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The Bookum Nook Show
🎙️ Welcome to The Bookum Nook Show:
Join us for a podcast adventure that's not one, not two, but three shows in one!
1 - Creators Talk Podcast
Dive into the world of bookish content creators – those amazing individuals who craft content that makes you want to grab a book and dive in. It's like having a chat with the cool folks behind the scenes, without saying the "influencer" word. We're talking to them about how they create content that sparks your reading enthusiasm and their step-by-step content process. Imagine chatting with your favorite YouTuber or BookTuber, but on the audio waves!
2 - Founders Talk Podcast
Ready for a laid-back chat with the brains behind businesses and the books they love? We're hanging out with founders, business pros, and maybe an investor or two. Discover how their favorite books are like secret ingredients in their recipe for success. It's not your average business talk; picture a chill book club meeting with a sprinkle of business wisdom. Founders talking to founders – making business a little bookish!
3 - Author Talks Podcast
Jump into the world of writing and books with us. We're having conversations with authors about their latest creations and the magic behind their writing process. It's like sitting down for a cozy chat with your favorite authors – curious, fun, and full of excitement. Readers talking to writers – because every reader has a bit of a writer's spark too!
Get ready for a podcast that's like a fun book club gathering. The Bookum Nook Show is where stories come alive, and everyone's invited!
Download the Bookum App www.bookumapp.com to catch these and other book conversations live and for updates and behind-the-scenes fun!
The Bookum Nook Show
How to Get a Literary Agent (and Avoid Rejection) With Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner 🎙
In this exclusive Bookum Founders Talk Podcast episode, we sit down with Rachelle Gardner, president of Gardner Literary Agency, to reveal the insider secrets that can transform your publishing journey.
About Rachelle Gardner:
Rachelle Gardner is the president of Gardner Literary Agency and has been a literary agent since 2007. She's negotiated over 300 contracts with more than 20 publishers and worked with over 200 authors to bring their books to publication. With nearly 30 years in publishing (since 1995), Rachelle brings unparalleled insider knowledge to help authors navigate the complex world of traditional publishing.
What You Will Learn:
- The exact elements of a successful query letter that agents actually want to see
- How to process rejection like a pro and when to pivot strategies
- Whether your book needs to be finished before querying literary agents
- What questions to ask potential literary agents during consultations
- How agents are detecting AI-written query letters in 2025
- The truth about building an audience before traditional publishing
- Real author success stories and what made them different from rejected manuscripts
Timestamps:
1:00 - The books that have shaped her life
3:03 - Books that got her into being a literary agent
4:22 - What is a Literary Agent?
5:30 - How to become a literary agent
6:20 - How many active clients at any time?
7:32 - How long do literary agents work with their author clients?
9:54 - The job of the literary agent
12:00 - Negotiation Film/TV and other rights
13:43 - Should an author also have a lawyer before traditional publishing?
15:20 - What does a successful query letter look like?
19:10 - How should an author process a rejection of their query letter?
22:01 - When should an author shift to another book or self-publish?
26:03 - Does your book need to be finished to submit a query letter?
27:14 - Detecting AI query letters and AI in Publishing
29:00 - Should successful self-published authors try traditional publishing?
31:48 - Should authors build an audience before seeking traditional publishing?
32:24 - What questions should an author ask a literary agent?
35:45 - Author success stories
39:13 - What happens after the literary agent gets a deal for the author?
43:12 - Rachelle's coaching program
44:48 - Last, Now, Next Books
46:01 - Rachelle's Reading Taste
46:54 - What Would You Like to See More of in the Book World?
47:34 - What Would You Like to See Less of in the Book World?
48:23 - Where to find more from Rachelle
Places to Connect With Rachelle Gardner:
Website: https://rachellegardner.com/
Facebok: https://www.facebook.com/gardner.literary
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@rachelle_literary_agent
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gardner_literary
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelle_literary_agent/
About Bookum:
Start your own book club and connect with fellow readers! Download the Bookum app at www.bookumapp.com and discover your next favorite book or join a book club!
This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.
Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com
Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!