We get a lot of questions as agents — but they all circle back to the same core one: What am I doing wrong? Why hasn't my query made it out of the slush pile? In this episode, host Jen Babakhan is joined by Barb Roose, Cynthia Ruchti, and Debbie Alsdorf for a candid round of agent hot takes. No judgment, no gatekeeping — just an honest peek behind the curtain at the things that are actually keeping queries from moving forward.

What if some of the things making you miserable as a writer are actually habits you've picked up along the way?

In this episode of the Books & Such Literary Podcast, Barb Roose, Jen Babakhan, and Cynthia Ruchti have a candid (and slightly cheeky) conversation about four common habits that can make the writing journey harder than it needs to be.

This episode covers:

• Taking rejection and critique personally and you'll be encouraged to remember that your identity is not your manuscript.

• Assuming that if writing is hard, you must be doing it wrong. We'll talk about how to recognize when hard is actually where growth is happening.

• Ignoring genuine encouragement from agents and editors can be detrimental. Listen to why receiving well is a skill worth practicing.

• Using advances, royalties, and sales numbers as a measure of your worth is a fast track to a miserable writing career. Jen shows you how to find a different scoreboard for a sustainable writing journey.

Whether you're a published author, an aspiring writer, or somewhere in between, this conversation will encourage you to separate your identity from your work, stay grounded through difficult seasons, receive encouragement, and remember that your worth as a writer isn't found in a number.

Watch the episode on YouTube and subscribe so you don't miss future episodes.

Subscribe to the Books & Such Podcast on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Find the complete podcast archive on the Resources page at Books & Such.

New episodes drop the first Wednesday of every month. Until then, keep writing!

We spend a lot of time on our Books & Such podcast talking about craft, proposals, platform, and all the serious things and all of that matters. But this month, we're having a little fun. Host and Literary Agent, Jen Babakhan is joined by three Books & Such Literary Management agents, Barb Roose, Cynthia Ruchti, and Debbie Alsdorf for a conversation about movie quotes that could have been written about publishing. Because sometimes a single line from a movie captures something about this industry better than any writing conference session ever could.

Each agent chose two quotes — and the wisdom tucked inside them is real.

Listener challenge: What's your movie quote that feels like publishing wisdom? Tag us on Instagram @booksandsuch — we would love to see what you come up with!

🎧 New episodes drop the first Wednesday of every month.

Full podcast archive: booksandsuch.com/podcast

Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BooksAndSuch

Follow us on Instagram: @booksandsuch

There are some conversations literary agents dread — not because they don't care about writers, but because they care so much. In this episode, host Jen Babakhan is joined by Barb Roose, Cynthia Ruchti, and Debbie Alsdorf for an honest, behind-the-curtain look at four of them.

In this episode the agents discuss:

→ AI and your manuscript — why it puts your book deal and your reputation at risk
→ What agents actually do (and don't do) — and what they need from you to move forward
→ "I love it, but I can't sell it" — the hard truth about sellability vs. great writing
→ Why your work doesn't stop at signing — and what treating your writing like a business really looks like

All four agents are published authors themselves. They've been on both sides of these conversations, and they're sharing the truth with honesty and zero judgment — because they're for you.

🎧 New episodes drop the first Wednesday of every month.

Full podcast archive: booksandsuch.com/podcast

Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@BooksAndSuch

We're back with the second half of our conversation with Mark Rice, publisher and senior marketing director at Kregel Publications. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, start there — we've linked it in the show notes below. In this episode, Mark delivers some of his most practical and candid advice yet, covering book titling, the often-overlooked sales team, AI in publishing, and the three things he'd tell every author before they leave the room.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Mark's titling pet peeve! He shares the two rules every author needs to know before naming their book

• What you need to know about a publisher's sales team and how you can make their job easier.

• Mark's strong warning for authors using AI tools with their manuscripts (don't miss this)

• What Kregel is celebrating right now: 80+ years as an independent publisher, new leadership, and a refreshed vision

• Mark's three final pieces of wisdom for every author at every stage

What does a publisher actually do? And what does it take for a book—or an author—to get a "yes"? This week, host Barb Roose sits down with Mark Rice, publisher and senior marketing director at Kregel Publications, for a candid look at the business of Christian publishing from the inside out.

With more than 40 years in publishing, Mark brings a wealth of perspective on what makes books succeed, what separates good publishing from great publishing, and why a well-crafted publishing plan is the foundation for everything. He also shares the story behind two books he's especially proud of—a story that just might give hope to writers who've heard "no" too many times.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why publishers work from a publishing plan, and what that means for you as an author

• Why Mark says "publishers don't create demand, we amplify it"

• The #1 misconception authors have about marketing (hint: it starts way before your launch)

• What Mark actually looks for in an author's platform—and why big follower counts can be deceiving

Mentioned in this episode:

· Imagine Heaven by John Burke (Baker Books)

· The Nature of Rest by Erin Lynam (Kregel Publications)

· Kregel Publications — kregel.com

· Books and Such Literary Management — booksandsuch.com

Connect with Books and Such:

Website: booksandsuch.com

Instagram: @booksandsuch

Podcast archive: booksandsuch.com/podcast

New episodes drop the first Wednesday of every month.

We're breaking it down into three essential do's and three critical don'ts—practical, honest, and rooted in years of industry experience.

Ever wonder why your query received a form rejection… or no response at all?

In this candid and surprisingly fun conversation, Books & Such agents pull back the curtain on what really happens inside an agent's inbox. Jen, Barb, Cynthia, and Debbie share the most common query mistakes that immediately make agents pause—or stop reading altogether.

From overly long emails to industry misunderstandings and accidental professionalism red flags, this episode offers practical insight to help writers present their work clearly, confidently, and professionally.

If you're preparing to query agents, this episode may save your submission before you hit send.