Rachel Kent is a senior agent at Books & Such Literary Management—a Christian-market-focused agency—who builds long-term author careers across faith-based fiction, nonfiction, children's picture books, and commercial fiction with a moral or spiritual dimension.
In brief
Named 2025 ACFW Agent of the Year, Kent is one of the most recognized agents specifically serving the Christian publishing market—a credential that matters enormously for writers targeting CBA imprints.
Her client list skews heavily toward fiction, including romance, historical, and speculative fiction with faith threads, suggesting that even when she signals openness to nonfiction, her commercial muscle lies in story-driven work.
Repeat and long-tenured client relationships (Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Liz Johnson, Sarah Sundin, Regina Jennings) signal she is a career agent, not a project agent—writers looking for a single-book deal may not be the best fit.
Her agency, Books & Such, is explicitly focused on the Christian market, which means secular projects—even excellent ones—are categorically outside her scope; writers should self-screen before querying.
She has been active at the agency since 2007, giving her nearly two decades of relationships with editors at major CBA publishers—a genuine advantage for authors ready to publish in that market.
Lately
Named 2025 ACFW Agent of the Year by the American Christian Fiction Writers organization, underscoring her standing as a leading advocate for authors in the faith-based fiction space.
What Rachel is looking for
Faith-integrated fiction is the core of her list—historical romance, contemporary romance, and speculative fiction with a clearly Christian worldview. Her existing client base demonstrates deep investment in this space, and her ACFW Agent of the Year recognition confirms she is a major player in the CBA fiction market. Stories where faith is woven organically into character and plot—not merely a backdrop—are what she seeks.
She acquires nonfiction projects with a faith dimension, including memoir and narrative nonfiction. Practical, platform-driven nonfiction aimed at the Christian trade market fits her agency's positioning. Given that her sales record leans heavily toward fiction, writers with strong nonfiction platforms and a clear CBA audience are the most competitive candidates.
She is explicitly open to picture book submissions, though this sits alongside a predominantly adult-fiction list. Faith-aligned picture books consistent with the Christian market are the most likely fit. The selective heat reflects the narrowness of the CBA picture book lane rather than reluctance on her part.
She seeks commercially minded fiction and welcomes diverse voices, provided the work is consistent with the Christian market focus of her agency. Writers of diverse backgrounds bringing faith-integrated stories have a genuine opening here, though the CBA filter applies as with all her categories.
Young adult fiction is listed among her categories, and her client roster includes speculative and adventure-leaning fiction that can cross into YA readership. Faith-integrated YA with strong voice and moral stakes is the most competitive pitch.
Not the right fit
On Rachel's list
Taste fingerprint
How to query Rachel
Self-screen rigorously for CBA fit before querying: Books & Such is explicitly a Christian-market agency, and Kent's entire list reflects that. If your book has no faith dimension, do not query her.
Lead your query letter with your book's Christian worldview and the CBA audience you're writing for—editors and imprints you're targeting are a useful signal of market awareness.
Emphasize your long-term career vision. Her client testimonials consistently highlight her as a career partner; she invests in authors, not just manuscripts. Show her you're thinking beyond a single book.
If querying historical fiction, romantic suspense, or speculative fiction with a faith thread, you are entering her strongest lane—be specific about the subgenre and its CBA comp titles.
For nonfiction and memoir, establish your platform and your clearly defined Christian readership early in the query. The more concrete your audience, the stronger the pitch.
Check the Books & Such submissions page immediately before sending—the agency posts timely updates on submission guidelines and any temporary closures or windows.
If you are querying a picture book, confirm it is aimed at the Christian market and meets any current manuscript-only or author-illustrator requirements the agency specifies on its live submissions page.