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 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 complete proposal.
Specifically, what is a Comparables section?
A Comparables section is a list of about three to six books currently available that offer direct and indirect competition for your proposed book.
What information do I include?
Book title
Author
Publisher
Date of Publication
A brief description of the book, followed by why yours is different. Here’s a hypothetical example:
Love Is Mind by Ima Author, Lovely Lady Publishing, October 2025.
While Love Is Mind shows how the state of mind of hypothetical couples affects their life decisions, (Name of your book) follows four real-life couples through their life journeys, showing developments in their internal and external lives.
This section shows why my book is better than theirs, right?
The Comparables section doesn’t claim your book is better than similar ones. Rather, the section reveals what books are currently on the market that might sit alongside yours on a real or virtual bookshelf. The hope is that readers will want to purchase all the books, because each is worthy. But you want to show that if they can buy only one, why they should choose yours. Of course, this section shows what is already published and you have no way of knowing what books have just been contracted. Publishers are aware that authors face this limitation but will still appreciate this section.
How does creating this section help me? You will:
- Understand what you’ve written. Say you’re proposing a series featuring an elderly detective solving murders, but you believe you’ve written a suspense novel. When your research reveals you’ve written cozy mysteries, your proposal will show you understand the market and your genre.
- See where your book will be positioned in the market. This information will help you develop your marketing plan.
- Understand your author group. Perhaps, Christian psychologists? Or how about Christian romance novelists? Read the names in your comparables list and imagine your name being grouped with theirs. This will help you get a handle on where your work belongs.
- Demonstrate professionalism by showing knowledge and preparedness.
I can’t find any books like mine. That’s good, right?
Not if your book is so unusual that comparing it to others doesn’t make sense. If this is your book, there are a couple of remedies:
- Find out why. Then, with nonfiction, show you are writing a book that addresses an identified need. For fiction, show there has been a new and identifiable interest in the type of story you are presenting. I know no one wants to read this, but you can do this by showing you have a platform, with many readers who really want to know and read about your unique topic.
- Adjust your book to meet the market. Research every book that’s remotely relatable and see how you can make yours marketable.
I know I shouldn’t compare my book to Bleak House, but I can go back 25 years, right?
No. A good general rule is to go back no more than five years.
I’m sure I missed a few questions about this section. I’ll be happy to answer them if you leave a comment below.
Happy writing!
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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
Writing in the End-Times
Biblically speaking, we are living in the last days, and have been for almost two thousand years. But we are closer than ever to the return of Christ, and it seems to me the music is growing louder. Since only God the Father knows the day and time of Christ’s return, we have no idea when; however, we may see signs. In Luke’s Gospel, we read what Jesus said about knowing what is to come: He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the …
Crafting Dialogue That Resonates (Part 2)
In last month’s post, I talked about how every line of dialogue should serve a purpose: revealing character, advancing the plot, building tension, or deepening theme. I also explored voice, subtext, and how to balance dialogue with internal thought and action. Today, I’m taking it a step further. Let’s look at five additional ways to elevate your dialogue, so it not only sounds real but lingers with readers long after the scene ends. Let Dialogue Reveal Emotion, Not Announce It Weak dialogue tells emotion. Strong dialogue shows it. Instead of: “I’m angry with you, and I don’t want to talk.” Try: “Don’t. …