Bryan Norman

As an agent, Bryan aims to serve authors with reckless generosity—to give his time, expertise, passion, and partnership to help make good things happen in people’s lives. He values relationships, strategy, efficiency, and excellence.

Before joining Alive as an agent in 2013, Bryan spent nearly a decade at Thomas Nelson, a top faith-based publishing house. Because of his time there in both editorial and leadership roles, he understands how publishing houses operate.

In 2004, he received his Master’s in English Literature and Language from the University of Colorado–Boulder, graduating with honors.

Bryan takes all that skill and experience and pours it into his authors, partnering with them to shape their careers and achieve their dreams.

He lives just outside of Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Suzanne, and their two children. He enjoys cooking, the outdoors, and cooking outdoors.

Lisa Jackson

Lisa is a passionate advocate for her clients. She has the experience, insights, and expertise necessary to not only help authors shape their message, but also to successfully navigate the ever-changing demands of today’s publishing market.

A publishing veteran with more than three decades of experience, Lisa has always been a fan of the written word. She started out as a local newspaper reporter and editor, then worked as an associate magazine editor. Lisa then led the nonfiction team at Tyndale Publishing House before moving to Alive Literary Agency in 2014.

With extensive experience in both the general and Christian publishing markets, Lisa has a proven track record for recognizing and developing key voices. She considers it an honor to serve as a champion for authors in the book publishing world.

She and her husband live in beautiful Manitou Springs, Colorado. She enjoys nature and spending time with her four objectively perfect grandchildren.

Micah Renck

Micah brings a strong editorial background to her role as Alive’s Publishing Coordinator. Formerly an editor at David C Cook, she seamlessly integrates her expertise into this role and is a resource for both agents and authors alike. 

As Publishing Coordinator, Micah manages all editorial responsibilities for Alive’s client roster, including proposal writing and editing. Her role extends to overseeing each publishing project from inception to completion, reviewing publishing contracts, and managing the onboarding process for new clients. 

Micah lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with her husband, two Colorado Mountain Dogs, and ever-growing flock of chickens. 

Kathleen Kerr

Kathleen believes in writers. With long experience in amplifying authors’ messages, she has the passion and expertise to come alongside writers as they hone their ideas and navigate a changing publishing landscape. She’s always on the lookout for the bold voices that are shaping conversations in today’s culture.

Before joining Alive, Kathleen served as an acquisitions editor at Zondervan and Harvest House Publishers. She worked with bestselling, debut, and award-winning authors, helping to refine their messages, build their careers, and partner in their ministries. She also worked as a bookseller at an independent bookstore, where she learned that there are few greater joys than introducing kids to the books that will shape their own stories.

Kathleen graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with degrees in French and English. She now lives with her husband, Noah, and their two daughters in Oregon’s Willamette valley. She can usually be found reading, camping, and creating chaos in the kitchen.

Carly Kellerman

Carly has spent more than fifteen years helping writers find their voice and hone their message. With a professional background that spans editorial development and sales, she has a proven knack for finding the sweet spot between profoundly meaningful and commercially viable content. Her unique blend of business acumen and love for storytelling makes her an excellent advocate and guide for authors navigating the publishing world. 

Before joining Alive, Carly worked at HarperCollins Christian Publishing for more than a decade. She developed several bestselling titles throughout her time at HCCP, and she strives to bring that same creative spark to each of her clients at Alive. 

Carly lives with her husband Jesse and their two children in Southwest Michigan. When she’s not reading, you can find her planning her next dinner party, scheming a new travel destination, or reorganizing a closet that was probably perfectly fine to begin with.  

Rachel Jacobson

Rachel is deeply committed to her clients, ranging from award-winning authors to emerging voices. With nearly a decade of experience in the publishing industry, she has worked on both sides of the literary table. She started as a literary agent at D.C. Jacobson & Associates before transitioning to Baker Books as an acquisitions editor, ultimately joining the Alive team in 2021.  

Rachel brings a unique blend of marketing savvy and editorial insight to each client she represents. She is known for securing strong book deals and forging rewarding publishing partnerships. As a hands-on agent, Rachel tailors her approach to the specific needs of her clients. She is dedicated to helping authors achieve their publishing goals and takes pride in nurturing their success. 

When Rachel isn’t championing her authors’ work, she embraces her inner 80-something, enjoying early mornings with a good cup of tea, growing roses, and perfecting her parents’ homemade spaghetti recipe. Rachel lives in Oregon’s Willamette Valley with her husband, Blair, and their son, Shea.