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Introducing a New Literary Agent

January 6, 2021 //  by Janet Grant//  19 Comments

With the entrance of 2021, Books & Such is adding a gem of a new literary agent to our roster, Mary DeMuth. Mary has been a part of the Christian publishing industry for decades, having written 40 books, both fiction and nonfiction; mentored fellow writers at writers conferences around the country and internationally; served as a writing coach; and appeared as a speaker at numerous Christian conferences.

Mary became a client of Cynthia Ruchti’s in the fall of 2020. Almost immediately, Mary approached me about the possibility of becoming an agent. I’ve known Mary for at least a decade, having spent time with her at a variety of writers conferences. So my first thought when she asked was, Brilliant! Why didn’t I think of that!? Since then, she and I have had numerous behind-the-scenes conversations in which we’ve explored what types of clients she’s looking for and how to integrate her into our Books & Such agent team. (She’s known most of us for a long time; so she feels like a natural.)

To help you become acquainted with her, I asked her a few get-to-know you questions.

Q: What inspired you to ask if you could join our Books & Such agent team?

A: I had always been an admirer of the integrity of Books & Such. I’d followed my dear friend Tricia Goyer all these years (she’s in my mastermind group and is a client of yours). I loved how well you shepherded her career.

The longer answer is this: when I learned I needed to find a new agent this fall, our family was hiking in Colorado. As we climbed our first fourteener, my husband asked, “Why don’t you consider becoming an agent?” His question ping-ponged around in my mind. I prayed about it, felt a huge aha come over me, and approached Cynthia about representing me. In our first conversation, I said, “I want you to know that I’m considering becoming an agent myself. What would Janet think of that?” That conversation opened up several more, and here I am. I blame the thin air of Mount Yale!

Q: What qualities do you want to be true of you as an agent?

A: Integrity is very important to me, as is passion. I want publishers, editors, and clients to know they can trust my word. Having a good editorial eye and strong theological discernment matter to me as well. That ties into passion because in order for me to represent someone, their projects must shine on the page and honor Christ.

Q: As someone with a strong publishing background, how do you think that career experience adds to your agent skill-set?

A: It gives me deep empathy. I have long believed that the publishing industry has served as my sanctification journey. While there are highs associated with having books in print, there are also pitfalls and heartaches. I have walked those valleys so I can journey alongside my clients who experience the same frustrations and fears. Besides that, I am a good cheerleader, too.

Q: What has motivated you to devote so much time and energy to train writers in how to be successfully published?

A: Honestly? It’s just how I’m wired. I suppose I’m a teacher at heart—I can’t just keep information to myself. Beneath all that is a longing to see the kingdom of God advance through the written word. I have never felt threatened by other writers; instead I see them as co-laborers in expanding God’s great purposes. The more the merrier!

Q: I know you’ve been giving considerable thought to what qualities you’re looking for in potential new clients. Could you give us a checklist of what is uppermost in your mind?

  • Theological integrity and a heart for Jesus
  • Strong, non-cliché writing
  • Great work ethic to meet deadlines
  • Teachable
  • Vision for several books

Q: What kind of projects are of special interest to you and why?

A: I’m really interested in pastoral voices (that may not be well-known) covering issues of discipleship, church planting, and the global church. I would love to agent millennial voices who have been in the trenches of unseen ministry. A few more topics:

  • Church burnout
  • Christian living, but not cliché
  • Habits, self-improvement, biz books, productivity hacks
  • Creativity books (art, interior design, cookbooks, etc.)
  • Compelling biographies about the global church
  • Cultural analysis, Sociology (like Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Cal Newport)
  • Theological books that are accessible (a la NT Wright)
  • True Crime
  • Uniquely slanted Bible studies
  • The Philip Yancy or Eugene Peterson for a new generation

Q: And, finally, what was your favorite book that you read in 2020? What did you love about it?

A: Tiny Habits by B.J. Fogg. It was the most accessible and actionable habits book I’ve read. It’s helped me to keep at some of my goals last year, and those habits continue to follow me into 2021.

Thanks, Mary, for giving our blog readers a glimpse into who are you. I know they’re in for a treat as you share your writing and publishing wisdom with us through the blog.

If you would like to query Mary, you may contact her at representation@booksandsuch.com using Mary’s name in the subject line.

Please feel free to welcome her and ask her any questions you have in the comments.

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A new literary agent tells about herself and what type of clients and projects she’s looking to represent. Click to tweet.

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Category: Agents, Blog, Publishing NewsTag: announcing a new literary agent, Mary DeMuth, new literary agent, what a literary agent is looking for

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  1. Daphne Woodall

    January 7, 2021 at 5:48 am

    I remember the first time I was aware of Mary DeMuth through her 2006 book “Wishing On Dandelions”. Her agenting for Books and Such sounds like a Win-Win for the agency, authors looking for representation, readers of those future books and DeMuth herself. Congratulations to the agency and DeMuth!

    Reply
    • Mary DeMuth

      January 7, 2021 at 9:27 am

      Thank you, Daphne, and thanks for reading one of my novels!

      Reply
  2. Kristen Joy Wilks

    January 7, 2021 at 6:08 am

    Welcome, Mary! I’ve read so many of your encouraging posts to help writers with their craft and it is so exciting to see you getting the chance to take your love of teaching others into the agenting realm. I can’t wait to hear more from you on the Books and Such blog!

    Reply
    • Mary DeMuth

      January 7, 2021 at 9:28 am

      Thank you Kristen. I appreciate it.

      Reply
  3. Andrew Budek-Schmeisser

    January 7, 2021 at 7:02 am

    Congrats on the august position
    you have of late received;
    I’m honoured now to give you vision
    of how you’ll be besieged
    by multitudes of queries,
    a veritable sea;
    and to make this prospect scary,
    you may get one from me.
    We’re all God’s hopeful children,
    questing scriveners (you know the game!);
    some writing’s fair to middlin’,
    and some is really lame.
    I raise a glass now to this birth,
    your start at the Greatest Show on Earth!

    Reply
    • Mary DeMuth

      January 7, 2021 at 9:29 am

      Yes, you’re right. A veritable sea of queries!
      My inbox, it rises up scary!

      Reply
  4. Jenny Erlingsson

    January 7, 2021 at 7:09 am

    This is great news! Your proposal templates have helped tremendously and I appreciate all the help and expertise you already give to writers. Congrats!

    Reply
    • Mary DeMuth

      January 7, 2021 at 9:30 am

      Thank you, Jenny!

      Reply
  5. Jeanne Takenaka

    January 7, 2021 at 7:29 am

    Wow, what a beautiful pairing! Mary, how exciting that you’re going to be an agent with Books and Such! I imagine God has wonderful things planned for you and your clients in this new venture. Congratulations to you and to Books and Such for getting such a treasure!

    Reply
    • Mary DeMuth

      January 7, 2021 at 9:30 am

      I appreciate that, Jeanne!

      Reply
  6. Cheryl Malandrinos

    January 7, 2021 at 8:06 am

    Congratulations and welcome. Praying for God’s blessing on your collaboration and wishing you great success.

    Reply
    • Mary DeMuth

      January 7, 2021 at 9:30 am

      Thank you, Cheryl. I appreciate it.

      Reply
  7. Gloria F Hargrove

    January 7, 2021 at 11:19 am

    Mary seems like a perfect agent for Books and Such Literary Management. Her presentation is clear and honest.
    I would welcome an opportunity to work with her on my writing projects. I submitted a request a few weeks ago. Should I again submit a query to Mary or trust that if accepted by the agency you will choose the best fit for my manuscript?
    Welcome Mary. I look forward to following your career.
    Blessings,
    Gloria Faith Hargrove

    Reply
    • Mary DeMuth

      January 7, 2021 at 1:20 pm

      Thanks for your kind words, Gloria. I would wait to hear back from us, and then proceed.

      Reply
  8. Judith Robl

    January 7, 2021 at 2:55 pm

    Brava! What a great announcement. Looks like a perfect fit to me. Congratulations to both the agency and the new agent. I see great things ahead for all concerned.

    Reply
    • Mary DeMuth

      January 7, 2021 at 3:33 pm

      Thank you, Judith!

      Reply
  9. Norma Brumbaugh

    January 7, 2021 at 10:43 pm

    I’m happy for Mary, for Janet, and for the Books & Such family. Mary is a great asset and brings heart to her endeavors. It’s interesting how this came about. A match made in heaven? I’ve read some of Mary’s books, helped launch a couple of her books, and other stuff. This is a good call.

    Mary, wishing you well in this and God’s very best.

    Reply
    • Mary DeMuth

      January 8, 2021 at 1:53 pm

      Thank you, dear Norma. You’re an encourager!

      Reply
  10. Michael Hammond

    January 31, 2021 at 12:06 pm

    I am very pleased to see that Mary DeMuth has joined the Books and Such agents list. I will be sending a query letter to her about my nonfiction book “The Bread of Heaven”, which is about the Person of Jesus. I am a Christian clinical psychologist. Dr. Michael Hammond.

    Reply

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