About Me

My name is Rachelle Gardner and I’m an agent with WordServe Literary Group based in Denver, Colorado. Click on this link to visit our website; or to meet the other members of the WordServe team, see this post.

I love books, authors, publishing, and talking incessantly about them. My passion is partnering with authors to bring worthwhile books to publication. I started this blog as a way to create a community of writers, both published and seeking publication. I post five days a week on topics of interest to writers, and I consider the reader comments even more important than my own posts! This is a place where I get to hear the concerns and perspectives of writers in the trenches, so that I never lose touch with what’s happening on the other side of the desk.

My Publishing Story

I became an agent in 2007 and as of this writing, have done 50+ book deals between authors and publishers. See this page for the latest update on my clients’ books. While I’ve focused my first couple of years as an agent on the CBA market, I’m now expanding and seeking books for the general market as well.

I’ve been in publishing since 1995 (fifteen years), working in various positions encompassing marketing, sales, international rights, acquisitions and editorial. Just prior to starting as an agent, I ran my own freelance writing and editing business from home. Before that, I was Senior Editor with NavPress, where I developed and launched the NavPress Fiction line, including three Christy Award finalists and an ECPA Award finalist in its first year. I acquired and edited numerous nonfiction books as well.

I’ve written eight published books (as a ghostwriter) and edited more than seventy, including such authors as Mary DeMuth, Lisa Samson, Jill and Stuart Briscoe, Neta Jackson and Brandilyn Collins.

Prior to entering CBA, I worked in mainstream publishing. I started at General Publishing Group in California, where I was Director of Rights and Marketing, managing departments of special sales, subsidiary rights, international rights, international sales and domestic marketing. Among other things, I built and managed a team of international sales agents; and represented the company in Frankfurt, London, Tokyo, Chicago and New York.

Yes, I’ve Done Other Things Besides Publishing

Just out of college, I spent five years at Fox Broadcasting Company where I served as Special Programming Coordinator, working on more than sixty network television specials including the Emmy Awards and Billboard Music Awards. My bachelor’s degree is in Communications from California State University, Fullerton, and I later did graduate studies in Psychology at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

I live with my firefighter husband, two daughters and a fun-loving yellow lab at the breathtaking elevation of 7,000 feet in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. When I’m not reading, you can usually find me out running, hiking, skiing, or having coffee with my girlfriends.

Email me: Rachelle [at] wordserveliterary [dot] com

Follow me on Twitter: click here.

If you’re looking for specific posts on this blog, there are three ways to find them:

1. At the top of the sidebar, there’s a list of popular posts.
2. Further down the sidebar, there’s a list of categories under “Find Posts on This Blog.”
3. Also on the sidebar, there’s a “Search” box.

I hope you find something interesting here, and come back as often as possible!

If you still don’t know enough about me… read on.

9 Random Facts About Rachelle

1. My dog has his own page on Twitter. (And followers, of course.)
http://twitter.com/ReaganTheLab

2. I don’t watch TV news or read newspapers. I think I’m a happier person because of it.

3. I’m a passionate “foodie” and adore going to good restaurants and eating at other people’s homes. But I don’t enjoy cooking. Just put it in front of me—ready to eat—and I’m happy!

4. I cannot stand sleeping during the day (a.k.a. napping) and generally do not like the fact that I have to sleep ever.

5. I’ve jumped out of an airplane at 12,000 feet. I’ve hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon (and back up again). I love waterskiing, snow-skiing, and horseback riding. I took indoor rockclimbing lessons but I don’t know if I’m brave enough to actually climb a mountain. One thing I would never do is bungee-jump.

6. I DON’T scrapbook, knit, grow a garden, keep a perfect house, make my kids’ Halloween costumes, separate the whites from the colors, make my own bread, jam, or pizza crust, or clip coupons. Nor do I feel compelled to change any of these things.

7. I love scuba diving and met my husband on a dive boat in Catalina.

8. I struggle every single day with trying to balance work and family.

Rachelle Gardner

Literary agent at Gardner Literary. Coffee & wine enthusiast (not at the same time) and dark chocolate connoisseur. I've worked in publishing since 1995 and I love talking about books!

9 Comments

  1. Andrew Pelt on March 25, 2012 at 5:35 PM

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  2. Pearlene Duffey on June 29, 2011 at 6:05 AM

    As the financial problems in Greece carries on, experts hunting for precedents have continually referred to the country that last suffered a comparable financial fiasco: Argentina.



  3. Jordan Bunyea on June 28, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    This particular theme: About Me | Rachelle Gardner is often discussed and my standard advice on preventing sexually transmitted disease is as follows.Invariably you should practice low risk sexual activity every time you have sex with someone.Always use a condom fellas and try and be disciplined.These barriers only work well if you use them.If your intimate sexual contact incorporates intercourse, anal or vaginal, indicate that you’ll never have sex wthout using a condom. If you or your partner is at high risk of having an std, be consistent and determined about dental dams and condom use. Barriers might not be 100% protective against all sexually transmitted diseases, yet they will greatly reduce your potential risk. Thanks, Jordan Bunyea.



  4. reba stanley on November 12, 2010 at 12:05 PM

    >Rachelle:
    I'm brand new to your website,post and you. Be sure that I will be going through all your instructions and advice given, and by the by thank you. I must tell ya. I love #7 about you. "I don't scrapbook, knit grow a garden, keep a perfect house…" etc. Except for separating the whites from the colors I'm totally with ya.

    Reba Stanley



  5. Stephen Pritchett on October 26, 2010 at 1:38 PM

    >I too am anti-news in whatever form, especially after having to edit a weekly. Who cares what's new? I'll notice it if it's important (like a new restaurant; now THAT'S news). Network news is too much like televised sports, with the announcers always having to talk over everything. Why can't they just watch, let life flow?



  6. Jessie at Blog Schmog on October 19, 2010 at 2:15 PM

    >Nice to meet you. Gina Conroy sent me over and I'm so glad she did. I am a newbie writer (at least in the doing it on purpose part) but soaking up all the information I can get. I love to learn.

    I say no to TV but I have to admit I do occasionally read net news. I love that there is someone else out there who can't stand napping! I feel the same way about eating too except for the purely social kind of eating. 🙂 Both naps and eating just plain take too much time.

    You are one brave woman. I could never jump from a plane OR bungie jump. I do love hiking, skiing, rock climbing and horseback riding, however.

    I had to give up the perfect house myth when I married my hubby and God blessed us with 5 little one's. One at at time, thank goodness.

    Well, I'm sorry to make this into an "about me" comment. I just had to jump in because I'm sure we'd have a blast together.

    I'll be around, learning and enjoying your sense of humor and adventure.



  7. Anonymous on October 15, 2010 at 1:24 PM

    >I wish my hair looked like that !!!!!



  8. Katie Ganshert on October 6, 2010 at 5:48 AM

    >I LOVE this!! Especially the seven random facts at the end.

    I don't like that I have to sleep either! Most women are jealous of Bella from Twilight because Edward's in love with her. Whatever. I'm jealous because she turns into a vampire and no longer needs sleep.

    How is it, that you can jump out of a plane but you won't go bungee jumping? I went bungee jumping when I was a teenager and all I remember feeling was dizy (after I was done bouncing the rope kept twirling me around in circles). But jump out of a plane? Are you crazy?



  9. Renee Gold on October 5, 2010 at 10:00 PM

    >I thought I was the only person who did not watch the news or read newspapers. Yes, I certainly am a happier person becuase of this.

    I pray for you with regards to balancing work and family. You give so much to writers on your blog, and I am sure you are a great agent/mom/wife… I have no idea how you can do so much. Then again,I do know!