Here’s how Alive is different
Want to know about us? Well, we’re all about you. Our goal is to add value to the amazing work you’re already doing. Here’s how:
We get more value for your ideas.
We know you want to find the right publishing partner for your content. But you also want to make sure you’re getting a top-of-market deal. We’re trained negotiators, and we’ll be your advocates through every step of the deal-making process.
We align your book with everything else you do.
Your book is just one of the exciting things you’ve got going on. We get that, and we plan strategically so your book amplifies everything else that’s important to you – your organization, ministry, events, social media, or company revenue.
We help you position your idea in an ever-changing marketplace.
We’re the most accomplished faith-based literary agency around. We’re deeply familiar with the key people, trends, and secrets in our rapidly changing industry. That means we can position your book idea so it appeals to publishers and readers alike.
We provide hands-on strategy beyond the deal.
Some agents swoop in for the deal and vanish afterward. That’s not our style. We’re your partners through the whole process, offering hands-on strategy and support for proposal development, marketing strategy, titling and cover design, and more.
We protect your time and energy.
You might be wondering – how on earth can I squeeze writing a book into an already packed life? We keep the process of book publishing simple and remove the obstacles that threaten your productivity. You can simply stay focused on writing a bestselling book.
We enrich your content with editorial insight.
We love developing great ideas, and we offer editorial insights most agents can’t. How? Well, we’ve spent decades as publishers and acquisitions editors ourselves, so we know exactly how publishers think and what they’re looking for.
Our team of expert agents
Fifty years of combined publishing industry experience. Tens of millions of dollars in winning deals. Countless lives enriched by our authors’ ideas. And at the center of it all, a heart for God, people, books, and business.
Lisa Jackson
Executive Vice President
Bryan Norman
CEO & President
Kathleen Kerr
Literary Agent
Rachel Jacobson
Literary Agent
Carly Kellerman
Literary Agent
We love celebrating our clients’ successes.
“They eliminate the overwhelm and champion you and your words to the industry so you can focus on doing what you do best — write!
My experience working with Alive has been incredible. I highly recommend you partner with Alive to ensure you land the best publishing deal, establish a collaborative relationship with your publisher, and strategically navigate the sometimes-awkward business that is simply a part of the work we do!”
Brian Dixon author of Start with Your People
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.
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.
Rachel Jacobson
Rachel is a tireless advocate dedicated to helping her clients build deeply rich and lifegiving publishing careers. As an in-your-corner type of gal, Rachel enjoys helping authors hone their ideas, tap into their generative creativity, and share their message—because she wholeheartedly believes books can be a positive force for good in the world.
Prior to joining Alive, Rachel worked as a literary agent at D.C. Jacobson & Associates before serving authors as an acquisitions editor at Baker Books. She draws on her marketing and business experience and a strong creative eye to help authors tap into marketplace needs and catch the attention of publishers.
Rachel lives in Oregon’s beautiful Willamette Valley (the traditional land of the Kalapuyans) with her husband, Blair. A self-proclaimed ambivert, she will undoubtedly say yes to 80s dance nights, bike rides, and good books.
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’s passion for fresh, impactful messages—paired with her deep commitment to clear communication and collaboration in the publishing process—equip her to champion authors. With over a decade of publishing experience, Carly is highly skilled at identifying market trends and leveraging them to create bestselling products.
Before joining Alive, Carly served as Associate Publisher at Zondervan. With a keen eye for talent and a proven track record for developing authors and bestselling books, Carly is a strong advocate for writers.
Carly graduated from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan with a degree in English Language and Literature. She now lives with her husband Jesse, daughter Jules, and son Reece in southwest Michigan.