The opportunity to have personal appointments with Editors and Agents is a valuable highlight of the conference. These provide a great way to learn first-hand about the writing industry, to pitch your manuscript or work-in-progress, and to brainstorm ideas, get encouragement, and benefit from industry professionals.
All appointments are available on a first pay, first slotted basis. Appointments will be scheduled by the Conference Appointment Coordinator, Casey Miller. Appointments will be scheduled the week prior to conference, so if you want an appointment, please register by August 27, 2021! All times are CDT for the virtual conference. You will select multiple choices for your appointment needs when you register for the conference. You will be sent your appointment information a week prior to the virtual conference so that, if requested by the person you have an appointment with, you may submit documents to Casey, who will ensure the information is passed along to the correct person.
One of the most valuable connecting points at the ACFW conference is the opportunity for editor appointments. So many authors, so little time. In these appointments, an editor will quickly assess “Is this a storyline that interests me? Does this author demonstrate knowledge of the craft and of the Christian fiction industry? Is this worth exploring further?”
2021 Agents
Stephanie Alton
Organization: The Blythe Daniel Agency
Title:
Web Site: http://www.theblythedanielagency.com
Stephanie Alton is a literary agent in the Christian market and marketer with The Blythe Daniel Agency, Inc. and represents non-fiction and select fiction works. She has been with BDA for 10 years splitting her time between the agency’s The Book Pod Interview & Review Network offering books for review, authors for interviews, and launch team management. Along with publicity campaigns, helping authors develop, and securing book deals with traditional publishers. Stephanie lives on the Texas Gulf Coast with her husband and two teens. She loves sunset cruising the bayou to the bay.
Currently Seeking: Currently Seeking:
Fiction - Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Rom-Com, Romantic Suspense, or Women’s
Non-Fiction - I am looking at books written by leaders for leaders in addition to books on evangelism, discipleship, mental health, lifestyle books from a spiritual perspective, devotionals, gift books, and women’s issues. Overall I’m looking at themes and concepts that we have not heard before with a message that is faith-based.
My favorite manuscripts are the ones that make me laugh, keep me scrolling the pages, and turn my editing brain mode off. I always have room for someone like this!
Appointment Information:
I’d like to hear your pitch and about you during our appointment. I’ll accept one-sheets or business cards. Have your proposal ready to send to me if invited to.
Guidelines: https://theblythedanielagency.com/submissions/%20
Lynette Eason
Organization: The Steve Laube Agency
Title: Agent
Web Site: http://www.stevelaube.com/
Lynette Eason is the New York Times & USA Today best-selling, award-winning author of more than sixty-five books with over 3,000,000 copies sold. She has won numerous awards including The Carol and The Selah. Her novel, Her Stolen Past was made into a movie for the Lifetime Movie Network. Lynette is also an agent with the Steve Laube Agency. She resides in a small town just outside of Greenville, SC with her husband. They have two grown children and a terribly spoiled American Eskimo pup. Lynette can be found online at www.lynetteeason.com and www.facebook.com/lynette.eason and @lynetteeason on Twitter.
Currently Seeking: Looking for:
Fiction: romantic suspense, thrillers, mysteries, historical, historical romance, women’s contemporary, writers targeting all of the Love Inspired lines (Love Inspired/Love Inspired Suspense/Trade), dual time, time travel/time slip, Amish
Nonfiction: I’m very selective when it comes to nonfiction. Your project would have to be something unique and special, something that stands apart from the other nonfiction books on the shelves. It’s something that I would have to feel passionate about and be able to get behind 100%. If this is your project, then I look forward to seeing it.
At this time, I am not looking for YA, children’s books, memoirs, speculative fiction, science fiction, high or low fantasy (with the exception of time-travel stories along the lines of Gabrielle Meyer), or middle grade.
Guidelines: http://www.stevelaube.com/guidelines/
Steve Laube
Organization: The Steve Laube Agency
Title: Literary Agent and President
Web Site: http://www.stevelaube.com/
Steve Laube, a literary agent and president of The Steve Laube Agency, has been in the book industry over four decades, first as a bookstore manager where he was awarded the National Store of the Year by CBA. He then spent many years with Bethany House Publishers where he was named Editor of the Year by AWSA. Nearly twenty-five years ago he became an agent where he and his agency have represented nearly 3,000 new books and Steve been twice named Agent of the Year by ACFW. He was also inducted into the Grand Canyon University Hall-of-Fame by their College of Theology. In addition, he is the Publisher of Enclave Publishing and serves as president emeritus of The Christian Writers Institute. He is the author of the annual Christian Writers Market Guide, Write Your First Novel (with Gilbert Morris), Sacred Margins: On the Spiritual Life of a Writer, and The Chosen Presents: A Blended Harmony of the Gospels (with Dallas and Amanda Jenkins). His office is in Phoenix, Arizona.
Currently Seeking: LOOKING FOR:
Show me your ideas in virtually all genres. Not looking for Middle Grade or Horror. (Yes Middle School may have been horrific, but that's a topic for a different day.) If pitching speculative fiction (sci-fi/fantasy) I will evaluate based on the needs of Enclave Publishing.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
I would like to see writing sample and a proposal during an appointment. A “one sheet” is not sufficient because it doesn’t show me you can write
Guidelines: http://www.stevelaube.com/guidelines/
Ami McConnell
Organization: Ami McConnell Literary Agency
Title:
Web Site:
Ami McConnell founded WriterFest Nashville, a gathering for book, song, and screen writers. She also leads the team at Ami McConnell Literary Agency. For a couple of decades she sat on the other side of the desk, most recently as Editor-in-Chief & VP at Simon & Schuster and, before that, as an acquiring editor for HarperCollins. Today she works with artists of all stripes to create books for the commercial market, including many New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers. For kicks and giggles she hosts The WriterFest Podcast and serves as President of the Nashville Women’s National Book Association.
Currently Seeking: WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR/NOT LOOKING FOR: no fantasy or sci-fi; yes to romance, book club fiction, and upmarket. I like commercially viable books with general market appeal. Specifically looking for distinctive voices.
Tamela Hancock Murray
Organization: The Steve Laube Agency
Title: Literary Agent
Web Site: http://www.stevelaube.com/
Tamela Hancock Murray has been a literary agent since 2001. She was named Agent of the Year in 2017 by ACFW. She is a bestselling author of over thirty novels, novellas, and nonfiction books, and won an RWA Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Because of her experience, Tamela brings the perspective of a working writer to her role as a literary agent. She represents many top authors and continues to develop new talent. She earned her BA with honors in Journalism from Lynchburg College (now University) in Virginia. Today she enjoys living in Northern Virginia with her own knight in shining armor. They are the parents of two lovely, all-grown-up princesses. When not focused on her passion for being a literary agent, Tamela enjoys cooking, particularly with her mother's vintage 1970s harvest gold crockpot. She's always on the lookout for new recipes. As the aromas of dinner waft through the castle, Tamela loves reading all sorts of amazing books.
Currently Seeking: As always, Tamela is looking for all types of Christian romance. She also enjoys other types of excellent Christian fiction that is polished to a brilliant sheen. If you also write nonfiction and have a great platform, Tamela is interested in talking with you.
NOT SEEKING: Children's, YA, Fantasy, Science Fiction
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
Tamela enjoys talking with writers at all levels, so feel free to meet with her regardless of where you are in your publishing career.
Guidelines: http://www.stevelaube.com/guidelines/
Cynthia Ruchti
Organization: Books & Such Literary Management
Title: Senior Literary Agent
Web Site:
Cynthia Ruchti is a senior literary agent with Books & Such Literary Management. As a former radio writer/producer for a non-profit ministry, and an author of both fiction and non-fiction who trained primarily through ACFW and saw her novels climb from files to queries to slush piles to contest winners to contracts because of what she learned through ACFW and its instructors and mentors, Cynthia brings a variety of skillsets to the agenting process. She and her husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and seven grandchildren. Her tagline is: "I can't unravel. I'm hemmed in Hope."
Currently Seeking: Cynthia is looking for novelists who have advanced in their craft, understand how their book fits in the current Christian market and their chosen category, and have taken the steps necessary to be ready to be agented. She appreciates projects with intriguing takes on timeless plotlines or characters. If it sounds like other books on the market, she will be less interested than if it is distinguished from what's already on the shelves, yet still well-rooted in the category of Romantic Suspense, Historial, Historical Romance, Contemporary, Rom-Com, some biblical fiction, or Women's fiction. She is not currently acquiring Sci-Fi, fantasy, speculative, or children's. Over-saturated eras are less appealing as well for historicals.