I am in awe that this week marks twenty years since I made the decision to open The Steve Laube Agency. Serving in this capacity in such a vibrant industry has been a privilege.
The numbers are staggering. Through the grace of God, the agency has helped secure contracts for over 2,500 new books. The ones published so far have sold over 35,000,000 copies. Think of all those people whose lives have been touched by the words of faithful writers!
Twenty years ago, the world was a little different. In 2004, for those of you who remember, a little operation called “The Facebook” was launched by Mark Zuckerberg. The Summer Olympics were held in Athens. Israel and Hamas were battling each other in Gaza. Tom Brady’s New England Patriots won the Super Bowl. The Boston Red Sox won the World Series of Baseball (first time in 86 years). The top movies at the box office were Shrek 2, Spiderman 2, and The Passion of the Christ. The bestselling books of the year were The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown), The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Albom), and The Last Juror (John Grisham). In the Christian book market, Thomas Nelson Publishers released a little devotional titled Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. Motorola’s RAZR V3 was the #1 cell phone (the iPhone had not yet been released).
Now I’m feeling old.
Gratefully, the agency has survived many changes: multiple industry mergers and purges, a couple of national economic crises, a pandemic, five U.S. presidential elections, the introduction of ebooks, the music industry being reinvented into digital streaming, the disruption and rise of Amazon.com, audiobooks becoming a growing category, and the collapse of the Christian bookstore industry. But through it all, the good news of the Gospel has been proclaimed through the written word.
It has been exciting to add Tamela Hancock Murray, Bob Hostetler, Dan Balow, Megan Brown, and Lynette Eason to the team. They each bring such extraordinary strengths to the table that we all benefit from one another’s insights. We also enjoyed having Karen Ball and Thomas Umstattd Jr. as agents for a time. I cannot express my unending thankfulness for working alongside such great people.
We are honored to represent some of the finest writers in the industry (nearly 300 of them!). Each one is tremendously gifted and has a unique message or story to tell. We love our clients, and it is a measure of realization that we all look forward to each workday. There is always something new, fresh, and exciting from our authors. When pundits claim that books aren’t selling and that no one reads anymore, we have but to look at our authors and say, “Not from where I’m sitting!”
Providentially, we were presented with some strategic opportunities over the last ten years. In 2014, I purchased Marcher Lord Press and re-formed it into Enclave Publishing, which has produced over 100 new books. In 2016, I brought The Christian Writers Institute into a new existence and took over the annual production of The Christian Writers Market Guide. The Institute has helped thousands take classes and increase their understanding of the industry and the writing process. In 2017, the agency purchased the Les Stobbe Agency and integrated many new clients in that transition. And in 2023, we took over the annual Write to Publish conference, which will be held again in three weeks in Wheaton, Illinois.
In addition, this blog was started fifteen years ago, and I want to thank each of you for following and reading us. With over 3,100 posts and 50,000 comments, we hope each day brings you a little more help as you navigate this publishing journey.
I cannot wait to see what God has for us during the next twenty years!
Fun Fridays – May 17, 2024
So many lives that you have touched
for lo these twenty years,
so many manuscripts were clutched
to authors’ breast, and launched on tears.
So many face-palm moments
in which you were compelled to be
as you read bizarro comments
of amateurs like me.
So many worries ’bout the trends,
and new steps in the dance,
the living change that never ends,
yet you still took the chance
to reach for that brass ring of grace
to make the world a better place.
Congratulations, friend. You and your team have been a blessing to many. Praying God’s blessings to you … and another 20 years.
Congratulations! Keep going. You and your team are a blessing!
As God’s hands and feet, you have been blessed; keep up the “God” work!
Congratulations, and carry on! This reminds me of the hymn “To God be the Glory.” 🎶 He has, and will continue to do, great things through you and your team.
The Laube Legacy satisfies the biblical principle, to whom much is given much will be expected. The multiplication of “talents” proves you’ve never buried what your Master has given you.
I’m blessed to be part of the family and look forward to the next twenty.
Congratulations, Steve and team!
Congratulations, Steve! Your obedience to God’s calling on your life has returned much fruit. Grateful for you and your team.
Happy 20th Anniversary!!! What a testimony to God’s faithfulness and to yours as well! May our Lord multiply your efforts beyond your wildest imagination as you continue to touch countless lives for Him!
Many Blessings!
MaryAnn Diorio
Congratulations, Steve, to you and your amazing team! Thank you also for freely sharing so much knowledge, information, wisdom, and teaching. Your office has been such a blessing to me, and I know to countless others. Also looking forward to the next twenty!
Happy Anniversary! This is so exciting!! I’ve loved following this blog for a long time, and I can’t count the ways you have blessed me, Mr. Laube! Thank you for all you do! Praying blessings on the next 20 years!
Congratulations, Steve! Well done. You are and have been a good and faithful servant. I appreciate you and your various ministries.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Happy Anniversary, Steve! Thank you for all of the long hours, tough conversations, and faithfulness behind the scenes! I feel incredibly grateful and blessed to be part of the SLA!
With great esteem and appreciation!
Erica
Congratulations! I’m one who calls herself lucky to be a part of the Steve Laube Agency and have you as my agent!
Happy anniversary! Thank you for the many hats you wear.
Congratulations, Steve! It’s a great agency and a fantastic blog. Love the work you and the team do there . . .especially with the keeping of biblical principles! Well done and thank you.
Grateful,
Barbara
Thank you, Steve. You have helped me.
Much praise and felicitations to you, Steve. And you did such a great job not revealing that I’m your favorite. Well done.
Bob just thinks he still works for our agency.
We pat him on the head and point him toward the next shuffleboard game.
Congratulations, Steve, to you and the entire team. Remarkable accomplishments! May God continue to bless you.
Congratulations! As the times have changed you continue to explore and change with them. Wondering what will be next that is critical for the Agency that you can’t even imagine today.
Congratulations, Steve! What a legacy of service and accomplishment for our industry!
Happy Anniversary, Steve and company. I know several authors who are so happy you started this esteemed agency. Hope you have another successful 20 years… and more.
What a great post. Congratulations, Steve. Thank you for never stopping in your efforts to spread the good news! It’s been a privilege and honor to be represented by the Steve Laube Agency.
Phenomenal! Thrilled to be a part of it! 😀
Happy Anniversary, Steve! You are the best! I am so grateful for you.
Congratulations on 20 Fruitful Years!
Congratulations! You each have given from your heart with faith and perseverance. Thank you! May God continue to be a light to your path and open those doors He has waiting for you. Keep trusting in His plan.
Happy 20th Anniversary and God’s blessings for lots more!! You’ve helped me many times over the years at Realm Makers through one-on-one appointments and workshops. Thank you!
My son and DIL got married 20 years ago this week! WOOT!
Congratulations on twenty years of serving so many authors and readers! We are grateful for your partnership! Thank you!
Congrats on reaching this milestone! And may there be many more years ahead. 🙂
Onward, Christian soldier! Thank you for your service.
Congratulations on this amazing milestone! 🙂
May you and your team continue with many more productive, blessed years ahead.
Congratulations, Steve, and to you great team. What a testament to faithfulness. And what a gift to writers and readers! Onward!
I have a friend who likes to say, I believe using something Irish, “Good on ye.” Fits you and your team well.
I have been following you for two years. As a new author of fiction through your daily notes and courses I have learned the hard work that goes into not only writing but the marketing, blurbs, hooks, and strategies for launching. Many days I am overwhelmed with the energy required to get a book published. Thank you for showing me a path that can lead to success with much work and not giving up. God bless you and your team!
Congratulations, Steve! That’s a lot of time, changes, accomplishments, and blessings.
Thank you to all for your gracious notes!
Steve, what an accomplishment! Thank you. I nearly always read, but don’t comment frequently. I loved meeting Karen and Tamela at different conferences. And I feel connected to Bob, because I worked with a cousin of his.
Moreover, it was though this blog that I met our precious Andrew Budek-Schmeisser.
This blog has always felt like a round robin letter from family to me. Thank you.
Steve, You and your team have helped me hone my craft, laugh or be in awe at Friday blogs, and keep my feet on the ground with hard work and my heart seeking God’s pleasure. Thanks for letting Him guide and mold you all.
Congratulations! Thanks for all you do to build up, guide, and empower writers.
Congratulations, Steve! Well done!
God bless you and your staff Steve! Forgive me if I become a pest? My dream is to be chosen by one of your agents! So you may yet, see me again in your email lol! Coming soon to an email near you 👍🏻🙏🏻🤪
Congratulations!
Congratulations on 20 faithful years of ministry in Christian Publishing!
Congratulations! I’m so honored to be a part of the good work you’re doing at the SLA. Happy, happy birthaversary!
This is wonderful. Congratulations! I’m so thankful for you all!
Congratulations, Steve! I remember the onset of eBooks and how that would put authors out of business. God had a different plan. Thanks for your persistent focus on honoring God in all you do. Faith-filled books do make a difference in the world.
Congratulations! We appreciate you!
Congratulations on 20 years! You are a blessing to this writing community and I’m grateful for your influence on my writing journey.
Congratulations, Steve, to you and your wonderful Team. Only heaven will reveal the lasting impact!!