters who, though flawed, ultimately grow to deserve their happy endings.
Your turn:

Do you mind when an unlikeable character gets a happy ending in a novel?

How do you feel when you encounter a worthy character finding a terrible end?

Do you prefer heroic heroes or anti-heroes? Why?

Leave a Comment
Category: Craft, Reading, TamelaTag: Characters, Craft, Reading

What Language Do You Speak?

By Karen Ballon June 4, 2014
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Are you born again? Have you been slain in the Spirit? Have you walked the aisle to receive the baptism of the Saints? Are you washed in the blood, blessed by grace, favored for your labors? Have you testified, been sanctified, and placed a hedge of protection around yourself? Do you covet prayers? Are you blessed with singleness? Do you know folks who are lost, caught up in the world, …

Read moreWhat Language Do You Speak?
Category: Communication, Craft, Creativity, Karen, Language, TheologyTag: Communication, Faith, Language, Theology

And the Winner is…ME!

By Dan Balowon June 3, 2014
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Once upon a time, a man set out on the ocean in a small boat for a three-hour tour. The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed, if not for the courage of the fearless crew (of one) the boat would have been lost. The boat landed on an uncharted island and the man was stranded, but alive. Twenty years later, a larger ship happened upon the island and noticed a beautifully built …

Read moreAnd the Winner is…ME!
Category: Career, Communication, Dan, Personal, TheologyTag: Career, Communication

Marcher Lord Press is Rebranded with a New Name

By Steve Laubeon June 2, 2014
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by Steve Laube At the recent Realm Makers conference in Philadelphia I had the privilege to announce that Marcher Lord Press is being rebranded as Enclave Publishing. I am excited to officially reveal the new logo below (More thoughts after the picture). Notice the tip of the sword… Why the name Enclave Publishing? An enclave is essentially defined as a group of like-minded people in a place …

Read moreMarcher Lord Press is Rebranded with a New Name
Category: Book Business, Publishing News, SteveTag: Christian, Enclave, Enclave Publishing, Fantasy, Marcher Lord Press, science fiction

Fun Fridays – May 30, 2014

By Steve Laubeon May 30, 2014
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Paper vs. Electronic Books. Let the battle continue!

Read moreFun Fridays – May 30, 2014
Category: Fun Fridays, Humor, Steve

Why You Shouldn’t Be Depressed by Facebook

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 29, 2014
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Lately I’ve been seeing articles about how some people find personal status updates on Facebook and other social media depressing. Apparently people put on their best “faces” so their lives seem better than yours. Most of these articles aren’t written from a Christian perspective, so they ignore the fact that most of us ask for prayer through social media. Truly, this is a …

Read moreWhy You Shouldn’t Be Depressed by Facebook
Category: Book Business, Career, Social Media, TamelaTag: Facebook, Social Media

Editing Etiquette

By Karen Ballon May 28, 2014
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Writers and editors have a love-hate relationship. Okay, sometimes it can feel like a hate-hate relationship. Writers all know they need to be edited, but getting the manuscript back with those edits can be more painful than passing a kidney stone. And editors know they need to respect the author’s voice and style, but seriously? They want to use an em dash where? Generally speaking, though, we …

Read moreEditing Etiquette
Category: Book Business, Communication, Craft, Editing, Grammar, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Communication, Editing, Writing Craft

Actually, The World is Pretty Big

By Dan Balowon May 27, 2014
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At one time or another, every one of us have remarked how small the world is, usually caused by meeting someone by chance and finding out that you both know a certain person, or went to school with the person, are both reading the same books, are fans of the same team, etc. But you might be surprised how a “small” view of the world can alter your entire perspective. I am not referring to a …

Read moreActually, The World is Pretty Big
Category: Book Business, Branding, Dan, Get Published, Marketing, Platform, The Publishing Life, Trends, Writing CraftTag: publishing, The Publishing Life

Happy 10th Anniversary!

By Steve Laubeon May 26, 2014
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by Steve Laube It is hard to believe that this weekend marks ten years since I made the decision to open The Steve Laube Agency in 2004. I can honestly say it has been a blessing to have the opportunity to serve the industry and our authors in this capacity. It is stunning to realize we have secured contracts for over 1,000 books. And the books that have been published have sold over 13,000,000 …

Read moreHappy 10th Anniversary!
Category: Agency, Personal, SteveTag: Agency, Anniversary

Fun Fridays – May 23, 2014

By Steve Laubeon May 23, 2014
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A great song about books! Lyrics: If You Love to Read There’s a story waiting to be told Waiting for all of us, whether we’re young or old The story is in there if you take a look Go ‘head and and open up, the pages of a book If you ask me, I will read with you Don’t underestimate the things that books can do There’s a story waiting to be told Waiting for all of us, …

Read moreFun Fridays – May 23, 2014
Category: Fun Fridays, Steve
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