Welcome to Living Word Literary Agency
MISSION STATEMENT
It is the goal of Living Word to represent the works of authors dedicated to fulfilling God’s promise of purpose, hope, and healing. To bring new and talented writers to the attention of Publishers best suited to their heart and message. And to encourage and promote fledgling newcomers, building a strong foundation of integrity and respect through growing relationships within the publishing industry.
ABOUT THE AGENT
In April of 1997, Kimberly Shumate began her employment in the sales department of Harvest House Publishers as the assistant to the National Sales Manager as well as the International Sales Director. Within four years, she was hired into the editorial department steeped in the slush pile of would-be/trying-to-be/can’t-seem-to-be authors. Having been a screenwriter since 1995, a freelance article and book contributor, her ability to identify and polish the diamonds hidden within the coal mines of unsolicited submissions gives her an eye for talent and a heart for the underdog.
Having discovered numerous new authors for Harvest House with sales topping 750,000 copies, several of them have gone on to find success with various book deals, Christy nominations and awards, PW star ratings, and established themselves as the new voices within the CBA market in both fiction and non-fiction genres.
As a member of the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association), the CMA (Christian Media Association), advisory staff of George Fox University, and 12 years of publishing experience, Kimberly is pleased to introduce Living Word Literary Agency where she will continue to pursue her passion for helping new and hungry authors find a home within the publishing community.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Submit an initial query with short synopsis and first chapter via Word attachment (electronic submissions only). Do not cut and paste your sample chapter to the body of your email. If the material fits the agency’s interests, then a request for additional material will be sent to you within one week. If you do not receive a response, it means that your project simply doesn’t fit the agency’s program, and we wish you well in your continued pursuit of representation.
Living Word represents adult fiction (Amish and Historical needed), Christian living, dating/marriage, parenting, self-help, apologetics, health, inspirational, environmental, social issues, pop-culture, women’s issues, and men’s issues.
UPDATE: No YA fiction, artwork, cookbooks, children’s books, science fiction or fantasy, novellas, memoirs or autobiographies, poetry, or screenplays. No simultaneous submissions, please.
CONTACT INFORMATION
LIVING WORD LITERARY AGENCY
PO Box 40974, Eugene OR 97404
No phone calls, please.
AUTHORS REPRESENTED
William Baldwin (Leadership/Christian Living)
After earning his B.A. in Philosophy and Religion, Bill Baldwin received a Masters Degree in theology with doctoral studies from Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. He has been a church leader for over thirty years beginning his ministry at age 21. He has planted four churches, and addressed leader’s groups and church conferences in the United States and abroad.
In 2001 he founded Truth To The Nations, a ministry to encourage the church and her leaders to pursue a greater passion for Christ. As a communicator and inspirational speaker, Bill also addresses civic and business organizations.
While continuing his ministry as speaker and writer, he serves as the pastor of a church in Albemarle, North Carolina where he makes his home with his wife, Karen. Together, they have four children, two grandchildren, and two dogs, Rosie and Gracie.
Carol Slama (Contemporary Women’s Fiction)
Carol Slama believes that if you do things God’s way you live in perpetual adventure. She’s trying to do things God’s way. A graduate of Pacific Lutheran University, Carol is a successful writer, speaker, and calls Alaska home. Her first suspense novel, Shroud Of Silence, was published by Bethany House Publishers.
Carol skis, hikes, owns ten pairs of Dansko professional clogs, and is thrilled when she can pull off an April Fool’s Day joke on her family. Much of her material is augmented by her quick-witted husband, Brad, and her two teenage sons.
Roland Mann (YA Fiction)
Roland Mann is a writer, editor, and professor. As writer, he is best known for his work on Cat & Mouse, a comic series which ran for nearly two years, garnered critical acclaim, was optioned by Hollywood, and led Roland to other comic work, including time as an editor for Marvel Comics. Roland has over 500,000 copies of his comics in print.
In 2000, Roland found Christ, and began to seek out new avenues for his God-given talent. Roland holds an MFA in Writing, a MA in English, and a BS in Creative Writing. Recently, Roland finds himself acting as a writing mentor and speaking at Writer Conferences where many find his sessions encouraging.
Roland’s most recent publications are his graphic novel adaptations of the classic novels The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Roland currently lives in Oxford, Mississippi with his wife BJ, daughter Brittany, and son Brett, where he is busy working on his next project. He blogs regularly at
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Kelley Kingston-Strayer (Women’s Fiction)
In both 2008 and 2009 her play, A Southern Exposure, won the Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative “New Voice Series” and was presented at the Aronoff Center, Fifth Third Bank theatre. Recently, it placed third in the 2009 Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights and is to receive its premier at the historical Barter theatre in Abingdon, VA during the 2010 season.
Kelley’s short fiction has won several awards and has appeared in publications ranging from major newspapers to literary reviews. Her YA novel, Venus Moose and the Rhinestone Miracle was a finalist in the 2008 Ohio Arts Council “Governors Award for Individual Excellence.”
A native Texan, Kelley Kingston-Strayer now resides in Kentucky with her husband.
Brandi Boddie (Historical Fiction)
Brandi Boddie holds a J.D. from Howard University School of Law and a B.A. in political science from Youngstown State University. Her research skills led her into the field of law, but it was her first love of writing that made her start penning inspirational romance.
Brandi currently resides in Lawton, Oklahoma with her husband, a youth minister. An Ohioan by birth, she followed her husband from his military station in Virginia to the southwest, where she learned firsthand the beauty and equal harshness of living on the plains. It taught her about adaptability and dependence on the Lord for strength. Those traits are displayed by the characters in her novels.
In her spare time, Brandi enjoys singing in the church choir, traveling, and collecting books.
Sara Barnard (Historical Fiction)
Sara Barnard holds her B.A. in History from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, which is where her love of writing historical fiction stems from. After serving as an editor for the e-zine Hands On as a Student Conservation Association alumni, Sara began having pieces published in various anthologies, which includes the new release The Harsh and the Heart: Celebrating the Military (Silver Boomer Books, 2011) that features her piece Cheyenne, Charlie Company Sweetheart.
Sara has followed her husband and his military career from their home state of Texas across seas to Italy, back to Colorado, and finally to the historic hills of Oklahoma. She loves everything about Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant, and finds serenity in starting each day by taking in a beautiful sunrise along with a hot cup of coffee.
The most inspirational piece of literature for Sara has always been Lonesome Dove, while her favorite thing on TV remains Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. She and her husband enjoy teaching Godly values to their four children and have found some of the best lessons of love in their four rescue animals Rambo, Rosie, Romeo (The Dog Pack), and Belle The Wonder Cat.
Rocco Dapice (Christian Living)
Rocco is a pianist, former Disney musician, songwriter, former college professor, nationwide public speaker, writer, husband and dad, and founding pastor of People’s Church in Tarrytown, New York.
In 1995 Rocco graduated from the Crane School of Music in northern New York State with a classical piano performance degree. After being accepted to the prestigious Eastman School of Music for a graduate program in jazz studies, he instead followed the Lord’s leading to attend Seminary in the Midwest. Then for ten years he taught music, theology, and homiletics on the college level.
Rocco and Jennifer Dapice have traveled extensively, speaking and ministering in music in over 300 churches from Canada to the Caribbean. Venues have included churches, schools, marriage retreats, youth rallies, and conferences. In 2006 the Dapices moved back to their home state of New York to found People’s Church, a new nondenominational church in Westchester County just north of New York City.
Ryan Kargel (Christian Living)
Ryan Kargel has a degree in Environmental Science and Applied Ecology from Oregon State University. He developed his passion for the natural sciences and sustainable living while growing up on his parents’ farm, where the family used solar power and experimented with biodynamic agriculture.
Ryan has taught the Bible for over twenty years, and has been both a youth pastor and a teaching elder in the Mennonite Brethren Church. He loves to integrate the lessons of the natural world with spiritual truth.
He lives with his wife Angela and their three sons in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where he writes full-time, composts, gathers wild blackberries, bakes bread, and watches inordinate amounts of British comedy.
You can follow Ryan’s blog as he explores the connections between faith and nature at www.ryankargel.typepad.com.
Laci Post (Historical Fiction)
A graduate of Samford University, Laci Post has had a successful and diverse writing career with over sixty articles published in magazines such as Missions Mosaic, Christian Single, and American Fitness.
Laci’s true passion is creative writing. She won a Creative Writing Award from Samford University for one of her short stories, and has had dramatic scripts published in Lifeway’s Christian Scripts for Stage, Street, & Sanctuary. Her novel, Songbird, is the first book of the Ava’s Song series, and is an inspirational/historical fiction novel about how a southern, Christian family triumphs over the irrevocable changes of the World War II era.
When Laci is not writing she and her husband, Jason, are playing games and legos with their five and two year-old sons, Avery and Elijah, at their home in Dallas, GA. Laci is also a group fitness instructor who absolutely loves to read and travel.
Dr. Larry Brice (Christian Living)
With a B.A., M.Div., M.A. and Doctorate from the University of Toronto and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, Dr. Larry Brice is an International speaker and ordained minister from the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Since 1981, he has served as a pastor in the Hamilton, Ontario area. In 1989, Larry published his first book, The Gamble of Faith, and then in 2003 introduced a national television broadcast on Crossroads Television System, Reachout for Life.
By 1992, Larry and his wife Karen launched Reachout Ministries under federal incorporation as a Christian charity. As an evangelist, Larry serves individual churches, and also larger, community-wide Good News evangelistic campaigns. In 1994, he led a week-long evangelistic crusade on live national television on 100 Huntley Street, and in 1996, Untley Street Reachout Ministries began fruitful overseas crusades and pastor’s conferences in Africa, the Middle East, and Alaska.
Larry continues to pastor churches, Pine Ridge Church in Toronto, and most recently, St. Paul’s in Burlington, Ontario while serving God as an evangelist overseas. He and his wife have two daughters, Alena and Erika, and reside in Ontario Canada.
Vincent Donovan (Literary Fiction)
Vin graduated with a B.A in English from Merrimack College and earned his MBA from Rivier College. He is a Senior Director of North American Field Operations for an innovative life science company which enables customers to develop and produce lifesaving therapeutics.
Vin has had a life long passion for writing in all its forms: poetry, short stories, and novels. Literature rich in symbolism, language, and the struggle to overcome adversity resonate in his work. His latest novel, A January Thaw was a semifinalist in the 2009 Amazon Break-Through Novel Contest. Editorial and reader feedback provided keen insights to further strengthen the work. According to Vin “all of us are broken in one way or another; physically, emotionally or spiritually. Our culture cheers the professional athletes and celebrities who overcome personal challenges, but are often blind to the heroes living among us. A January Thaw honors two people I knew growing up. Each had recognizable disabilities, but remained invisible to most, with the exception of town bullies, too young to appreciate the crosses life can bestow.”
At its core, A January Thaw acknowledges the moral imperative of personal accountability and the belief it is never too late to right a wrong. Its protagonist comes to realize courage is not a singular event – it is a bell to be answered every day. Empowerment comes from realizing “being emotionally bruised” does not provide immunity from action.
Vin lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two children
Drew Sappington (Contemp/Adventure Fiction)
Drew Sappington is a clinical psychologist who has worked extensively in university settings as a researcher and professor. He has published one psychology textbook and forty articles in peer-reviewed professional journals including Psychological Review, American Psychologist, and Journal of Psychology and Religion. Drew has done clinical work in mental hospitals, prisons, schools, and private practice, which reflects in his genre of fiction. Because his specialty is anger problems, he has worked with many criminals like those in his latest book, Ethical Crime Inc.
Drew is also a storyteller who performs onstage and at festivals—sometimes telling stories from Christian history. He has published a book of humorous historical tales, and a few entertainment pieces in newspapers and small magazines. Even his psychology textbook has humor in it, as he likes to entertain when he educates. He has appeared on CNN several times and his research has been quoted in Glamour magazine and Ladies’ Home Journal.
Drew teaches Sunday school at First United Methodist Church in St. Augustine, Florida.
April M. Anderson (YA Non-fiction)
In 2000, April earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA. She then returned to her native state of Texas, teaching high school and junior high band. In 2003, her junior high band placed 5th in the state round of the T.M.E.A. Honor Band competition. Throughout her college and professional career, April and her husband have taught leadership camps during the summers, performed at youth camps and at True Love Waits events through their music, drama and juggling.
During her years of teaching, April developed a heart for the struggles of teenage girls as she witnessed the sexual pressures they faced at school. Having been led by God to pray for her future husband as a youth, and, through His Grace, maintained her sexual purity until marriage, she found that girls received encouragement through her testimony. As a result, she has felt God leading her into writing as a means of sharing her message.
Temporarily, April has left the teaching profession to be a stay-at-home mother. She currently enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Jason, and their son and daughter. She teaches high school girls Sunday School and remains involved in her husband’s band program by instructing his auxiliary group. She enjoys songwriting, singing and playing the flute (or whatever instrument she can get her hands on!). www.armedandvirtuous.org ; www.trying2bloom.blogspot.com
Nancy Axelrad (Memoir)
Nancy Axelrad left behind her life in East Coast suburbia in 1992 and has not looked back. Setting off on a solo thousand-mile road trip to finish work on a stage play about radical faith, she learned that discipleship is not for men only. Later she learned the cost of it under fire. Working as a magazine editor and a technical writer, she diversified her skills while honing her faith. She now serves on the Adjunct Faculty in English of the nation’s largest single-accredited community college committed to “accelerating greatness.”
Formerly a partner of Stratemeyer Syndicate, originators of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, Nancy wrote and edited dozens of popular stories under the pen name Carolyn Keene. She now resides in Indianapolis, home to the Indy 500, Formula One, and The Brickyard.
Melanie LeGrand (Women’s Inspirational Fiction)
Melanie LeGrand grew up in a small town in Ohio, and nothing was more exciting than the traveling bookmobile or a visit to the local library—except winning a writing contest in the third grade. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and worked for many years in the public and private sector helping students reach their academic potential while sharing her love of writing and reading. Her creativity soon spread in new directions, and baking became more than a hobby. She opened a pastry business where her gourmet tarts and cheesecakes quickly rose to local celebrity status (her secret lies somewhere between eggs and the art of whisking).
After a move to north Georgia and persevering through several personal adversities, God redirected Melanie’s attention and her childhood dream of writing came full circle. They say write what you know, and she is doing just that—creating characters on the verge of rediscovering themselves and making their dreams come true.
Melanie resides in the Atlanta suburbs and in her spare time enjoys baking, swimming, and taking long hikes with her husband, Heath, and their chocolate lab, Truffle.
Dr. Rick Chromey (Leadership/Christian Living)
As a cultural explorer and leadership imaginer, Dr. Chromey has served the church as a pastor or professor of ministry for over a quarter century. He holds a Doctor of Ministry (Leadership in the Emerging Culture) from George Fox Evangelical Seminary (2007) and has traveled widely as a speaker, teacher, and consultant for churches, schools, and businesses for “Leading from the Edge” ministries, and speaks to thousands of leaders every year. He has penned four books, including his most recent Thriving Youth Ministry in the Smaller Church (Group 2010) and contributed to more than a dozen others. Dr. Chromey has also been a columnist on preteen insights for Children’s Ministry Magazine and has more than 100 articles in print.
Married to Patti for the last 26 years, they have two children, Rebecca (21) and Ryan (16) and reside in Meridian, Idaho. Rick enjoys reading, music, travel, baseball, and motorcycles. www.rickchromey.com
Cinda King (Women’s Devotions/Inspirational)
A graduate of Georgetown College, Cinda King received her BA in Psychology with emphases in Philosophy and Religion in 1982. She has been privileged to share her gifts of organization, hospitality, and leadership throughout her professional career. First, as the Director of Daily Activities and Special Events at Locust Grove Historic Home in Louisville, Kentucky, but recently and more significantly as the Director of Hospitality and Special Events and the Women’s Ministries Coordinator at St. Matthews Baptist Church.
Cinda is the author of Walking with Moses – Talking with God (Randall House Publishing, 2008) and is an oft requested devotional writer for Smyth and Helwys Publishing, as well as a contributor of retreat, seminar, and conference materials. She has published articles and inspirational pieces in magazines, devotional booklets, and monthly newsletters. As a speaker, she enjoys sharing her experiences as a wife, mother, and “unlikely leader”.
Cinda lives and writes from her home near Louisville where she enjoys a busy life with her husband and two extraordinary children.
Book Proposal Outline
Start by usingthe “Header/Footer” to include the book title, author name, and page # at the top of document.
Title: Proposed title (and subtitle if nonfiction).
Author: Name and complete contact info including telephone, email, web and/or blog sites.
Hook: One/two sentence description that pulls the reader in.
Overview: Nonfiction – what is this book about? Summarize its contents. What’s the takeaway value or felt-need addressed?
Synopsis: Fiction – One to two pages full story outline.
Purpose: Nonfiction – you can use bullets to organize the specific goals of your book.
Promotion and Marketing: Research stats/facts and any pertinent information that will help sell your idea to the agent/publisher. Ways that your book can be successfully marketed to its targeted audience. Avenues the author can promote the book: radio, television, magazine, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Competition: What other books on this subject are currently in print or have been previously published? Use bullets to include book title, author, publisher, and release date with a quick explanation of the book is needed. Try to find at least three comparable books.
Uniqueness: What makes your book different than those you mentioned above?
Endorsements: List any established authors that will back your book with a written statement. If none, then list a handful of authors that write books similar to your own.
Book Format: Nonfiction – outline of how the text or information will be presented (if applicable).
Christian Theme: Fiction – optional but appreciated by Christian agents and editors.
Chapter Outline: Give a short one or two paragraph blip on each chapter.
Intended Readers: List by bullets the primary and secondary audiences.
Manuscript: Establish that the MS is complete or how much is available. Include the book’s (estimated) word-count, and the amount of time needed to complete the work after signing book contract.
Author Bio: Include education, professional contacts, writing awards, etc. Share experience in public speaker, and any websites or active blogs. State why you’re the best person to write this book, and your connection to the subject.
Publishing Credits: Previously published works, book contributions, magazine articles, etc. Include book/article title, publisher/magazine, and release date.
Future Projects: Fiction – give an overview of the series; title and short story synopsis. Non-fiction – pitch upcoming projects; title/subtitle and short description
Simple Rules to Remember
Use 12 point, Times New Roman font
Keep margins 1 x 1 inch, and do not “justify” text
Proposals are single-spaced and written in third person; manuscripts are double-spaced
No heavy formatting or attachments such as pictures, clip art, etc.
Make clear who your audience is and the genre
With fiction it will be necessary to complete the manuscript before submitting to a publisher. With non-fiction, credentials, platform, and/or a really good theme/felt-need will be required
Please don’t ask for a critique of your work if rejected
