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 Locus Awards Finalists!

May 092025
 

The finalists for the 2025 Locus Award finalists were announced and several DMLA clients made the list!

SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL

  • Rakesfall, Vajra Chandrasekera (Tordotcom)

FANTASY NOVEL

  • The Tainted Cup, Robert Jackson Bennett (Del Rey; Hodderscape UK)
  • Asunder, Kerstin Hall (Tordotcom)
  • The Siege of Burning Grass, Premee Mohamed (Solaris UK)

YOUNG ADULT NOVEL

  • The Feast Makers, H.A. Clarke (Erewhon)
  • Sheine Lende, Darcie Little Badger (Levine Querido)

NOVELLA

  • The Butcher of the Forest, Premee Mohamed (Tordotcom)
  • Countess, Suzan Palumbo (ECW)

NOVELETTE

  • “A Stranger Knocks“, Tananarive Due (Uncanny 9-10/24)
  • “By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars“, Premee Mohamed (Strange Horizons 6/9/24)

SHORT STORY

  • “The Night Birds”, Premee Mohamed (Northern Nights)

COLLECTION

  • Jamaica Ginger and Other Concoctions, Nalo Hopkinson (Tachyon)

2025 Aurora Awards Ballot

May 082025
 

The 2025 Aurora Awards Ballot have been announced and we’re excited to share that the following DMLA authors have made the list! Congratulations everyone!

Best Novel

  • The Siege of Burning Grass, Premee Mohamed, Solaris
  • The Tapestry of Time, Kate Heartfield, Voyager
  • Blackheart Man, Nalo Hopkinson, Saga Press

Best Novelette/Novella

  • The Butcher of the Forest, Premee Mohamed, Tordotcom
  • Countess, Suzan Palumbo, ECW Press

Best Fan Related Work

  • Scintillation 2024, co-chair, Jo Walton, Montreal

Deal: Melissa K. Roehrich

May 072025
 

Melissa K. Roehrich’s Legacy series, a dark fantasy romance featuring a woman bound to the heir of death who fights not only the fate thrust upon her, but the temptation to lose herself to desire, including three previously self-published books and one original title, to Alexandra Sunshine at Kensington, in a major deal, in a four-book deal, by Katie Shea Boutillier (NA).

Review: THE LAST VIGILANT by Mark A. Latham

May 052025
 

Library Journal: Children are disappearing, but only the loss of a lord’s son forces Holt Hawley into action. Once a proud soldier of the elite battalions, Hawley is now embittered and despised by his men. Tasked with finding a True Vigilant (mythical figures said to possess extraordinary powers), Hawley knows he’s tracking a tall tale. Yet, bound by duty, he ventures into the forest, where a brutal attack leads him to Enelda Drake. While far from the stuff of legend, the old woman might be their only hope to find the children. Latham (The Red Tower), known for his steampunk novels and Sherlock Holmes pastiches, skillfully brings his knack for plotting mysteries and investigations into an epic fantasy setting. The multilayered machinations and propulsive pacing will grip readers, but the book’s greatest strength lies in its characters. Enelda and Hawley form a unique and unusual pairing, and Hawley’s struggle captures the dedication of broken soldiers yearning for lost honor. VERDICT: With warmongering, political intrigue, and themes of standing up for the weak, this marks the start of a compelling fantasy series that is perfect for fans of David Dalglish and Justin Lee Anderson.

Children’s Book Council’s 2025 Librarian Favorites!

May 022025
 

Congratulations to Jose Iriarte and Shaun David Hutchinson as both BENNY RAMIREZ AND THE NEARLY DEPARTED and SCHOOL FOR INVISIBLE BOYS made the Children’s Book Council’s 2025 Librarian Favorites list, and their 2025 Teacher Favorites list!

April Subsidiary Deals

Apr 302025
 

a pair of black ear budsAudio rights to Victoria Goddard’s THE HANDS OF THE EMPEROR and AT THE FEET OF THE SUN, to Kim Budnick at Tantor Media, in a two-book deal, by Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure and Dylan Haston (World English).

April Translation Deals

Apr 302025
 

Croatian rights to New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s THE AERONAUT’S WINDLASS and THE OLYMPIAN AFFAIR, Books 1 and 2 of The Cinder Spires, to Lumen, by Milena Kaplarević at Prava i Prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Hungarian rights to New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher’s COLD DAYS, Book 14 of The Dresden Files, to Delta Vision, by Nada Popovic at Prava i Prevodi in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Hungarian rights to Michael Livingston’s NEVER GREATER SLAUGHTER, to Peko, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Polish rights to Robert McCammon’s THE PROVIDENCE RIDER, to Vesper, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

Polish rights to Katherine Addison’s THE GOBLIN EMPEROR, to Nowa Basn, by Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Cameron McClure.

Portuguese rights to New York Times bestselling author Tamsyn Muir’s GIDEON THE NINTH, the first book in the Locked Tomb series, to Infinito Particular, by Elena Rodríguez at International Editors’ Co. in association with Michael Curry for Jennifer Jackson.

Ukrainian rights to LJ Andrews’s THE BROKEN KINGDOMS SERIES, to Bookchef, in a three-book deal, by Milena Kaplarevic at Prava i Prevodi on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier.

Ukrainian rights to Caitlin Starling’s THE STARVING SAINTS, to Yakaboo, by Prava I Prevodi, on behalf of Katie Shea Boutillier for Caitlin McDonald.

Deal: Nicolina Torres

Apr 282025
 

Nicolina Torres’s NIGHT OF THE MALLRATS, pitched as for fans of Christopher Pike and Paul Tremblay, a horror novel in which a group of former classmates travel back in time to a suburban mall on Christmas 1994 to investigate the disappearance of their friend and the murder of her boyfriend, to Liz Velez at Harper Perennial, at auction, by Kiana Nguyen at Donald Maass Literary Agency (world English) Film/TV rights: Sugar 23

Review: BROKEN SOULS AND BONES by LJ Andrews

Apr 212025
 

Booklist: Prolific romantasy author Andrews (Broken Kingdoms series, beginning with Curse of Shadows and Thorns, 2021) offers an exciting first entry in a Norse-inspired series. The power of a melder is one that kings have killed for. Lyra Bien has such power and has tried to keep it hidden it since the night of the raids. But secrets don’t stay secret forever, and Lyra is betrayed and sent to Stonegate, the royal fortress of Jorvondal. Roark Ashwood, a deadly warrior with secrets of his own, is tasked with escorting Lyra and guarding her from potential threats. Roark despises melders, whose power he views as corrupt. And how could Lyra trust a Draven, Jorvondal’s sworn enemy? Undeniably drawn together, though, they begin to really see each other. Lyra imagines the hands Roark uses to speak doing more. Roark begins to fall for the melder with silver in her eyes.  But will power and betrayal ultimately tear them apart? Expertly weaving together loyalty, love, and lore, Broken Souls and Bones offers a compelling narrative that will have romantasy readers enthralled.

Kirkus’s Best Books of the 21st Century

Apr 182025
 

Congratulations to Darcie Little Badger as Elatsoe was included in this fantastic round-up of Kirkus’s Best Books of the 21st Century (so far!)!

The cover of Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger featuring a young Lipan Apache woman.

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