The Steve Laube Agency is committed to providing top quality guidance to authors and speakers. Our years of experience and success brings a unique service to our clients. We focus primarily in the Christian marketplace and have put together an outstanding gallery of authors and speakers whose books continue to make an impact throughout the world.
Our Service Philosophy
Content
To help the author develop and create the best book possible. Material that has both commercial appeal and long-term value.
Career
To help the author determine the next best step in their writing career. Giving counsel regarding the subtleties of the marketplace as well as the realities of the publishing community.
Contract
To help the author secure the best possible contract. One that partners with the best strategic publisher and one that is mutually beneficial for all parties involved.
Recent Posts
The Unintentionally Funny Headline
Years ago, I came across the following headline in a publisher-related newsletter:
Speculative Authors Fight Mental Illness
I thought to myself, I know what they meant by the headline, but could it also be interpreted that authors who write speculative fiction are mentally ill? Some call science fiction and fantasy writers “weird,” but this headline was going too far.
So I clicked the link in the newsletter and was taken to the original article, where the headline declared the following:
Science Fiction Authors Unite to Support Mental Illness
Again, I knew what they meant, but the headline could be saying that “science fiction authors are in favor of mental illness!” Maybe it would have been better to have written “… unite to support those with mental illness,” as someone commented on the page.
The news of authors coming together to support efforts to combat various challenges people and families face was nice to read. Unfortunately, my editorial mind was distracted.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not criticizing the publication. My point is that we can unintentionally distract our readers if our words can be read in unintended ways.
Some infamous headlines:
Statistics Show That Teenage Pregnancy Drops Off Significantly After Age 25
Medical Marijuana Delivery Man Attacked by Ninjas
Man Accused of Killing Lawyer Receives New Attorney
Northfield Plans to Plan Strategic Plan
Federal Agents Raid Gun Shop, Find Weapons
Christians Will Play Atheists in Charity Volleyball Match
Students Cook & Serve Grandparents
Senior Center Holds Old Bag Sale
Homeless Man Under House Arrest
Planes Forced to Land at Airports
China May Be Using Sea to Hide Submarines
Hospitals Resort to Hiring Doctors
Cows Lose Their Jobs as Milk Prices Drop
State Population to Double by 2040; Babies to Blame
Ex-Minister Breaks Silence, Says Nothing
Admission?
Have you written an unintentional sentence or headline that would be considered a gaffe?
(Please keep your stories or examples G-rated.)
Below is an embarrassing public ad for learning software that missed a rather glaring grammatical error:
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Fun Fridays – November 21, 2025
Until today’s video, I never even thought about how rubber bands are made. Now we all know. AND we must sing along with the 1976 song posted below this one —it is required. You owe it to yourself, since it might make you smile. [If you cannot view the videos in the email newsletter, click through to the website and watch them there.] ShareTweet
The Section Most Often Omitted in a Book Proposal
When I receive proposals from authors new to me, they often omit the “Comparables” segment. I understand that authors may not be aware this section is needed, or that including it may seem like fluff. However, this portion is an essential piece of the proposal puzzle for editors and agents as we consider an author’s work. What do I need to include in my overall proposal? First, to be sure your proposal is complete, see our free guidelines on our website for both fiction and nonfiction book proposals. Please do not ignore this step of discovering what elements constitute a …
There Is Power in Possibility
The publishing industry can be a challenge for someone with artistic sensibilities. The psyche can be worn down by disappointment, bad reviews, poor sales, and rejection by agents and editors. To be resilient in the face of such disillusion is a quality to be desired. Contemplate this quote from Søren Kierkegaard (Danish philosopher and theologian, 1813-1855) in his book Either/Or: “If I were to wish for anything, I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of the potential, for the eye which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never.” What Kierkegaard …
Fun Fridays – November 14, 2025
Today’s video is an oldie, but a goodie. Is it a metaphor for the writing life? If so, explain in the comments below. Who is whom or what according to your allegory? [Can’t see the video in your newsletter? Please click through to the site to watch.] ShareTweet