Meet Stacia Decker: A Literary Agent for Crime and Speculative Fiction
Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency: A Guide for Aspiring Authors
If you are a novelist looking for professional representation, you might have heard of Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency. This is one of the leading literary agencies for fiction writers, with a roster of bestselling and award-winning authors. But who are Stacia Decker and Donald Maass, and what makes their agency so special? In this article, we will give you an overview of their backgrounds, genres, clients, submission guidelines, and tips. We will also tell you why you should consider querying them if you have a novel that fits their criteria.
stacia decker donald maass literary agency
Download Zip: https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fbytlly.com%2F2ucLeE&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw192IY7qmFJyw7FZPhhlFxT
Who is Stacia Decker?
Stacia Decker is a literary agent who joined the Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2011. She represents authors of crime fiction, thrillers, suspense, historical fiction, literary fiction, speculative fiction, narrative nonfiction, and graphic novels.
Her background and experience
Stacia Decker has a BA in English from Dartmouth College and an MA in Irish Literature from Trinity College Dublin. She started her career as an editor at St. Martin's Press, where she worked on books by authors such as Louise Penny, Jacqueline Winspear, Arnaldur Indridason, Minette Walters, C.J. Box, and many others. She also edited anthologies such as Dublin Noir and Phoenix Noir.
Her genres and clients
Stacia Decker loves books that combine strong storytelling, compelling characters, original voices, and social relevance. She is especially interested in crime fiction that explores issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, identity, justice, and power. Some of her clients include Attica Locke, S.A. Cosby, Rachel Howzell Hall, Steph Cha, Alex Segura, Kellye Garrett, Ausma Zehanat Khan, John Vercher, David Joy, Laird Barron, Paul Tremblay, Grady Hendrix, Victor LaValle, Molly Tanzer, Daniel Kraus, Brian Evenson, John Langan, Paul Cornell, and many others.
Her submission guidelines and tips
Stacia Decker accepts queries via email only. You can send your query to stacia@maassagency.com with the subject line QUERY: title of your manuscript. You should include a query letter that introduces yourself and your book (genre, word count), a short synopsis (1-2 pages), and the first five pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of the email. Do not send attachments or query more than one agent at the agency at the same time.
Stacia Decker advises writers to do their research before querying agents. She says that you should read books by the agents' clients to get a sense of their tastes and preferences. She also says that you should follow the submission guidelines carefully and be patient while waiting for a response.
Who is Donald Maass?
Donald Maass is the founder and president of the Donald Maass Literary Agency. He represents authors of commercial fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, horror, young adult, and middle grade.
His background and experience
Donald Maass has a BA in English from Colgate University and an MA in American Literature from Ohio State University. He started his career as a literary agent in 1979 at the Scott Meredith Literary Agency. He founded his own agency in 1980 and has since built it into one of the most respected and successful agencies in the industry. He has sold more than 1500 novels to publishers in North America and overseas.
His genres and clients
Donald Maass is known for his expertise in developing fiction careers and helping writers craft novels that stand out from the crowd. He is looking for books that have high stakes, emotional impact, original concepts, and strong voices. Some of his clients include Anne Perry, Jim Butcher, Tad Williams, Jacqueline Carey, N.K. Jemisin, Jennifer Fallon, Elizabeth Bear, Ken Liu, Brent Weeks, Jeff Somers, Taylor Anderson, David Weber, and many others.
His books and workshops
Donald Maass is also a prolific author of books on writing craft and career development. He has written The Career Novelist (1996), Writing the Breakout Novel (2001), Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook (2004), The Fire in Fiction (2009), The Breakout Novelist (2011), Writing 21st Century Fiction (2012), The Emotional Craft of Fiction (2016), and The Breakout Code (2021). He also teaches workshops and seminars for writers around the world, based on his books and his experience as an agent.
What is the Donald Maass Literary Agency?
The Donald Maass Literary Agency is a literary agency for professional novelists. It was founded in 1980 by Donald Maass and has since grown to include nine agents and four staff members. It is based in Brooklyn, New York.
Its history and mission
The Donald Maass Literary Agency has a long history of representing bestselling and award-winning authors in various genres of fiction. It has sold books to major publishers such as Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Macmillan, Hachette, and many others. It has also sold foreign rights to more than 50 countries and film/TV rights to studios such as Netflix, Amazon Studios, HBO, Paramount Pictures, and many others.
The mission of the Donald Maass Literary Agency is to help writers achieve their artistic and commercial potential. It provides editorial guidance, contract negotiation, marketing support, career planning, and long-term partnership to its clients. It also strives to discover new voices and promote diversity and inclusion in the publishing industry.
Its agents and staff
The Donald Maass Literary Agency has nine agents who represent different genres and categories of fiction. They are:
AgentGenres/Categories
Donald MaassCommercial fiction, literary fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, horror, young adult, middle grade
Jennifer JacksonFantasy, science fiction, horror
Cameron McClureMystery/crime/suspense/thriller; literary fiction; speculative fiction; narrative nonfiction; graphic novels
Katie Shea BoutillierRomance; womens fiction; young adult; middle grade; memoir; pop culture; cookbooks; lifestyle
Amy BoggsFantasy; science fiction; young adult; middle grade; romance; mystery/suspense/thriller; historical fiction
Jenni Ferrari-AdlerLiterary fiction; upmarket commercial fiction; narrative nonfiction; memoir; food writing
Caitlin McDonaldFantasy; science fiction; young adult; middle grade; horror; graphic novels/comics
Kiana NguyenLiterary/upmarket commercial fiction with speculative or horror elements; young adult across all genres with a focus on contemporary/realistic stories or horror/paranormal stories with diverse characters/cultures/settings/voices;
Stacia DeckerCrime fiction; thrillers; suspense; historical fiction; literary fiction; speculative fiction; narrative nonfiction; graphic novels
The Donald Maass Literary Agency also has four staff members who handle the administrative and financial aspects of the agency. They are:
StaffRole
Michael CurryDirector of Operations
Angela CraftContracts Manager
Lauren AbramoRights Coordinator
Michael HooglandAccounting Manager
Its submission guidelines and tips
The Donald Maass Literary Agency accepts queries via email only. You can send your query to the email address specified on the individual agent's page. You should include a query letter that introduces yourself and your book (genre, word count), a short synopsis (1-2 pages), and the first five pages of your manuscript pasted into the body of the email. Do not send attachments or query more than one agent at the agency at the same time.
The Donald Maass Literary Agency advises writers to write books that break out of the ordinary and challenge the conventions of their genres. They say that you should write books that have high stakes, emotional impact, original concepts, and strong voices. They also say that you should follow the submission guidelines carefully and be patient while waiting for a response.
Why should you query Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency?
If you have a novel that fits the criteria of Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency, you might wonder why you should query them over other agents or agencies. Here are some reasons why:
Their reputation and success stories
Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency has a reputation for representing some of the most talented and successful authors in the industry. They have sold books to major publishers, foreign markets, and film/TV studios. They have also helped their clients win prestigious awards such as the Edgar Award, the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, the Bram Stoker Award, the Locus Award, the World Fantasy Award, and many others.
Their editorial and marketing support
Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency provides editorial guidance and feedback to their clients before and after they sell their books. They help their clients polish their manuscripts, craft their pitches, and develop their careers. They also provide marketing support and advice to their clients on how to promote their books and build their platforms.
Their vision and values
Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency has a vision of helping writers create books that make a difference in the world. They value originality, diversity, quality, and passion. They are looking for writers who have something to say and who are willing to take risks and push boundaries. They are also looking for writers who are professional, respectful, and collaborative.
Conclusion and FAQs
In conclusion, Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency is a literary agency for professional novelists who write fiction that stands out from the crowd. They represent authors of various genres and categories who have strong storytelling skills, compelling characters, original voices, and social relevance. They provide editorial guidance, contract negotiation, marketing support, career planning, and long-term partnership to their clients. They also strive to discover new voices and promote diversity and inclusion in the publishing industry.
If you are interested in querying them, you should do your research on their backgrounds, genres, clients, submission guidelines, and tips. You should also write a book that has high stakes, emotional impact, original concepts, and strong voices. You should follow the submission guidelines carefully and be patient while waiting for a response.
Here are some FAQs that might help you:
Q: How long does it take for Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency to respond to queries? A: It depends on the agent and their workload. Some agents might respond within a few weeks, while others might take several months. You can check each agent's profile page for their response time estimate. Q: Can I query more than one agent at Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency at the same time? A: No, you should only query one agent at a time. If your project is declined by one agent, you can then query another agent at the agency. Q: Can I query Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency if I have already queried other agents or agencies? A: Yes, you can query Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency if you have already queried other agents or agencies, as long as you have not signed a contract with anyone. However, you should inform them if you receive an offer of representation from another agent or agency. Q: Can I query Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency if I have self-published my book or plan to self-publish it? A: It depends on the agent and the book. Some agents might be open to considering self-published books or books that are intended to be self-published, while others might not. You should check each agent's profile page for their preferences and guidelines. Q: Can I query Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency if I have written a book that is not in their genres or categories? A: No, you should only query Stacia Decker Donald Maass Literary Agency if you have written a book that fits their genres or categories. You should do your research on their backgrounds, genres, clients, submission guidelines, and tips before querying them. 71b2f0854b