Donald Maass Literary Agency

[lweinberg18]

Originally Posted by Anna L.

Jennifer Jackson stats

Query: Jan 19
Partial request: Jan 20
Full request: Jan 25
Rejection with explanation: March 28

I'm a bit heartbroken but she said Cameron is going to read it too and get back to me.

BitterSWEET news though! She must recognize its great merit!

Ms. Jackson was quick to toss me an R.

[Anna L.]

Thank you for the cheering up, Paul and Lane.

At least Jennifer didn't advise Cameron not to bother reading my manuscript. It can't be THAT bad, then.

[Beckstah]

Aww, I'm sorry, Anna, but it sounds like you're so close. I hope Cameron loves it, and that we all get to read your book soon - personally, I would be ALL OVER some LBGT Japanese steampunk.

[JL_Benet]

An agent from the Donald Maass agency will be at the In Your Write Mind Retreat/Conference at Seton Hill University on June 22-24, 2012. She'll be teaching modules, giving lectures and doing pitch sessions. This might be a good chance to get an in with the agency that puts you ahead of the normal slush pile.

https://alumni.setonhill.edu/page.aspx?pid=673

[Anaquana]

Originally Posted by JL_Benet

An agent from the Donald Maass agency will be at the In Your Write Mind Retreat/Conference at Seton Hill University on June 22-24, 2012. She'll be teaching modules, giving lectures and doing pitch sessions. This might be a good chance to get an in with the agency that puts you ahead of the normal slush pile.

https://alumni.setonhill.edu/page.aspx?pid=673

I didn't recognize her name, Jennifer Udden, so I googled her and I can't find anything about her on the DMLA website and her own website has expired. The only connections I find between her and DMLA are her Twitter and Google+ contacts and one author listing her as his agent along with Stacia Decker.

So, simply to sate my curiosity, does anybody know if Jen is a full-time agent or is she an agent-in-training?

(I could probably ask Cameron about her, but she's still on maternity leave and I don't want to bug her with silly questions like this)

[lweinberg18]

Originally Posted by Anaquana

I didn't recognize her name, Jennifer Udden, so I googled her and I can't find anything about her on the DMLA website and her own website has expired. The only connections I find between her and DMLA are her Twitter and Google+ contacts and one author listing her as his agent along with Stacia Decker.

So, simply to sate my curiosity, does anybody know if Jen is a full-time agent or is she an agent-in-training?

(I could probably ask Cameron about her, but she's still on maternity leave and I don't want to bug her with silly questions like this)

I'd think agent-in-training, or a new associate. BUT don't quote me on that!

[PeteMC]

Sorry to hear that Anna, let's hope Cameron takes it up. I'm still waiting hear from Jennifer on my full, and my fingernails are getting ragged...

[Anna L.]

Originally Posted by PeteMC

Sorry to hear that Anna, let's hope Cameron takes it up. I'm still waiting hear from Jennifer on my full, and my fingernails are getting ragged...

Shouldn't be long now. Hang in there.

[Krista G.]

Just wanted to let everyone know that Katie Shea will be judging next week's round of "An Agent's Inbox" on my blog. Details will go up this Friday, so I'll be back then with a direct link to that post!

[Becca C.]

I'd all but given up on the manuscript I'd been querying, but I got a partial request this morning from Amy Boggs on a query I sent back in December. Made my day! there's always hope, lol.

[Krista G.]

Here's that link!

http://www.motherwrite.blogspot.com/...est-alert.html

We'd love to see you over there!

[Mustafa]

Originally Posted by Becca C.

I'd all but given up on the manuscript I'd been querying, but I got a partial request this morning from Amy Boggs on a query I sent back in December. Made my day! there's always hope, lol.

5 months on a query, darn, I guess I have a while to wait. I queried Ms. Boggs a little over a month ago.

[Krista G.]

As Ms. Shea and I were discussing exactly what kinds of manuscripts she wants to see in next week's contest, she gave me a few details that I thought everyone might find helpful, especially since I couldn't find a lot of information on her tastes when I was querying.

In her own words: "Specifically I am looking for fiction--heartfelt, emotional, realistic, dramatic, family-related, character-driven stories. A strong voice must be present. I want to connect with the main character; I will go anywhere with them. I love interesting settings and time periods, BUT nothing past the 20th century.

"I'm looking for female (or male) characters with unique life situations they are going through, but take us through a journey of heartache and hardship to come to a beautiful conclusion, while involving in-depth personal relationships with others who join them in their journey. I love love, but this must be true love, real love, love that I can feel through the pages, with sincere passion and longevity."

She also mentioned that she was looking for commercial and/or women's fiction along the lines of THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE, THE NOTEBOOK, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, and THE LOVELY BONES, among others. Hope this helps!

[jeffo20]

Thanks a ton, Krista - I hope to get in!

[PeteMC]

Received a personal rejection from Jennifer Jackson on my full. Plenty of very useful feedback but, sadly, still a no.

I reserve the right to be upset for a maximum of one week before it gets sent out again!

[Beckstah]

I'm so sorry, Pete! Getting such detailed feedback from Jennifer Jackson is SO HUGE, though. I'm sure another agent will snatch you right up. But until then, yes, sometimes you just need to wallow for a bit.

[Jessica_312]

OK, SO...

I queried Donald Maass a little over a year ago on a novel via snail mail. Within four weeks (closer to three weeks) I had a very nice, personalized rejection in the mail. (It was the first rejection I ever received as it was the first query I had ever sent, and receiving such a nice, personalized letter really encouraged me).

Flash forward. I just finished my recent novel (my first attempt at YA) and began querying. I sent my query to Donald Maass about two months ago, and haven't seen a response yet. Last time the response was very quick, and their website says response time is "up to four weeks", so I'm wondering if I should write this off as rejection? Or has the response time been delayed? Of course, being the worrier that I am, I've been freaking out thinking I forgot to stamp my SASE, or it got lost in the mail....

[Clovia]

Sent a query May 10, no response as of yet. The stats for Ms. Boggs over on querytracker show varying response times, so there's still hope

hope that I didn't just curse myself.

[StellaArgentum]

I queries Amy Boggs in mid-March (way before she closed to queries) and never heard back. Kind of a bummer, I thought she'd be a great fit for my book.

[52greg]

Jennifer Udden is looking at one of my novels now. She asked to see a synopsis and sample chapter at a recent writers conference.

[StellaArgentum]

So, after querying Amy Boggs in March (and not hearing anything after 3 months), I queried Cameron McClure in mid-June ... and heard nothing. It states on the DMLA website that they respond to all (properly submitted) queries -- and I followed their guidelines both times. But are they becoming a no-reply-means-no agency?

I'd really like to re-query Cameron McClure to make sure she received my query. Would the two-month mark be too soon for that?

[Polenth]

Originally Posted by StellaArgentum

So, after querying Amy Boggs in March (and not hearing anything after 3 months), I queried Cameron McClure in mid-June ... and heard nothing. It states on the DMLA website that they respond to all (properly submitted) queries -- and I followed their guidelines both times. But are they becoming a no-reply-means-no agency?

Amy Boggs does appear to be replying still, but she's very behind.

[Dryad]

Maybe this info would be helpful for you. Cameron McClure has my partial now. I queried 5-19 and received her request for my first 100 pages 7-3. I certainly hope she likes it.

[StellaArgentum]

Originally Posted by Dryad

Maybe this info would be helpful for you. Cameron McClure has my partial now. I queried 5-19 and received her request for my first 100 pages 7-3. I certainly hope she likes it.

Thank you, Dryad -- that is helpful. I think I will re-query her at the end of the month if I have not heard back (since she currently appears to have a 2-month reply window).

[CobraMisfit]

I'd like to query Cameron McClure, but the agency website is a little confusing. On the "submissions" page, they state all submissions need to be sent to the info (at) maassagency (dot) com, but on Ms. McClure's bio page, it lists a specific e-mail and different requirements (i.e. no synopsis).

Any experience or advice with this?