• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

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

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • FaceBook
  • RSS Feed
  • Get Published
  • Book Proposals
  • Book Business
  • Writing Craft
    • Conferences
    • Copyright
    • Craft
    • Creativity
    • Grammar
  • Fun Fridays
Home » Agency

Agency

Bring the Books (What Steve Laube Is Looking For)

By Steve Laubeon January 13, 2025
Share
Tweet
56

(Updated 1/13/2025)

“Bring the books, especially the parchments,” is a sentence in 2 Timothy 4:13 that has teased readers for 2,000 years. What books did the Apostle Paul want to read while waiting for trial? Theology? History? How-to? (Maybe a little escape reading? Pun intended.)

Another writer chimed in a while ago by saying, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). And if we read the statistics, he wasn’t kidding: 300,000+ books are published in the United States alone each year.

Yet there is an allure to the stories of great novelists and a fascination with the brilliance of deep thinkers. It is what drew me to the book industry in the first place, having been a lifelong reader and an insatiable collector of a burgeoning library. (My wife and I own somewhere close to 10,000 books.)

That personal allure and fascination remain unabated. I’ve had and continue to have the honor and privilege of working with some of our industry’s finest minds and talented writers. In the front part of my office, I have seven large bookcases holding a copy of every book our agency has represented. Another section of the office holds every book I edited for Bethany House Publishers (click here to find a complete list at the end of the page). And yet another section is every book I’ve overseen as publisher for Enclave Publishing. Literally hundreds of amazing books by amazing authors. Millions of words, untold numbers of lives touched. It is truly a wonderful and remarkable thing to be part of.

Meanwhile, I am still searching for the next great story, the next great concept, and the next great writer. So, to answer the question, “What are you looking for?” I will attempt to clarify a few things.

Our Door Is Always Open

Unsolicited proposals are always welcome. I sift through nearly two thousand inquiries every year (that is not a typo), and I represent very few of them. It is sort of like panning for gold in the Klondike. My only request is that each person try their best to follow our guidelines on our website. It would astound you how many fail that simple request.

We Primarily Serve the Christian Market

We make no apology for specializing in books written from a Christian worldview. That means we sell books wherever publishers are receptive to books from that perspective. Usually, those are Christian publishing companies. But we can sell books to the general market—if that publisher is interested in the content of the book our client has created.

We won’t represent books that are contrary to a Christian worldview. I once received a proposal claiming the novel included “vivid sex, graphic torture, romance, comedy.” Another writer proposed a nonfiction book that redefined sin as something unbiblical and should not be taught. Another claimed that Moses was “the greatest serial killer of all time.” Another had this sentence: “Jesus is not enough. The bible is not enough. We need something more.” These authors had not done their homework regarding our agency.

I’m Looking for Fiction

I am an eclectic reader, which reflects my work as an agent. I represent authors who write in the following genres: women’s fiction, romance, thriller, suspense, romantic suspense, Amish, literary, military, historical (all eras), contemporary, science fiction, fantasy, supernatural, YA–in other words, every genre published in the industry.

I’m looking for unique storylines with a well-refined craft. If something is 80% ready, I’ll probably reject it. In school, a grade score of 80 would be a low B. Our industry is looking for an A+.

I’m Looking for Nonfiction

The types of nonfiction books and authors represented also exemplify my eclectic tastes: Christian living, biography, apologetics, theology, Bible study, reference, health, finance, self-help, psychology, grief, suffering, marriage, family, women’s, men’s, philosophy, church life, devotional, inspirational, social issues, politics, parenting, music, and art. The subjects are vast, and the opportunities are endless.

If it is your personal story, like a memoir, please read this post first: “When Your Book Becomes Personal.”

I am looking for unique ideas from great writers. However, as the market has changed, so have some of the demands on the nonfiction author. Your project has to be more than an extended magazine article. It has to have something special to make a major publisher jump at the chance to invest in you and your work. It can be your platform. It can be the power of your idea. It can be that your writing is unique and compelling. And if you can bring all three, I’m confident we can find you a publishing partner.

A Limit to My Expertise

I tend to be limited when it comes to children’s picture books. Yes, I represent some wonderful authors in that category; but it is not a market where I typically will sign a debut author. If you are already an established and successful children’s book writer or if you come highly recommended by one who is, I will gladly take a look. But, generally, this is not a category I am actively pursuing.

Please do not send me your cookbook ideas. I may look like I know how to eat, but it doesn’t mean I know the first thing about cooking.

A Limit to My Exceptions

It is aggravating when someone sends me their cookbook with this first sentence: “I know you say you don’t want cookbooks, but I think you will make an exception with mine.” (This happens more than you might realize.) Asking for an exception is bold, but it is also a waste of time for both the author and me.

How to Send Your Proposal

You can send your proposal to me via email. (Please read our guidelines! See that exclamation point?) Or you can send it to me via hard copy with a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope). It might be a simple “no thank you,” but you will receive a reply. But please do not expect a critique or even a suggestion. We are not a free editorial service.

Please note that it can take up to 12 weeks to get to your proposal (even longer if it gets buried in the email inbox). I am not always that slow, but please don’t expect a response in 48 hours. Please, do NOT call my office to see if your email arrived or your package was delivered (you won’t like our “it’s in a pile or a folder somewhere” answer).

Leave a Comment
Category: Agency, Book Proposals, Creativity, TrendsTag: Agency, book proposals

What I Am Looking For (Dan Balow)

By Dan Balowon January 9, 2025
Share
Tweet
25

(Updated 1/9/2025) The longer I am around Christian publishing, the more I see history repeat itself. Steve Laube and I will often comment to each other about how many of the bestselling authors in the Christian book world are the same today as they were a generation ago. So, this work has a substantial element of “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” What am I looking for in book …

Read moreWhat I Am Looking For (Dan Balow)
Category: Agency, Book ProposalsTag: Agency, book proposals

Who and What I’m Looking For (Bob Hostetler)

By Bob Hostetleron January 8, 2025
Share
Tweet
83

(Updated 1/8/2025) As another year dawns, much has changed—and much remains the same—in the world of Christian publishing. With all that in mind, let me offer an updated answer, as up-to-the-minute as I can make it, to the frequent question I field from aspiring, developing, accomplished, and skilled writers: “What are you looking for?” Influence Aspiring writers often imagine, “Once I have a book …

Read moreWho and What I’m Looking For (Bob Hostetler)
Category: Agency, Agents, Book ProposalsTag: Agency, Agents, Get Published

Book Proposals I’d Love to See (What Tamela Hancock Murray Is Looking For)

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 7, 2025
Share
Tweet
50

(Updated 1/7/2025) I’m thankful to the Lord that I’m a literary agent working for Him in Christian publishing. I’m grateful to the readers of this blog for being part of our writing community. As for approaching me with your work, let’s see if our passions match: Christian Romantic Suspense and Suspense Readers of Christian romantic suspense and suspense are a large and devoted …

Read moreBook Proposals I’d Love to See (What Tamela Hancock Murray Is Looking For)
Category: Agency, Book Business, Book Proposals, Career, Craft, Creativity, Romance, Trends, Writing CraftTag: Agency, book proposals

Welcome Back, Dan Balow!

By Steve Laubeon January 18, 2021
Share
Tweet
33

by Steve Laube

I am very excited to announce that Dan Balow has joined our agency as the Director of Publishing Development and Literary Agent. This gives us four members of our team, me, Tamela Hancock Murray, Karen Ball, and Dan.

I’ve been looking for ways to increase the services our agency provides to current and potential clients. I have known Dan for 15 years and by adding him to our …

Read moreWelcome Back, Dan Balow!
Category: Agency, Book BusinessTag: Agency, Dan Balow

Choosing the Best Agent

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 2, 2018
Share
Tweet
55

Selecting the best agent is pivotal to the career of any author seeking a traditional publisher. A few traditional publishers accept unsolicited (read: unagented) proposals, but as submissions increase thanks to efficient technology and the growing number of aspiring authors, those publishers are becoming fewer. Most traditional publishers prefer agented submissions. In fact, at many conferences, …

Read moreChoosing the Best Agent
Category: Agency, AgentsTag: Agency, Agents

Three Things I’ve Learned as an Agent

By Bob Hostetleron January 10, 2018
Share
Tweet
39

Just over six months ago, I became a literary agent with the Steve Laube Agency. Hoo boy. It has been some ride.  Lots o’ fun, lots o’ work, and lots o’ learning. So I thought I’d take a few minutes (it’s all I have before the boss calls and starts yelling at me again) to reflect on what I’ve learned in that short period of time. It’s not an easy task, considering I already knew pretty much …

Read moreThree Things I’ve Learned as an Agent
Category: Agency, Agents, Book Business, Indie, Self-Publishing, The Publishing Life, The Writing LifeTag: Agency, Agents

A Year in Review – A Look at 2017

By Steve Laubeon January 8, 2018
Share
Tweet
11

I find it a healthy exercise to review the past as it can be encouraging to note progress and look at the foundation for the future. The Industry Our industry continues to create tremendous books but few new ones “break out.” It is hard to gain the attention of readers and buyers in our media-saturated society. And yet books continue to sell! It was almost a foregone conclusion, so in February …

Read moreA Year in Review – A Look at 2017
Category: Agency, News You Can Use, Personal, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life, TrendsTag: Agency, News, Trends

The Gift of Readers

By Steve Laubeon December 18, 2017
Share
Tweet1
26

I thought it apropos to talk about gifts during this Christmas season. There is one gift in particular that has been given to us year round. You. As a reader of this blog you give us the gift of your time, energy, and attention. According to Google Analytics there have been over 70,000 users who have visited our site more than once this year. I had no idea. If only one percent of those returnees …

Read moreThe Gift of Readers
Category: Agency, PersonalTag: Agency, Christmas, Gift, readers

The Steve Laube Agency Acquires the Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency

By Steve Laubeon December 4, 2017
Share
Tweet
40

(Phoenix, AZ) Steve Laube, president of The Steve Laube Agency, has announced the acquisition of the Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency. Les Stobbe has been a part of the Christian publishing industry for 62 years, starting as an editor and book buyer, then publisher, book coach, ghostwriter, and the last 25 as a literary agent. Les has been awarded five Lifetime Achievement Awards by writers’ …

Read moreThe Steve Laube Agency Acquires the Leslie H. Stobbe Literary Agency
Category: Agency, Publishing News, The Publishing LifeTag: Agency, Publishing News
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 5
  • Next

Sidebar

Get Blog Updates

Enter your email address to get new blog updates delivered via email. You can unsubscribe at any time.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Grow as a Writer


Find Out More →

Popular Posts

Top Posts on Book Proposals
  • Hints for a Great Cover Letter
  • The Keys to a Great Book Proposal
  • What Steve Laube is Looking For
  • Book Proposals I’d Love to See – Tamela Hancock Murray
  • What I’m Looking for – Bob Hostetler
  • What I’m Looking for – Dan Balow
  • What I’m Looking for – Lynette Eason
  • What’s the Best Way to Submit My Self-Published Book?
  • What Is the Agent Doing While I Wait?
  • God Gave Me This Blog Post
Top Posts on The Business Side
  • When Your Book Becomes Personal
  • The Myth of the Unearned Advance
  • How Long Does it Take to Get Published?
  • What Are Average Book Sales?
  • Can You Plagiarize Yourself?
  • Never Burn a Bridge
  • Who Decides to Publish Your Book?
  • That Conference Appointment
  • Goodbye to Traditional Publishing?
  • Who Owns Whom in Publishing?
  • Ten Commandments for Working with Your Agent
  • Writers Beware! Protect Yourself
Top Series
  • Book Proposal Basics
  • Publishing A-Z
  • A Defense of Traditional Publishing
Top Posts on Rejection
  • The Slush Pile: Enter at Your Own Risk
  • Even the Best Get Rejected
  • Five Reasons Why You May Never Get Published
  • The Unhelpful Rejection Letter
  • Writers Learn to Wait

Blog Post Archives by Month

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 · The Steve Laube Agency · All Rights Reserved · Website by Stormhill Media