If you’ve written a piece of Christian literature, whether it’s a devotional book, a novel, a nonfiction book, or an inspirational book, the next piece in the publishing puzzle is to get it well edited by an expert such as one of these Christian book editors.
Then you need to find a publisher.
Of course, you could approach smaller Christian publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts.
On the other hand, if you genuinely believe you’ve written a book that has a large potential readership and can go onto become a bestseller, you’ll want to approach larger book publishers.
Many of these don’t accept submissions directly from authors, and will require a literary agent to make a submission on your behalf.
In order to help make your search for an agent easier, we’ve compiled the following list of 20 top Christian literary agents.
1. Steve Laube
Founder of The Steve Laube Agency, Steve Laube has been a literary agent representing Christian books. The literary agency was set up in 2004 in Phoenix, Arizona. Steve has worked with a range of genres in fiction and nonfiction like sweet romance and systematic theology. He is also the president of The Christian Writers Institute. The agency has represented several bestselling authors like Rhonda Gibson and Cindy Woodsmall. Go through their submission guidelines if you wish to submit your manuscript for consideration. However, keep in mind that they don’t accept short stories, poetry, photography books, screenplays, or personal family history biographies.
2. Keely Boeving
Before joining WordServe Literary Group in 2015, Keely Boeving earned a BA in English from the University of Virginia, attended the Denver Publishing Institute, and started her own freelance editorial business. In terms of genres, she is interested in nonfiction books on topics such as parenting, religious studies, or social justice. At the same time, Christian living, devotion and worship, spiritual transformation, and calling are just a few subjects she prefers when it comes to Christian market books. If you want to learn more about Keely, here is where you can find her. However, before submitting your work, make sure to carefully read the company’s guidelines.
3. Keith Carroll
As an independent Christian book agent, Keith Carroll is dedicated to helping authors spread inspirational messages. He has been a literary agent since 2005, based in Newburg, Pennsylvania. The Prayer of Job by Sandra Querin, The Desperation Zone by Dannie Hood and Lady in Waiting by Jackie Kendall are books he has endorsed. Manuscript evaluation, manuscript refinement, publisher submission and follow-up advice for book promotion launching are just a few ways in which Keith can help you become a published author. In order to get a better understanding of whether your manuscript is something Keith would want to represent, contact him via the phone number or email mentioned on the website.
4. Lisa Jackson
With more than twenty five years of experience in the publishing industry, Lisa Jackson is the Executive Vice President at the Alive Literary Agency. Rick Christian is the founder of this agency that represents works of fiction, nonfiction, biography and children’s books. However, at the moment they are not looking to work with unsolicited manuscripts. Only if you have a reference from one of their clients or know one of the agents, should you contact them. In such a case, read the submission guidelines. Alive Literary agency is currently located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but was started in Los Angeles in 1989. The Long Journey To Jake Palmar by James L. Rubart is one of the books they’ve represented.
5. Jim Hart
Jim Hart is a literary agent working at the Hartline Agency. Although he is mainly interested in nonfiction books on topics like social issues, church growth, leadership, and parenting, he also wants to represent fiction projects which fit the standards of romance, women’s fiction, suspense/thriller, sci-fi, and speculative fiction. Devotionals and memoirs are not accepted at the moment. Caroline Friday, Dominic Rivera and Penny Richards are some of his clients. The Hartline Agency was established by Joyce Hart and it is headquartered in Pittsburgh. If you’d like to submit your book for representation to Jim, follow the submission guidelines.
6. Blythe Daniel
Dive Deeper by Jenifer Jernigan and The Teaming Church by Robert C. Crosby are two titles represented by The Blythe Daniel Agency. Blythe Daniel, owner and literary agent, started her agency in 2005. They primarily represent authors of nonfiction, but they also have a few juvenile fiction titles on their list.. If you’d like to be considered for book representation, then go through their guidelines for submission. You’ll find the agency in Colorado Springs.
7. Bruce Barbour
The Literary Management Group is a literary agency and publishing consulting firm founded by Bruce R. Barbour in the year 1997. They represent adult nonfiction, especially content that is about Christianity. So if you have a manuscript that is a fiction, children’s book, illustrated book, poetry, memoir, gift book, or academic in nature, then you should look elsewhere for an agent. You’ll find their office in Nashville, Tennessee. The contact information and submission guidelines are available on their website. However, you should know that they do not represent self-published books.
8. Nick Harrison
Greg Johnson founded WordServe Literary Group, the agency where Nick Harrison works as a literary agent. It was founded in 2003 and has since represented hundreds of books in both the fiction and nonfiction genres. Nick is interested in character-driven historical fiction, as well as in select contemporary literary fiction and genre fiction (romance, for instance). As for nonfiction books, he is open to considering memoirs, Christian living books, books about health or any kind of issue. The agency, located in Colorado, is not looking to sign with books which belong to the categories of fantasy and science fiction, among others. Read more about their guidelines on their website. A couple of titles from their faith collection are Grace Revealed by Fred Sievert, You Can Do This by Tricia Williford and Devotions For The Hungry Heart by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson.
9. Jessica Kirkland
Liberty, Texas is where Kirkland Media Management is housed. It is an agency that helps authors with an inspirational message reach out to many people. Jessica Kirkland is the owner of this firm. It was established in the year 2016, before which she worked as a literary agent at The Blythe Daniel Agency. Unbroken Faith by Diane Dokko Kim, When God Says Wait by Elizabeth Laing Thompson and Stolen Jesus by Jami Amerine are some of the books Kirkland Media Management has represented. Jessica is interested in projects of fiction and nonfiction which would be suitable for both the Christian and the general market. If you’d like to contact them for further discussion, make sure to read their submission guidelines first. However, you should know that they’re not looking for children’s, middle grade, poetry, short stories, sci-fi, and fantasy works.
10. Cynthia Ruchti
Cynthia Ruchti is a literary agent at Books & Such Literary Management. This firm was established in 1996 by Janet Kobobel Grant. Cynthia has worked with the American Christian Fiction Writers as Board President and is the author of 23 fiction and nonfiction books. She joined this agency in 2016 and is now open to representing mainly nonfiction works. But if your book is fictional, you should contact the agency to confirm whether she’d be interested in taking on the manuscript under her wing or not. The agency has certain guidelines for submission that you should carefully read and adhere to. Books & Such Literary Management is located in California. Tricia Goyer, Sarah Bessey, Beth Vogt and Katie Ganshert are some of their award winning authors.
11. Alexander Field
The Bindery Agency currently endorses authors of general nonfiction, books on religion, biography & memoir, commercial fiction, Christian spirituality, and spiritual growth, to name some. It was started by Alexander Field, who is also an agent, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Since its institution in 2017, the agency has been offering services like literary representation, book development and publishing strategy. If you’d like to get a quote for one of the services, you should fill up the contact form on their website with relevant information about your manuscript. They also have guidelines for submission which would help you through the process.
12. Karen Neumair
Established in 2005 in Grand Rapids, Michigan by Tim Beals, Credo Communications is the company where Karen Neumair currently works as a literary agent. After earning a BS in Theology and a BA in English from Cornerstone University and Kuyper College, Karen soon began her career in the Christian publishing industry. Most of her activity consists in working on projects which involve spiritual growth and women-related topics, and she wants to be regarded as a “woman who walks with God”. Strength of a Woman: Why You Are Proverbs 31 by Lauren Crews is one of the company’s most recent releases. If you want to collaborate with Karen, make sure to read the submission guidelines before reaching her.
13. Jenni Burke
After entering the Christian publishing industry in 2003, Jenni Burke helped Don Jacobson establish D.C. Jacobson & Associates, only to rebrand it to Illuminate in 2020. The agency now specializes in numerous nonfiction topics, among which we can name Bible studies, spiritual growth, devotionals, faith & culture, and church & ministry. Bible & Breakfast: 31 Mornings with Jesus by Asheritah Ciuciu and Chosen for Christ by Heather Holleman are just two titles represented by them. If you want to work with Jenni, you should check out the submission guidelines first.
14. Julie Gwinn
Julie Gwinn is a literary agent at The Seymour Agency, which was established by Mary Sue Seymour in 1992. Its main office is located in Canton, New York. Julie is interested in representing Christian books that have to do with romance, inspirational fiction, nonfiction, suspense, and women’s fiction, to specify a few genres. You can directly contact her by email, once you’ve read the submission guidelines of the agency. These guidelines will help you in ensuring that you have all the required information in place. Kenneth E. Oritz, Brent Manley, Dr. Valentine Dmitriev and Dinah Bucholz are some of their nonfiction authors.
15. Chip MacGregor
The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck, Growing Up Amish by Ira Wagler, and Raising Boys Who Respect Girls by Dave Willis are just three of the titles which have been recently represented by MacGregor & Luedeke, a literary agency started by Chip MacGregor in the year 2006. It is housed in Manzanita, Oregon. They are on the lookout for Christian and literary fiction, memoirs, self-help books, books on spirituality and others. There’s a contact box on their website which you can use to clarify any doubts. Also, make sure that your approach is in keeping with their submission guidelines. Although they are currently closed to fiction submissions, nonfiction ones are welcome.
16. Pamela Harty
Pamela Harty is the Vice President of Sales and a Literary Agent at The Knight Agency. This agency is based in Georgia and was set up by Deidre Knight. Pamela joined the firm in the year 2000 and has worked on numerous titles in different categories like southern history, Christian living, parenting, romance, motivation etc. Bone Driven by Hailey Edwards and Amish Rescue by Debbie Giusti are a couple of their represented titles. If you feel that they are an agency apt to represent your book, then follow their protocol as specified on the submission guidelines page and proceed to contact them.
17. Christopher Ferebee
Founded in 2011 by Christopher Ferebee, The Christopher Ferebee Agency is a small literary representation firm located in Corona, California. Christopher has more than a decade of experience as a literary agent. He has represented many Christian authors and is now looking for books that are thought provoking. Other than authors of children’s books, poetry and academic works, all authors of fiction and nonfiction books are welcome to contact the agency to discuss the matter of book representation. So go through their submission instructions and gather all the data needed.
18. Dave Fessenden
A literary agent at WordWise Media Services, Dave Fessenden has degrees in both theology and journalism, as well as an experience of over 30 years in writing and editing. In terms of genres, he is interested in representing works which tackle the topics of church issues, historical fiction, theology, career, Bible studies, and a few more. He is currently living in south-central Pennsylvania. If you’re an author from the US or Canada, feel free to send a submission according to the guidelines displayed here.
19. Michelle S. Lazurek
WordWise Media Services is the brainchild of Steven Hutson, who himself is a literary agent. As an agency that was started in 2005, it is housed in Lancaster, California. It is at this firm that Michelle S. Lazurek works as a book agent. She has nine books to her name and is a graduate of Liberty University with a Masters in Counselling and Human Relations. Living in Pennsylvania, Michelle is interested in representing authors of Christian nonfiction for adults and children’s picture books. Sarah Geringer, Lydia Rueger, John Alexander and Karen Smith are some of Michelle’s clients. For authors looking to submit their manuscript to this agency, there’s detailed information on their submission guidelines page.
20. Tamela Hancock Murray
Tamela not only has previous experience working as a literary agent at Hartline Agency, she is also affiliated with The Christian Authors Network and the American Christian Fiction Writers. At present, she is a book agent at The Steve Laube Agency, which was established in 2004 in Arizona. Tamela is based in Manassas, Virginia and specializes in the Christian book market. She has been representing books in genres of fiction and nonfiction since 2011 at this agency. Areas of particular interest to her are Christian romance novels, women’s fiction and romantic historical fiction. If you wish to contact her then do so by email once you’ve read the submission guidelines from the agency.
Do you know of any other Christian literary agents accepting new authors? Please tell us more in the comments box below!
A 22 year old writer from India, Meera Nair has been blogging for over 5 years. She has a triple major Bachelor’s degree in Media, English and Psychology from Christ University Bangalore. She regularly reviews books for publishers like Bloomsbury, Pan Macmillan, Penguin etc. Reading and writing are two of her utmost passions and she is glad to have the opportunity to share that love with others.