We’re excited here at Books & Such. 2026 marks our thirtieth anniversary as an agency. Yes, thirty wonderful years. Our press release shares a little more about our story.
Books & Such Literary Management Celebrates 30 Years Serving Authors and Publishers
Santa Rosa, CA – Established in 1996 in an era when only two other agencies served the Christian publishing industry, Books & Such Literary Management, under the leadership of founder and president Janet K. Grant, is celebrating its 30th year of making connections between well-authored books, publishing houses, and readers.
Over the years, Grant has added other agents, with seven currently part of the team. Books & Such has been instrumental in introducing numerous renowned authors to publishers and readers, including Tessa Afshar, Gabrielle Meyer, Tricia Goyer, Jonathan Catherman, Joanna Weaver, and many others. More established authors joined the agency as well, such as Julie Klassen, Lauraine Snelling, Laura Frantz, and Dani Pettrey.
In 2025 the agency sold approximately 150 titles to publishing houses and saw several clients win Christy and Carol Awards, the Christianity Today Award of Merit for fiction, and the Will Rogers Medallion Award. One title finalled in the ECPA Christian Book Award for Christian Living, and each month of the year multiple clients appeared on the industry’s bestseller lists. Rachel Kent was named ACFW’s 2025 Agent of the Year, and client Robin Jones Gunn was presented with ACFW’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The agency also launched a podcast for authors and others in the publishing industry in 2025.
Asked what first drew her to the publishing industry, Janet Grant responded, “Nothing drew me. God threw me into it.” After graduating from college, she joined the staff of CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ International). She assumed her first assignment would be ministering on campuses. But when she opened the “your next step” envelope, she discovered she would be working in the publications department. Puzzled and not sure she could succeed; she nonetheless plunged into the assignment. God changed her path and her mind, and she discovered publishing was where she belonged all along.
After working as an editor at David C. Cook and imprint editor at Zondervan, Grant helped develop the publishing arm of Focus on the Family, acquiring authors like Robin Jones Gunn and Patsy Clairmont. Grant also edited, negotiated contracts, and worked to help authors publish fiction, nonfiction, and children’s projects. After acquiring a number of projects from one of the first Christian agents in the industry, Grant began to consider starting her own agency, utilizing her broad experience from her various publishing positions.
On a recent Books & Such Literary podcast, Grant noted, “Few agencies have the legacy and longevity ours does. People within the industry know Books & Such as a hands-on agency.” The interviewer, Jen Babakhan, the newest Books & Such agent, commented, “Janet’s fingerprints are on every part of our agency’s story and legacy.” https://www.booksandsuch.com/podcast/
Books & Such Literary Management
Decoding Literary Agent Feedback
I love this so much!!! I was 18 when you guys started and had no idea what a Literary Agent was, but I was writing, ha! I found out about Books & Such in 2001 when I had to choose an agent and submit to her for a distance writing course. I chose Janet Grant and spent many an hour pouring over the website. Once the blog came along, I read every one and I LOVE the podcast! Although I never became a client (yet!) still you all have changed me and my writing for the better! Thank you so much for encouraging me and teaching me new writing skills with every post and podcast!
Kristen, I love that you’ve been part of our community for so many years. You always have good insights to offer in your comments, and you have such an upbeat way about you. Thank you for celebrating with us.
30 years of connections, wow! And to think I’ve been connecting with you here for much of that time. Thank you for all the wisdom you’ve shared week after week.
Happy anniversary! ❤️
Thank you, Shelli.And thank you for being a faithful reader of our blog–even when lots is going on with your family.
That’s an incredible milestone! Your dedication to authors and stories really shows, and it’s inspiring to see how much impact you’ve had in the literary world. Here’s to many more years of great books and creative voices!