A Warm Hello

Sometimes you’re the last to know where your path is leading, even if, in hindsight, the destination was clear all along. When I graduated from college with a degree in Communication Studies, I wasn’t sure what I’d do with it. After I changed my collegiate path from pursuing a teaching degree two years in, I felt a little aimless. I knew I wanted to do important work, but something about being in a classroom every day felt a bit suffocating to a 20-year-old.

On to a Marketing Career

When I was hired at an international nonprofit in their marketing department, I found the fast-paced, travel-filled career a young woman dreams about. While there, I learned the value of intuition, integrity, and the ability to work with every personality type in stressful situations (it involves a lot of coffee, making sure you save them their favorite donut in the breakroom, and a lot of kindness). I also learned the importance of maintaining a brand that became a household name in the fifties but found itself wanting in an industry filled with competitors eager to take its place. It turns out that consumers value the heritage of a trusted brand to a point, but if a competitor offers the same product with a unique twist that serves their needs better, well, heritage doesn’t count for much.

And Then a Teaching Career

I left that marketing job to teach third grade—a decision that confounded my coworkers but made perfect sense in my life at the time. My husband and I wanted to start a family, and traveling for work frequently is fun until it isn’t. It wasn’t conducive to being the kind of parent I hoped I would be. I deeply loved teaching eight- and nine-year-olds, and it was one of my most bittersweet moments to leave that career after five years to be a stay-at-home mother to my first child.

A Sweet Surprise

It was then I began to write—more to keep my mind stimulated than anything else, and I started to wonder if other women had a difficult time leaving their careers behind for motherhood, too. God was starting to nudge me to write professionally, and I began taking small ghostwriting and proofreading jobs. I applied for a freelance job with Reader’s Digest on a whim, and to my absolute shock, the editor hired me. I was changing diapers, doing dishes and interviewing people whose accomplishments were beyond anything I dared to hope for. It felt like I had done the impossible—I was home with my children and carving out a writing career, seemingly from thin air. Suddenly, writing a book for women who had also left careers to be home felt like more than a dream—it felt like a real possibility.

After I was offered representation with Books & Such (a dream fulfilled), and my first book was published, it felt as though I was coming home to myself. My inner nine-year-old who sharpened her pencil with a gleam in her eye while the rest of the class moaned during writing time was thrilled. This felt like the work I was meant to do.

And Now Agenting

Agenting feels like a natural extension of this joy. When Janet so graciously allowed me to intern for my beloved literary agency that had made my own author dreams come true, I had to pinch myself. As an author, the Books & Such team felt like a warm and talented group of incredibly accomplished women, working diligently to serve others and God. I quickly learned my initial impression was correct. These women are not only fabulously talented and wise, but they are also warm and welcoming. Truth be told, I’m still pinching myself to be counted among them.

What I Am Looking to Represent

Throughout my life as a reader, I’ve known that I enjoyed certain types of books more than others but never gave it too much thought. Now, as an agent, I’m not only giving it some thought, but I’m immersing myself in the discovery of what makes a book stand out from the rest. Similar to the marketing dilemma of an established brand with new competition nipping at its heels, what’s the unique twist that sets a concept apart from the other books on the same topic?

Fiction

I’m acquiring both fiction and nonfiction, and I find it a little humorous that as an author of nonfiction myself, two of my first clients are historical novelists. KyLee Woodley writes captivating historical fiction with a twist—her side characters are authentic historical figures of the past, while her lead heroines are both strong and feminine, a combination I love to see. Catherine Palmer, a popular historical novelist of the nineties, is arriving on the scene once again, this time with a historical series based on Tudor women, each with unique strengths (and romances) that make the novels page-turning delights.

When I consider what made these two authors and their projects stand above the rest, it came down to the strength and well-rounded development of their lead characters. A lead must be more than well-written—she must feel real. Lead characters need to present themselves with a believability and vulnerability that leads me to trust that time spent in those pages and following their adventures is well spent. Reading is an investment, after all, and I want to invest well, as all readers do. That said, as compelling as the characters may be, I won’t be acquiring science fiction, prophecy, fantasy, or thriller projects. I’ve spent my life watching scary movies from behind pillows and through my fingers, and I don’t enjoy that feeling when reading books either.

I’m looking for women’s fiction, contemporary fiction, historical, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and mystery. I love reading sweet, closed-door romances, and fiction in the listed genres that leaves me feeling uplifted.

Nonfiction

As an avid reader and author of nonfiction, I’m acquiring projects that are unique in their approach to broadly felt needs. I’m passionate about nonfiction and its power to comfort, direct, and change lives. One of my goals as an agent is to ensure that more powerful nonfiction titles get into the hands of the readers who are desperate for a specific message that changes their experience of the world. Books that make me think, “I’ve never thought about it that way before,” are my favorite kind of nonfiction to read.

I’m acquiring nonfiction that focuses on spiritual disciplines, Christian living, devotionals, mental health, health and wellness, humor, and self-help. I love reading gripping nonfiction that inspires, educates, and uplifts. When I close a nonfiction book that is full of highlighting, notes in the margin, or quotes I feel compelled to write down so I don’t forget them, I know I’ve read an excellent book.

Overall Qualities

I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing my first book on the shelf in Barnes & Noble, or the first time a reader sent a message expressing gratitude for how my words touched her life. It’s with that same perspective I consider partnering with authors now. I’ll ask myself a few questions:

• Will this project be meaningful to readers?
• Is there a place for this book in the current market?
• Does this writer know what publishing involves, and have they already begun to prepare themselves in ways I can see?
• How is this project unique from others on the same topic? Does it approach a subject from a new angle (there’s that new twist on an old topic I keep mentioning)?

I’ve already found that choosing authors to represent is no easy task. The decision is never made on a whim. It involves a multitude of variables, and all must be considered carefully. I’m filled with anticipation and excitement for the projects and people I will meet along the way. The art of writing is a gift to both the writer and the reader. I’m honored to play a role in its journey to the bookshelf with this team I love and respect.

What questions would you like to ask me about what I’m looking for in potential clients?  Ask away!

Would you like to query me? Please send your query to Jen@booksandsuch.com.