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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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Exceptions are Exceptions Because they are Exceptions

By Dan Balowon January 7, 2014
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Dollar in the bag

You can self-publish a book, sell 10,000 copies in the first week, 50,000 in the second week and be a millionaire in three months.

You can write a book and mail it to a publisher, they publish it without meeting you and you become a wealthy household name.

An antiques dealer can knock on your door and offer you $250,000 for your end table that you bought last summer at a garage sale for $5.

You could be called out from the stands, given a basketball and offered a million dollars if you make a basket from seventy-five feet away. And you do.

These things could happen. But they are exceptions. Exceptional exceptions, but exceptions nevertheless. Planning your life or career around them would be rather futile and frustrating.

The Oprah Winfrey Show was the Holy Grail for publishers when she started her book club in 1996. Her endorsement of a book made it an instant bestseller. Do you know how many books she selected over 16 years? Seventy-two…that is 72.

Not all Oprah selections were new books, with a number of older classics among them. Over that same 16-year period, roughly three million new books were published in the U.S., which means only one in 75,000 new books were picked as an Oprah selection. Regardless, I have heard authors say, “If we could just get Oprah to endorse my book.” Sure, that would be nice.

In the Christian market, that magic marketing potion has been a number of things from an interview on a prominent radio or TV program, a prime speaking engagement at a prominent conference, a bookstore chain main promotion or a social network site gone mega-viral. Some very successful authors had moderate initial success and then their book was mentioned by an influential pastor or musician, causing a substantial increase in sales, which snowballed to something more.

But these are exceptions. And they are exceptions to the normal process because they are extremely rare occurrences.

Don’t be frustrated with your publisher if they don’t spend a lot of time pursuing exceptions. They can’t base their businesses on them any more than you can plan your income and expenses for the next several years based on regularly winning your state lottery. It would be foolish to say the least.

Publishers base their businesses on proven principles of marketing, sales and financial management, while always remaining ready to act if something extraordinary does happens. The business of publishing is risky enough without spending a lot of time doing what works no more than once every 75,000 times.

Be realistic, trust your publisher and be thankful if God drops serendipity into your life. Remember, the publisher wants to succeed at getting your book into readers’ hands as much as you do.

Not all serendipities are big and spectacular. What writing or publishing surprises have you had lately?

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Category: Book Business, Dan, Get Published, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, publishing, Success

Steve Laube Buys Marcher Lord Press

By Steve Laubeon January 6, 2014
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Below the following announcement is a question and answer session with Steve Laube.
 (January 1, 2014 - Phoenix, AZ) Steve Laube, president of The Steve Laube Agency, has agreed to purchase Marcher Lord Press, the premier publisher of Science Fiction and Fantasy for the Christian market. The sale was finalized on January 1, 2014.
Laube has long been a champion of the genre, going back to his …

Read moreSteve Laube Buys Marcher Lord Press
Category: Book Business, Get Published, Personal, Steve, The Publishing Life, TrendsTag: Marcher Lord Press, publishing

Fun Fridays – January 3, 2014

By Steve Laubeon January 3, 2014
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An "oldie but a goodie" - pun intended.

Read moreFun Fridays – January 3, 2014
Category: Fun Fridays, Steve

A Year in Review

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 2, 2014
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This year has been one of success and career growth for me. I am humbled and grateful to work with outstanding writers and the best editors in the business.

Challenges

As with every year, the needs and expectations of publishing houses continue to change and grow. Publishers are maintaining and even exceeding past quality to offer readers the best Christian books possible. This means that …

Read moreA Year in Review
Category: Agency, Personal, TamelaTag: Agency, Personal

Welcome 2014!

By Karen Ballon January 1, 2014
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I don’t know about you, but I could swear 2013 just started! Where has the year gone? Those of us in the agency will share some thoughts about 2013 soon, but for today, as you welcome the very first day of a whole new year, I just want to wish you a Happy New Year and share one of my favorite singers with you—along with some beautiful images to usher in 2014.

May God touch each of you in the …

Read moreWelcome 2014!
Category: Karen, Personal

What’s Another Word for Thesaurus?

By Dan Balowon December 31, 2013
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On this last day of 2013, I think the best use of this space is to offer up my favorite quotes related to books, writing or from authors. Without further delay from the fun, here they are:

"What's another word for thesaurus?" (Steven Wright)

"This is the sixth book I've written, which isn't bad for a guy who's only read two." (George Burns)

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, …

Read moreWhat’s Another Word for Thesaurus?
Category: Dan, HumorTag: Humor, Quotes

2013 – A Year in Review

By Steve Laubeon December 30, 2013
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by Steve Laube What a year it has been. I’m tempted to write that sentence and leave the rest of this page blank. It would be easier than to remember and recite all that has come to pass. But it is a healthy exercise nonetheless.

Agency Business

The biggest news of all was adding another agent to our group. This past Summer we welcomed Dan Balow to our ranks. He is a fabulous addition and …

Read more2013 – A Year in Review
Category: Agency, Personal, SteveTag: Agency

Fun Fridays – December 27, 2013

By Steve Laubeon December 27, 2013
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Top this!

The above was created in response to Claude Van Damme's original:
src="//www.youtube.com/embed/M7FIvfx5J10?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

Read moreFun Fridays – December 27, 2013
Category: Fun Fridays, Steve

The Quiet Zone

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 26, 2013
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I've noticed, not only this year, but in past years, that opinions from publishing professionals regarding the month of December vary.

Some say nothing gets done in December. Others say a little bit gets done in December. A rare few say a lot of work gets done.

Everyone is telling the truth. Why? Because publishing is filled with so many manuscripts in varying parts of the evaluation or …

Read moreThe Quiet Zone
Category: Book Business, Communication, Tamela, The Publishing LifeTag: Communication, The Publishing Life

A Blessed Christmas to You All

By Karen Ballon December 25, 2013
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As you may have noticed, my day to blog here on the agency blog is Wednesday. I was utterly delighted when I realized that my blog fell on Christmas! If there is any one day of the year that is my absolute favorite, it’s Christmas. I have so many wonderful memories of Christmas…not just the day, but the whole season. My mom was the absolute queen of celebrations, and she knew how to do Christmas …

Read moreA Blessed Christmas to You All
Category: Karen, PersonalTag: Christmas
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