A full-service literary agency that focuses on books for the Christian market.

Seven Years as an Agent

//  60 Comments

Blogger: Rachel Kent

October marks the 7th anniversary of when I became an agent with Books & Such! When I first started, I’d go to conferences, and people would remark on how young I looked. I don’t hear that much anymore. Actually, during ICRS, I had a woman approach me, and the first thing she said was, “Rachel, you look so old!” Lol!

In all seriousness, I have really enjoyed the last seven years, and I’m looking forward to many more.

During these agenting years, the publishing industry weathered a major economic downturn and huge changes with the influx of digital publishing. When I first started as an agent, Kindle meant “to start a fire,” Kobo wasn’t a word in my vocabulary, and Nook meant…never mind. The first Kindle actually released on November 17, 2007–one month after I became an agent. The entire seven years I’ve been working as an agent, all of the talk has been about the big changes and the financial stresses.

Recent statistics have shown that despite all of the negativity we hear, publishing is actually doing well. I think we could all use a little encouragement, so I’d like to share them with you.

  • According to BookStats 2014 the U. S. trade publishing industry has remained stable for the last five years (2009-2013) and has reported overall growth. The total revenue is up by more than $700,000.
  • BookStats also reported that in 2009 eBooks were responsible for 2% of sales while in 2013 they were responsible for 21% of sales in U.S. trade publishing. Ebook use is growing, but print books are still the majority of sales in the U.S. Ebooks have likely bolstered the industry and encouraged the overall growth.

And people are still reading! Including young adults. From a recent library survey by PewResearch (full survey here):

  • 88% of Americans under 30 read a book in the past year
  • 79% of those age 30 and older read a book in the past year
  • 43% of younger Americans reported reading a book–in any format–on a daily basis. A rate similar to that of older adults.
  • Adult nonfiction was the fastest-growing category for 2013–surpassing YA nonfiction. (BookStats 2014)

I hope you are encouraged by these statistics, too!

Do you have anything positive to report about the publishing industry?

How many books did you read last year?

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. I enjoyed the review of how publishing has changed, Rachel.

    I read more now that I have a Kindle. Why? Books at my fingertips. I live in a small town near a big city. The book store is about fifty minutes away.

    In the last year, I read about seventeen books–that’s the most I’ve read since I was a college English major. In fact, I posted the list on my blog and credited the Kindle for it.

    Reply

  4. Number 7! Congratulations, Rachel! And thanks so much for the encouraging news.

    How many books did I read last year? I think it was 50-something. When I’m not writing, I’m reading. (Well… along with being a wife, a mom, and a keeper of our beehive. You know the drill.) 😉

    Reply

  5. Thanks for the encouraging post. It’s great to see the reading figures, as I often hear the younger generation doesn’t read.

    Interesting that nonfiction was the fastest growing category last year. I’m curious to know if that continues to be the trend in 2014.

    I read 68 books last year, not including writing craft books.

    Reply

  6. Congratulations on seven years!! Wow! The stats are very encouraging. It’s good to hear that people are still reading.

    I usually read between 50 and 75 books a year. I’m on pace to be at the lower end this year. 🙂

    Reply

  7. Happy Anniversary, Rachel! May the Lord bless you with many more. Writers need you!

    I only read eight books this year, (gleaned through about another twenty) but preparing for two services a week I’m constantly reading/studying the Bible.

    And then there is trying to make time for writing…Let the games begin. 🙂

    Reply

  8. Congratulations, Rachel! You look very young, and I hope to meet you in person one day. I was just thinking last night how time is flying. Our daughter was taken to dinner last night by another family with a son who is our daughter’s friend. 🙂 I didn’t know what to do with myself all evening.

    I haven’t totaled the books I’ve read this last year … but I have a stack of unfinished books. Those are the learning books. I’m caught in the middle of another book that I’m loving! 🙂 I never thought I’d love reading and writing so!

    The stats seem encouraging … many love to read. And as much money as we shell out on books for the girls, we are doing our part! 😉

    Reply

    • Shelli, I too have a stack of unfinished books. And a growing list of books I want to read. I’ve never kept count of the number of books I read annually, but it isn’t keeping pace with the stack and the list!

      Thank you for the encouraging word, Rachel, and congrats for weathering the changes with such grace.

      Reply

    • I’d love to meet you in person some day, too. Thanks for the congrats!

      Hopefully I still look young in person. My profile picture is a few years old now.

      Reply

  10. Hi Rachel,

    Congratulations on seven years as an agent! It’s always good to hear positive news. I don’t know how many books I’ve read this past year, but I always have a book on my nightstand, and in the kitchen, and the family room, etc. Haha!

    Reply

  11. Happy Anniversary, Rachel!

    Thank you for the encouraging statistics.

    It’s hard to remember how many books I read last year. I know I read at least five novels (one was a re-read), and I can think of at least three non-fiction books that I read at least eight non-fiction books, but I’m sure I read more. I read a lot of non-fiction, some of it purchased, most of it borrowed from the public library. I tend to remember the novels better than the non-fiction. I apologize to all the non-fiction authors. It’s just that I devour non-fiction book after non-fiction book because I love to learn, but novels take me on vacations to other worlds where I get to spend time with interesting people, so that’s why I remember them better than the non-fiction works.

    Reply

  13. Good to see that things are more stable than what one would think from all the talk. I know e-books have made a book buyer out of me instead of just a reader (gotta love the library!) Also, having kiddos in the reading age has made us actually purchase more books. I read about a book a week, all year long. Sometimes more, sometimes less. But a book a week probably describes my reading habits fairly well. I just love story, in any form.

    Reply

    • My daughter loves going to the book store. She is awed by the store FULL of books.

      We haven’t gone to the library yet.

      Reply

  15. Happy anniversary, Rachel, and thanks for the encouragement today! I’m pleasantly surprised to see the statistics that show so many young people are reading. Perhaps video games have not completely taken over? I’ve only started, this year, tracking my personal reading numbers, but so far I’m over fifty.

    Reply

  16. Happy anniversary, Rachel. Blessings for many more wonderful years with Books & Such.

    I was shocked when you said the first Kindle debuted soon after you became an agent. It seems like we’ve had eReaders forever–especially Kindle & Nook.

    Thanks for the encouraging industry news, too. Just like the daily news, it’s easy to focus on the negatives instead of the positives. I think one of the most encouraging things about publishing is hybrid publishing and how acceptable it is these days. I still prefer to go the traditional route for my publishing path, but I’m not opposed to considering other options down the road if things don’t pan out.

    Hope you have a great weekend.

    Reply

    • That’s funny because I thought they came out a year after I became an agent. I was surprised it was 2007 when I looked it up.

      And thanks for the congrats! 🙂

      Reply

  17. Congratulations on 7 years, Rachel! I remember when I first met you at Mount Hermon back in 2009, and yes–I did think you looked about 12, but your grace and wisdom also showed. I still get a thrill when I tell people about my agent!

    Reply

  18. Congratulations on 7 years!

    I’m glad to hear good news on traditional publishing. I have no idea how many books I read last year–not nearly as many as I’d like–but I BOUGHT a whole bunch. 😉 Even if I don’t end up sitting down to read them, sometimes I’m just in the mood to buy books on Friday night. And since there are 52 Friday nights, and the bookstore is on my way home from work… 😉 Yup, I should hope the publishing industry is doing well. 🙂

    Reply

    • Thanks!

      I am the same way, Jamie! I feel like I personally keep the industry afloat with my purchases! It SHOULD be doing well.

      Reply

  19. Changes. When I first met you, you were a newlywed, and now your little girl is already looking quite grown-up. Congratulations on your agent-anniversary!

    You are right that publishing news often focuses on the negative, and I’ve seen plenty of that. But I have hope when I look at my children (all young adults, 17-27). They all love to read. They all buy books. They read in various forms, electronic and print. And one of them even sent me a text message last week decrying her college professor’s non-use of the Oxford comma. ; )

    Reading, writing, and books aren’t going away. in fact, even this self-admitted traditional publishing snob is thankful for the options available to writers today. Let’s embrace change while doing our best to ensure the work we produce remains and/or becomes high-quality. Again, congratulations!

    Reply

  20. Your authors, and the publishing industry as a whole, have been blessed by your commitment and talents. You’ve been through a lot of changes over the last few years, and I have no doubt that the Lord takes great delight in you. Here’s to many more years at Books & Such.

    I’ve read around 30 books this year. Many times I find it difficult to immerse myself in the storytelling without trying to glean tidbits to apply to my own writing. Listening to audio books forces me to keep moving forward. It’s not as easy to stop and take notes or write down a quote while I’m driving. 😉

    The statistic about nonfiction surprised me. Although my husband reads and listens to it voraciously. I’ve found that good historical fiction gives me incentive to learn the facts shoring up the narrative. When I pull out a map or peruse a nonfiction title my understanding of a certain time or place expands.

    Reply

  22. Thanks for the encouragement, Rachel.
    I normally read about five middle grade novels and one YA novel every week, and one or two non-fiction books for adults every month. What would I do without the public library? Of course that doesn’t include the picture books I read to grandkids when they visit or to kids when I’m substitute teaching, or the things I read to critique for my writer friends. And even the mss for critique I print out because I much prefer hard copies. I’ve got dozens of books on my Kindle and Sony Reader that I’ve never gotten around to reading.

    Reply

    • Wow, if we counted picture books my count would blow you all away. 🙂

      It sounds like you are very well read! The library is such a help for book worms, isn’t it?

      Thanks for the comment today, Janet!

      Reply

  23. You were the very first agent I ever sent my query to, almost one year ago today. I am still waiting for a response;)

    Reply

    • 🙂 Thanks for sending it my way! Sorry it wasn’t the right fit, but maybe your next book will be! Wishing you the best!

      Reply

      • Ouch! Rachel that must have stung.

        Only one thing to do now girl: Go to the grocery store and get a pint of your favorite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and eat it all at one setting. Okay?

        My favorite is Cherry Garcia.

  25. Oh, Rachelle – I first met you at the Christian Writer’s Conference in Denver, Colorado in 2010.
    You certainly did look ‘young’ then so I’m sure you haven’t changed that much.

    Thanks for the encouraging words about publishing. Hopefully, I’ll get my book finished up and sent in soon…before you really are old…ha…ha..

    Reply

  26. Wow, seven years. I feel like I’m a completely different person than I was that long ago; maybe you feel the same. I appreciated the stats on the industry–love that so many under-30’s are reading!

    I read somewhere between 200 and 250 books last year, but that’s partly because it’s my job. 🙂

    Reply

  30. Congratulations on seven years, Rachel, and thank you for the encouraging stats. Publishing is forever in love with it’s own demise, and it is nice to hear something positive.

    Reply