I am excited to welcome Bob Hostetler as the newest agent with The Steve Laube Agency! Please give him a warm welcome.
I’ve known Bob for years. First as a reader of his books, then as a fellow faculty member at various writers conferences, then as his literary agent. I’m guessing he lost his mind because he agreed to join us.
His resume is incredible. A thirty-year veteran of the Christian publishing industry, his fifty books (both fiction and non-fiction) have sold millions of copies. Titles include Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door (among a dozen he has co-authored with Josh McDowell) and The Bard and the Bible: A Shakespeare Devotional. His writing has twice earned Christian publishing’s Gold Medallion award, four Ohio Associated Press awards for best broadcast writing, a Selah “Book of the Year” award, and an Amy Foundation Award. (Take a look at a list of his books here.)
He will begin blogging on Wednesdays. In addition he will take on the role as Executive Editor of The Christian Writers Institute which we launched last Fall. His expertise as a teacher of writers makes him perfectly suited to add to what we have to offer there.
Bob served for eleven years as the founding pastor of Cobblestone Community Church in Oxford, Ohio. He is a frequent speaker at churches, retreats, and conferences around the world. He and his wife, Robin, recently celebrated their fortieth anniversary.
I’ve been looking for ways to broaden the services our agency provides to current and potential clients. By adding Bob to the agency, we can expand our role in helping to maximize our client’s sales and extend their reach in multiple markets. Bob’s strengths are his intimate understanding of the writing and editing process, knowing what it takes to be successful in the current publishing environment, and how all the pieces of the publishing “puzzle” fit together. He helps us to fulfill our mission to help change the world, word by word.
Welcome, Bob! I imagine you pastured many of my Miami of Ohio friends down in Oxford through the years!
Or pastored. I’m not sure what pasturing college students would look like!
It’s hard to tell pastured students from pastored ones. But yes, I’ve been blessed by many students in our church and still keep in touch with many. Thanks for the comment!
Proud to say I was was pastured by Bob! I also did my laundry at his house.
Welcome! I hope one day to have my work cross your desk. I have just recently started the His Words From Above Ministry (church). I look forward to working with you.
Congratulations to Bob. I thoroughly enjoyed his keynote speech at BRMCWC. Sounds like a win-win for all parties.
Thank you, Daphne. It’s a honor.
AN honor. Sheesh.
Yeah, where’s that editor when you need ’em?
Welcome, Bob! Looking forward to your blog posts!!
Thank you, Rachel. I’m anxious to find out what I have to say.
Welcome, Bob! I enjoy his One Prayer a Day blog posts and have also heard him speak at several writers conferences.
Thank you, Beth. And thanks so much for following my blog.
Rebekah, you’re so kind. Thank you. I think the world of Callie.
Me too. She’s a rare jewel. I’m so excited she got discovered!
And I you! I couldn’t be happier for you Bob. The Steve Laube Agency and every life you have the opportunity to bless will be deeply impacted by knowing you. I certainly have!
Welcome, Mr. Hostetter. Bless you.
Mr. Hostetler. Sorry for the typo. Bless you.
Thank you, Terrance. Bless you right back.
Wonderful! Welcome and congratulations!
Thank you, Loretta. It’s an honor.
Welcome Bob 🙂 I’m looking forward to your blog posts. And I’m being super careful ’cause the typo pest seems to be out in full strength this morning. Worse than a mosquito bite.
Thank you, Karen. And yes, the typo pest is buzzing around this am. Get out the RAID.
Congratulations, Bob! Like all your writing but partial to your stories for Keys for Kids!
Thank you, Marjorie, that’s kind of you.
Welcome, Bob! Since I never check my brain at any door, I can hardly wait to read what you’re going to share with us here!
Carol, thank you. I’m somewhat anxious to find that out myself.
Welcome to Bob. So glad to have a wonderful addition to the Laube family. Do you know if he has a brother in Indiana who is an MD? Bob
Bob (great name, by the way), thank you for the comment. And I have many, many relatives in Indiana. No brothers (my two MUCH older brothers are in MO and SC). But lots of Hostetler, Hochstetler, Miller, Yoder, Stoltzfus, and Hershberger relations, among others!
Wonderful! Welcome Bob. I pray a blessed and fruitful time for you with the agency.
Thank you so much, Damon.
Kudos to Steve Laube on an amazing decision. Bob Hostetler is an incredible writer, an amazing editor, a fabulous speaker but he has and will always be a pastor at heart. Therefore, I have no doubt that anyone who is represented by this man, will thrive and grow as a writer, an author, and a believer. Congratulations to the best pastor I have had!
Thank you, Dawn. Much love to you and Chris!
Congratulations Bob. I love to see great things happening in your world. You deserve it all. Looking forward to reading your blog posts!
Thank you, Sonya. That’s your photo on the SteveLaube.com homepage.
Congratulations, Bob. What great news!
Thanks, MJ!
Congratulations, Bob! You’re such an encourager. This new role seems like a great fit!
That encourages me, Deb! (see what I did there?) Thank you.
I enjoyed attending your class where I learned a great deal, and also your speaking at the BRMCWC, congrats on this new opportunity!
Kathy, thank you for your kind words. Much appreciated.
Welcome Bob! Blessings to you on this new endeavor! I’ll be praying for you! And thank you so very much for taking me as a client!
The pleasure is all mine, Chris!
Welcome, Bob! I look forward to getting to know you better through this space!
Thank you, Jennifer. I look forward to it.
A huge welcome to you, Bob. I’ve read some of your books and have heard you at conferences and as a preacher, and all have encouraged me in my journey as both a writer and a servant of the Lord. So glad you’ll be a part of this wonderful team. I know you’ll do a great job, and I look forward to your blog on Wednesdays. Blessings on your endeavors with Steve and the rest of the team.
Thank you, Martha. I will try to channel some of your confidence, and your well wishes!
Yay!!! I met Bob at Mount Hermon. We had lots of laughs together. What a great addition to the Steve Laube team.
Lisa, thank you. I remember you (and our laughter) well.
This is excellent news! I have appreciated the valuable insights you have shared throughout the years at writers’ conferences that have helped me develop as a writer. Becoming an agent is a great fit for you because you know many aspects of the writing business so well. Best wishes to you, Bob!
Thank you, Judy. It’s so great to hear from you.
Congratulations Bob. So happy to hear of your new assignment in God’s Kingdom. May God Bless you and many others through the talent He has given to you.
Love, Jane
Thanks, Jane. Much appreciated.
What a wonderful and felicitous conjoining! Congratulations all around; let revelry commence.
You forgot “jocularity.” But thank you nonetheless.
Knew I was forgetting something. Brain like an open shelf; push something on the front, something else falls off the back.
Wow, what a Christ-glorifying decision from both men! Bob, I met you this past April at Mt. Hermon in your nonfiction track. Although, my time in your class was a bit fragmented due to appts. and my lost wallet. Yeah, I was ‘that’ gal. Your knowledge of writing, your commitment to the Lord, and your desire to help fellow writers was evident in the little time I interacted with you. You’ll be a tremendous blessing to all. Well done!
Jolene, you are too kind. Thank you so much.
Welcome, Bob! I look forward to meeting you in person someday. May God richly bless this new partnership.
Thank you, Grace. I pray you won’t be too disappointed when you do meet me in person.
Ephesians 6:12 [Full Chapter]
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Bob and Steve, so glad to see such an accomplished heavyweight coming into position to exponentially magnify their own great efforts and add to the victories of the agency.
God Bless!
Thank you! You’re not the first to call me a heavyweight. It usually has a different meaning, though.
Congratulations Bob … blessings!
Wow! All of those #bobisawesome tweets at BRMCWC must have worked!
Seriously, this is a great move for Bob, the agency, and the Christian publishing world. All of us fortunate enough to be influenced by Bob are much better for it!
Thanks so much, Doug. #bobisanagent
Welcome Bob! I look forward to learning more about you. 🙂
Thank you, Melissa. But there’s surprisingly little to know. 🙂
Heartfelt congratulations, Bob & everyone! I’m such a fan of your writing & consider your Northkill Amish series one of the finest I’ve ever read. I also count Joan a dear friend. Welcome! I’m thrilled!
Thank you, Laura, high praise indeed, coming from you! Much appreciated. Joan did all the work, though.
Welcome!
Thank you!
Hello Bob,
I’m new to this blog and look forward to getting to know you through this digital medium. There are so many thoughtful people who left such kind and thoughtful well wishes and congratulatory comments. Very refreshing. To God be the glory.
Yes, Bryan, to God be the glory. Thanks for the comment.
Congratulations, Bob! And congratulations to the Steve Laube Agency for adding someone with your experience and talents to the roster! I’ve certainly seen your name a great deal in the publishing world. I look forward to learning from you here at the blog.
Thank you, Jerusha.
Welcome, Bob! Exciting to hear. Hoping you have many successful years with The Steve Laube Agency.
Thank you, Tisha. Though, at my age, that is by no means certain.
Congrats, Bob. Someday I’ll tell you how you had a part in my getting my first book published over 11 years ago (because of some advice you gave me at a small conference.)
Thank you, Cindy. But why you hafta make me wait? That’s not nice.
I wasn’t sure anyone else would be interested and I thought I’d have to work hard to make you remember. The title of the book is Brigid of Ireland, if that rings a bell (but don’t worry if it doesn’t. Long time ago!) But I do owe you a thank you!
Congratulations, Bob 🙂 You’ll be wonderful in all aspects of this new adventure.
Angela Breidenbach, Christian Authors Network president
Thank you, Angie. You’re an encouragement to me.
Bob! Awesome news. Very excited as you take on a new role in the publishing world. Wonderful and well-deserved opportunity– am confident that you won’t mess this up!
Anne, thank you. I’ll try to reward your faith in my un-mess-up-ability.
Welcome, Bob. So proud of you! And I know my friend and fellow Buckeye will continue taking Jesus way more seriously than he does himself–even in this new role. Congrats all around!
Thanks, Marti. Much appreciated.
Welcome, Bob! I’m excited to read your blogs and learn from you. May God bless you abundantly on this new journey.
Thank you, Joey. I pray you’re not disappointed.
You’ll be great as an agent, Bob. And finally someone to keep Steve in line. That was part of the job description, right?
Enjoy your new venture.
Well, Marsha, I can’t possibly live up to that expectation. But thanks anyway.
Congratulations Bob! Looking forward to chatting again.
Anytime, Lindsey-with-an-E. Thank you!
You have chosen wisely !