From Inbox to Impact: Building a Newsletter Readers Love
Books & Such Literary Management The Podcast
Release Date: 09/03/2025
From Inbox to Impact: Building a Newsletter Readers Love
Books & Such Literary Management The Podcast
Episode Summary: Newsletters can feel intimidating—but they don’t have to. In this episode of the Books & Such Literary Management Podcast, Jen Babakkan, Barb Roose, Debbie Alsdorf, and Cynthia Ruchti continue their conversation on panic-free platform building with a deep dive into newsletters. From knowing your why to discovering the power of consistency, the team shares stories, strategies, and surprising facts (like why publishers value newsletters more than social media numbers). Whether you’re a novelist or nonfiction author, you’ll walk away encouraged and equipped to serve...
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Panic Free Platform Building
Books & Such Literary Management The Podcast
Does the word platform make you panic? You’re not alone. In this encouraging and insightful roundtable episode, agents from Books & Such Literary Management—Jen Babakan, Barb Roose, Debbie Alsdorf, and Cynthia Ruchti—break down what platform really means, why it doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and how to build it in a way that aligns with your calling. Whether you’re a seasoned author or just beginning your writing journey, this conversation will help you breathe a little easier—and build a platform that’s meaningful, manageable, and true to who you are. In This Episode,...
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Becoming the Writer You Want to Be
Books & Such Literary Management The Podcast
Do you ever wonder what it really takes to become the writer you’re meant to be? In this insightful episode of the Books & Such Literary Management Podcast, host Jen Babakhan is joined by fellow agents and writers Debbie Alsdorf, Cynthia Ruchti, Barb Roose, and others to explore the real tools that move your writing forward—and the ones that might just waste your time. Together, the team shares hard-won wisdom, personal stories, honest trade-offs, and a powerful new opportunity that blends the best of all three options: the Books & Such Writing Intensive. In This Episode, You’ll...
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Query Like a Pro: What Literary Agents Actually Look For
Books & Such Literary Management The Podcast
Welcome to our Books & Such podcast! We're so glad that you're here with us. According to literaryagent.com, the average literary agent can read 11,000 queries before finding a project that stands out for representation. Far too many hopeful authors are writing ineffective query letters. We want to help you avoid that! How can you write a query that grabs our attention? In this first episode, we discuss the factors that compel us to dig into your query letters. How important is your title? How long should your query letter be? What should you include in your query? ...
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Welcome to the Books & Such Podcast
Books & Such Literary Management The Podcast
Welcome to the Books & Such Podcast! This mini welcome episode gives you the inside scoop on what our new podcast is all about. You'll hear our podcast intro featuring our four hosts as well as an overview of how we want to help you in your publishing journey. What's our podcast about? We’re helping you read between the lines of publishing. Our experienced literary agents invite you into their world for a discussion that pulls back the curtain on how agents think and what we’re looking for. Each episode, we’ll discuss a hot topic you’ve always wondered about. If you’re pursuing...
info_outlineEpisode Summary:
Newsletters can feel intimidating—but they don’t have to. In this episode of the Books & Such Literary Management Podcast, Jen Babakkan, Barb Roose, Debbie Alsdorf, and Cynthia Ruchti continue their conversation on panic-free platform building with a deep dive into newsletters.
From knowing your why to discovering the power of consistency, the team shares stories, strategies, and surprising facts (like why publishers value newsletters more than social media numbers). Whether you’re a novelist or nonfiction author, you’ll walk away encouraged and equipped to serve your readers through a newsletter that’s authentic, consistent, and life-giving.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
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Why newsletters often matter more to publishers than social media numbers
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How to define your why so your newsletter serves rather than sells
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Practical examples: devotionals, humor, and “hope + help + funny finds” formats
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The surprising math of reader engagement (10–20% of subscribers are likely book buyers)
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Why consistency and predictability matter more than perfection
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How to evolve your newsletter over time without guilt or panic
Key Takeaways:
“Platform isn’t built so we can shine—it’s built so we can serve.”
“Don’t compete. Don’t compare. But do learn.”
“Consistency in newsletters builds trust. It’s not about being flashy; it’s about showing up.”
Resources & Mentions:
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Books & Such Writing Intensive – September 22–24, 2025 (online)
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Follow us on Instagram: @booksandsuch
New episodes drop the first Wednesday of every month.
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