Dear writers: Please be aware of ongoing scams by agent impersonators. Use extra caution with any unsolicited offers from agents. Reputable agents will not ask for upfront fees of any kind. For more information, look at sites such as Writer Beware (https://writerbeware.blog/). Please always check email addresses/spellings. All official emails from Donald Maass Literary Agency will come from an address that ends in @maassagency.com (2 A's, 2 S's in MAASS).

2025 Ignyte Awards!

Jun 112025
 

Amazing to see so many of our DMLA authors listed as Finalists for the 2025 Fiyah Magazine’s Ignyte Awards! Heartfelt congratulations to everyone!

Outstanding Novel: Adult
METAL FROM HEAVEN – august clarke
BLACKHEART MAN – Nalo Hopkinson

Outstanding Novel: Young Adult
SHEINE LENDE – Darcie Little Badger

Outstanding Novel: Middle Grade
BENNY RAMÍREZ AND THE NEARLY DEPARTED – Jose Pable Iriarte

Outstanding Novella
THE BUTCHER OF THE FOREST – Premee Mohamed

Outstanding Novelette
A STRANGRER KNOCKS – Tananarive Due

Best Creative Nonfiction
“All Insurrections are Not Created Equal” – Micaiah Johnson

May Translation Deals

May 312025
 

Catalan rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ ALL SYSTEMS RED, ARTIFICIAL CONDITION, and ROGUE PROTOCOL, the first three installments in the New York Times bestselling Murderbot Diaries series, to Rayo Verde, by Elena Rodríguez at International Editors & Yáñez Co’ S.L. in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Polish rights to New York Times bestselling author Tamsyn Muir’s GIDEON THE NINTH, HARROW THE NINTH, and NONA THE NINTH, the first three books in the Locked Tomb series, to Grupa Wydawnicza FILIA, by Milena Kaplarević at Prava i prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Brazilian Portuguese rights to New York Times bestselling author Tamsyn Muir’s HARROW THE NINTH, the second book in the Locked Tomb trilogy, to Alma Books, by Cristina Purchio at International Editors’ Co. in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Slovene rights to LJ Andrews’s THE MIST THIEF, to Zeleny Kocur, by Prava I Prevodi in association with Katie Shea Boutillier.

Slovene rights to New York Times bestselling author Martha Wells’ ALL SYSTEMS RED and ARTIFICIAL CONDITION, the first and second books in The Murderbot Diaries, to Aktivni Mediji, by Milena Kaplarević at Prava i prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Swedish rights to New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s HEIR TO THE SHADOWS, the second book in the Black Jewels series, to Quadrifolia, by Jules Rosier at Sebes & Bisseling Literary Agency in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Ukrainian rights to Robert Sheckley’s THE STATUS CIVILIZATION, IMMORTALITY INC and DIMENSIONS OF MIRACLES, plus several short stories, to Lobster, by Prava i Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

Jim Butcher feature in the New York Times!

May 292025
 

We are pleased to share this moving interview with DMLA author, Jim Butcher, in the New York Times about his journey in writing The Dresden Files. From concept to outline to the success of over 17 novels — “Twelve Months,” the 18th book in the series, will be published in January 2026 — Jim reveals all the poignant ups and downs of becoming a bestselling author.

“Three decades ago, Jim Butcher put pen to paper and invented a wildly popular fictional universe. At the time, he was just trying to finish his homework.”

Starred Review: THE LAST VIGILANT by Mark Latham

May 222025
 

Booklist: Hawley is a soldier with terrible secrets in his past and a sense of honor despite a tarnished reputation. He has been sent with a company of men to try and find a missing child, but when that company attempts to kill Hawley and are instead killed by an unknown creature of the forest, Hawley seeks the help of Enelda, a wise, no-nonsense old woman whom he soon realizes is a person of legend—one of the famed Vigilants, who can commune with the immortal realm and use magic. Enelda is out of practice and disturbed at finding herself on a journey, but despite a rocky start, she and Hawley work together to survive. Latham (The Red Tower, 2018) uses his incredible world-building skills and all-consuming storytelling style to bring the reader deep into the village of Scarfell, where politics, magic, and corruption collide in a world-shaking explosion, and where Enelda is not the only legend to emerge from the shadows. In a genre where tropes can be overused, Latham is an adept at creating sympathetic characters and reinventing fantasy in a way that will have influence on many books after The Last Vigilant.

Review: THE REBEL’S GUIDE TO PRIDE by Matthew Hubbard

May 212025
 

School Library Journal: Hubbard’s second novel finds 17-year-old Zeke stuck in a territory all too familiar with teenagers. Part of him hangs on to his past as the star pitcher on his high school baseball team, a straight-A student on his way to the University of Alabama, and destined to join the family law firm. Another part of him is him is struggling to accept his own identity as a gay man who wants to do everything he can to rebel against his father and the life he envisioned. This convergence comes to a head when his Alabama small town’s first Pride event is cancelled, and Zeke’s father is involved. To save Pride, Zeke and his friends start hosting secret events to subvert a new ordinance banning LGBTQIA+ events disguised as legislation meant to protect children. This novel explores topics ripped straight out of today’s headlines from the perspective of a newly out gay teen struggling with his own understanding of what it means to be gay. Zeke’s ongoing grapple with his identity and the one that was forced on him is universal. Additionally, Hubbard adeptly demonstrates why Pride is important to the LGBTQIA+ community, while at the same time reaffirming that there is no right or wrong way to be your authentic self. VERDICT Fans of Becky Albertalli’s Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda and Trung Le Nguyen’s The Magic Fish will fall in love with Zeke and his story.

Starred Review: ALL THE NOISE AT ONCE by DeAndra Davis

May 152025
 

Booklist: Aiden Wright, a Black and autistic teenager, wants nothing more than to play football like his older brother Brandon, a quarterback, and to be on a team with Brandon before he leaves for college. Despite some challenges with the sensory experience and ableist discrimination, Aiden makes it onto the team. Unfortunately, one of Aiden’s bullies starts a fight, and the police are called. When Brandon tries to shield his brother from police violence, he gets arrested and wrongly accused of assaulting a police officer. As Brandon’s resulting trial edges closer, Aiden must figure out a way to uncover what exactly happened that day—and help clear Brandon’s name in time. Aptly named after the feeling an autistic person might experience during sensory overload, thisis a stunning debut that empathetically captures the nuances of being both Black and autistic with care and love. Aiden and Brandon’s relationship as brothers is complex and layered, and readers will root for both of them and hope they reconcile their differences. At its heart, this is a story about brotherhood, family, the fight against police brutality and the carceral system, racism and anti-Blackness, and ableism through the autistic experience—all in all, it is essential reading about activism and collective action. Aiden’s voice will linger long after you finish this riveting work.

Starred Review: OUT OF AIR by Rachel Reiss

May 142025
 

School Library Journal: Phoebe, nicknamed Phibs by her friends, has lived in Boca Chica Key, FL, with her grandmother since her mother mysteriously disappeared. She’s always felt connected to the ocean, is an expert diver and underwater photographer, and seems to possess a sixth sense about the underwater world. She often feels out of place among her wealthier Key West friends, but her unique gift brings them unexpected social media fame, leading to a dream dive trip to Marimont, off the coast of Australia. This trip offers Phibs a chance to spend a final, glorious summer with her friends, including Gabe, whom she secretly hopes will become more than a friend. On a dive in Marimont, Phibs feels the ocean calling her to explore a crack she sees in the seabed, which leads to a magnificent underwater cave. It’s like nothing she’s ever seen, but Phibs and her friends soon learn some things are best left undisturbed. The story unfolds through alternating time lines, weaving together present-day events with flashbacks that reveal details about what happened to the group before Marimont. This narrative technique, paired with an engaging writing style and some shocking twists and turns, is sure to thrill. Romance, mystery, horror, adventure, treasure hunting, and a love letter to diving all combine to make this a compelling read. Fans of The Outer Banks will find themselves hooked from the first page. VERDICT A refreshing, original debut, this book is a must-have addition to any YA collection.

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