It is with mixed emotions that I share the news today that Dan Balow, our beloved colleague and one of the most admired and respected leaders in the world of Christian publishing, has decided he is ready to embark on the next chapter of his life and will retire on September 15.
He has had a long and fruitful career. Over the years, Dan has worked on the business side of the industry, including marketing, sales, foreign and domestic rights management, audiobooks, digital publishing, and acquisitions.
He spent a significant amount of his career with Tyndale House Publishers from the early 90s to the mid-2000s. While there, Dan developed a wide-ranging perspective on the industry through involvement with hundreds of authors, thousands of books, and a love for the business. He has been with the agency since 2013, temporarily leaving in late 2018 to focus on a publishing-related venture he owned, and returning in early 2021.
Dan served on the board of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, the trade association for Christian publishers in the U.S., and chaired the Global Publishers Alliance, a group of U.S.-based publishing executives that mentors Christian publishers in other countries. He was an original member of the advisory board of the Christy Awards (now part of ECPA) and helped train and mentor Christian publishers through Media Associates International (www.littworld.org). He also recently organized and ran the Write to Publish conference for two years. As an agent with the Steve Laube Agency, he has represented numerous authors and helped nurture hundreds of books into the industry.
A few months ago, when Dan first broached the topic of retirement with me, he felt it was time to focus on his family and church activities after almost 50 years in Christian media, starting back in his college days at Wheaton College. Other than hitting the milestone of his 70th birthday, there were other considerations:
— Dan’s wife retired from working in the local school district, and now they will be able to travel a little, mainly to see grandkids living out of state and some National Parks.
— By early October, they’ll have three grade-school granddaughters living a block away.
— Involvement in the centennial celebration planning committee for their church, which Dan and his wife have attended for 47 years.
— The church asked Dan to be on the leadership team for their men’s ministry of about 300 men.
Family, church, and other productive and fun pursuits like working for the game management staff for Wheaton College football and basketball games, which he has done for 20+ years, will redeem the time.
Dan said, “I’ll definitely miss working closely with people in the publishing industry. It has been an honor.”
I personally have enjoyed working with Dan for the last thirteen years. He is a dear friend, a man of great integrity and dignity, and has a great sense of humor. He has been a tremendous colleague, friend, and mentor to so many authors. We will all miss his commitment to bringing powerful messages of redemption and hope to the largest possible reading audience.
Please join me in expressing deep gratitude to Dan for his significant and valuable contributions to our Christian publishing industry over the years, and in wishing him and his family all the very best in the years to come.
Congratulations.
I got tired.It’s reading about all the plans.
Congratulations and all the best to you in your retirement. God bless you.
Congratulations on a well deserved retirement. You have accomplished so much. May you be blessed in all your future endeavors.
Thank you for all you’ve done to help and encourage writers, Dan! Well done!! Praying all God’s blessings on your retirement and plans!
Thank you for all you’ve done to help and encourage writers, Dan! Well done!! Praying all God’s blessings on your retirement and plans!
You will be missed, Dan!
Your legacy lives on through the lives you’ve fed into over the years. We are indeed a blessed community having had you as one of our guides towards excellence in Christian publishing.
May YHWH bless you, keep you, and guide you in this next adventure.
It sounds like he will be sorely missed. It sounds like it’s a well-deserved retirement. And it doesn’t sound like he’s going to be ratting somewhere watching the sunset, but eagerly serving family, church and friends and looking for the return of the Lord Jesus.
Dan, thank you for the time and advice you gave to me on a zoom call after the Christian Writer’s Conference in Greer, SC during March 2025. Your time, kindness, encouragement, expertise, and guidance opened my mind to new possibilities. I have since completed the first draft of my first book. You are the kindest mentor I’ve met in the writing business. I pray that God will watch over you and your family as you continue to be used by Him in new and exciting ways.
Can you give me the name again of the hybrid self publishing company you like? Thank you again for your dedication, passion, and kindness!
Martha
We will miss you, Dan! It’s been a pleasure getting to know you over the past 3+ years and I wish you all the best. 🙂 Have a grand time in you new adventures. 🙂
Mr. Dan,
I will continue to save and share the many pieces of sage counsel and guidance you have provided through the years. I wish you every success with your future endeavors (especially that of building that legacy of faith and love with your family) and God’s blessings upon the years you have left. May the “Lord of the years you have left” use you mightily in His service.
Warmest congratulations, Dan! It sounds like you will be ANYTHING but “retired,” and I know that’s just how you want it to be! Enjoy this next chapter.
Congratulations, Dan, and thank you for all you’ve done! May God bless you and your family in your retirement.
I’m sure the Steve Laube Agency, the publishing world, and all the organizations that have thrived because of your input will miss you, but it sounds like you’ll be anything but retired. God Bless you on this next season of your life.
Dan, congrats. Glad for you. Thanks for all your contributions to Christian publishing. Enjoyed seeing you at the Write-to-Publish Conference and chatting about the early David C. Cook days. Blessings.
All the best, Dan! Take care and enjoy your retirement!
Wishing you a wonderful next chapter, Dan. Enjoy those grandbabies!
Congratulations Dan!!
You are leaving quite a legacy and have impacted some you have never met. Thank you for your words of wisdom!
Enjoy your next phase of life !
Congratulations, Dan. All the very best in the next chapter.of your life as God leads you!
Victor Mere
Upcoming bestseller- author.
Blessings to you, Dan, as you transition into the next season of your life. Thank you for all you’ve given to the publishing world. May God be with you and grant you many more successes. Happy retirement.
Congratulations, Dan on bringing so many wonderful words of help and hope into the world! May you enjoy this special time with your family and your church family!
Dan:
I hope you know that no one has had a greater positive impact on my career than you. I still quote your wisdom often. Retirement lunch on me anytime. Or better, dinner with Carol and Rita!
/jay
Dan,
Job well done! Best wishes during this new chapter of your life.
Congrats!
But I hate to break it to you, but . . . you’ll stay busier retired than when you were working and raising a family.
A friend asked how I fill the time now that I’m retired. I just gave her an ox-dumb stare. Later, I thought: There’s always something to do. Grandkids. Writing. Critiquing for friends. Going to Bible Study. Exercising at the Y. I turn around twice and it’s bedtime.
Hey Dan,
Congratulations on your soon retirement from ministry in the Christian publishing industry. I have very fond memories of our connections over the years, first when you were marketing the Left Behind series and subsequent to that at ECPA events and during your time at the Agency.
Loved your sense of humor and passion for publishing. And thanks for keeping me up to date on Jane and Bud over the years. Such wonderful friends of my folks and a gracious sweet lady.
Blessings on your new endeavors, my friend. Ministry never stops this side of Heaven!
Happy retirement. You will be missed. Nobody can fill your shoes. May the Lord continue to bless you.
Congratulations, Dan
We have never met and you don’t know me from the man in the Moon (you know him better) but you have been a distant friend of mine for over a decade now. There are times when I start projects where somewhere I am asking myself WWDD. Enjoy your family time.
Good luck and have fun
Richard A Barnett
Certainly well-deserved, Dan, but I will miss reading your wonderful blog posts and laughing with you in the halls at Wheaton. Thank you for your service which I know will continue in so many ways.
I have enjoyed reading and applying Dan Balow’s contributions to the agency, but I appreciate his decision to retire and concentrate more time to his family and church. God bless you real good.
Congratulations on your retirement, Dan! Your words of wisdom have been a steady source of encouragement over the years, and I’ve truly appreciated the insights you’ve shared. I hope your posts will be archived so we can continue to revisit them whenever we need inspiration, guidance, or a touch of your writerly humor.
Thank you for all your work. Your words have mattered—and will continue to matter—to more people than you can ever imagine.
Dan, congratulations on your retirement. I made the same step last year, focusing on my writing and church activities. I pray that you will be blessed and be a blessing. Best wishes!
And to think I was about to issue an invite to FCWC next year! LOL
But I’d pick retirement too, Dan! Good on ya! Blessings upon blessings!
Scrolled the not-surprising mile to leave this comment. Congratulations, Dan! Very happy for you. You will be missed. Your posts were such a joy to read. I learned so much from them and your conference teachings. Thank you for all the wisdom and knowledge you passed to each of us. Praying God will bless, you, your family, and all that’s ahead.
Congratulations on your retirement, Dan. Thanks for all you’ve done for writers over the years. May God richly bless you in this next season of life!
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21). Congratulations on your retirement.
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21 KJV). Congratulations on your retirement.
Congratulations on your retirement, Dan! Thank you for your dedication to the publishing industry for so many years. I pray that you find your time with your family and church fruitful and rewarding. God bless!
Congrats, Dan! Retirement was one of the best decisions I ever made. Good blessed me with time to write again, and beautiful time with my husband, kids and – best of all- grandkids!
If you loved your work like I did, you’ll miss it at times, but you will never regret this decision. God bless!
I’ll add my congratulations to the many before. I’ve appreciated the wise blogposts Dan has contributed here. Blessings on the next chapter!
What a grand glimpse of your next great adventure(s), Dan. May God’s hand of blessing rest upon you!
Dear Dan,
Thank you for expertise and integrity thoughout a long career in publishing. Larry and I enjoyed getting to know you at the Montrose Christian Writers Conference. Take joy in all you’ve accomplished while embracing God’s future plans.
God’s best as you refocus your time on family and other worthwhile ministries,
Larry and Patti Souder
May the Lord bless you and keep you as you continue to serve on the path He has layout before you!! Praying for abundant blessings for you and yours!
Dan,
I enjoyed working with you and I’m glad our paths in publishing crossed. Best wishes on your retirement, which sounds like purposeful work in your community.
Blessings,
Catherine DeVries
Dan,
It sure sounds like you’re about to enjoy a purposeful retirement! Thanks so much for all your help when I worked with Christian Retailing. I wish you the best.
Many blessings to you and yours!
Chris
Congratulations, Dan, on your retirement! I also retired at the age of 70 from my position as Women’s Ministry Director, feeling it was time to hand the baton to a younger generation. But God has allowed me to stay involved in ministry in new ways (and old ways), and also slow down a bit. Enjoy this new season!
I posted this on LinkedIn but just realized Dan might be more likely to see it here:
They say you have to watch out for the quiet ones. I say, WATCH the quiet ones. And listen—really listen.
Some of the best advice I’ve received wasn’t given.
The most valuable lessons weren’t directly taught.
Dan Balow is quiet, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to watch him, learn from him.
I will spend years practicing what he’s perfected. But in particular, if you ever marvel at my apparent ability to remain calm in the middle of a building storm, just know: I learned it from Dan.
Because he knows the secret: “Eh. It’ll be fine.”
And in the end, it really will.
Happy retirement, my friend. So thankful for you.