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Author Salon Talks to Katie Shea of Donald Maass Literary  From Author Salon Interviews - Interviewer Martina Newhook Katie Shea joined the Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2011. She specializes in fiction and memoir, especially women’s fiction and commercial-scale literary fiction. She is also seeking memoir, narrative non-fiction, food, pop culture, health and lifestyle, and realistic YA. She is most interested in coming-of-age stories and stories of unique relationships. Some of her favorite authors include: Joan Didion, Mary Karr, Michael Cunningham, Alice Sebold, and Jean Kwok (Girl in Translation). She is a cum laude graduate of Marist College.
A passion for writing led Katie to the publishing business. She wrote her first novel after graduating college and wanted to understand more on "how to get published.” She landed an internship at a New York City literary agency and quickly realized how much she enjoyed the business side of publishing. As an agent she is able to fulfill her creative drive by discovering new projects. The thrill of the sale makes the hunt worthwhile. Katie looks for respectable writing with an emotionally-layered plot focusing on character relationships.
Almost all of my clients are debut writers. I really like working with them because I have a connection with writers who are trying to break out into the publishing industry. There is passion, dedication, hard work, and hope in these authors who are looking to find that soul who will fall in love with their project just like we have. - Katie Shea
When I find a writer I want to work with, they have all of the above: heart, life-understanding, smarts, and passion. I feel their story in my bones, just as they felt it while they wrote it. - Katie Shea
AS: Katie, tell us, why get into this business, especially now that there is such uncertainty in the industry? I got into this business because I have a passion for writing. I wrote my first novel after graduating college and wanted to understand more on "how to get published." I took an internship at a NYC literary agency and it went from there. Now I'm hooked! AS: What factors or instincts drive you as an agent to choose one writer's ms over another? I'm looking for respectable writing with an emotionally-layered plot line focusing on character relationships. My most important factors in choosing an ms concern both passion and mind. My heart has got to be in it, and I must believe that I can sell it. When these two are both saying 'yes' then I most certainly pick one over another. Other factors include: how much work it needs, author's background, future projects, and agent/author connection. AS: At one time, publishing houses published authors. Now they publish books. Is it harder now to break in a new author? Which genres are more friendly to debut writers? It's always hard to break out as a new author. When an editor finds a debut writer he/she loves, they must convince everyone else in their department how special this author's project is and the potential of sales. A lot of money that goes into a debut writer so everyone who is behind this author must truly believe in the project. Almost all of my clients are debut writers. I love working with them because I have a connection with writers who are trying to break out. There is passion, dedication, hard work, and hope in these authors who are looking to find that soul who will fall in love with their project just like we have. Mainstream genres, I believe, are the easiest to work with: women's fiction and literary fiction to be specific. AS: What‘s overdone now? In what genre are year-to-date deals trending? As far as what I look for, I don't think anything is ever overdone. Authors must make sure that their story line is unique and their delivery is powerful. There is no particular genre that produces trending books because normally, these books have a little bit of everything all beautifully structured throughout the book: love, war, hate, history, art, family, parenthood, struggle etc. These are the types of books I look for - a story line that touches on every aspect of life. AS: Based on our experience, platform and credentials are more important than ever. What role does platform play in your decision these days? Credentials? Does it depend on the genre? Platform is important, especially when dealing with memoir. However, I can respect a writer for his/her talent alone even if they do not have many pieces published. There are some talented writers out there who are breaking out and don't even have a Twitter account. For debut writers, I put literary awards on my highest scale (most impressive) and published works next. Previously published novels are also quite impressive, but I do consider who published it and how it ranks on Amazon. AS: Is there an aspect of craft that is particularly important to you? Conversely, what do you see that irritates you in terms of style and form? Why? Writing is an art form. When I'm on the hunt for new writers (reading through queries), I am emotionally connected to each query. I can tell whether or not a writer truly understands what he/she is trying to tell the world through their project. Is there a message here? Is there heartache? Is there REAL emotion? Are they being completely honest as a writer to their own story? Writers must understand that giving it all makes the story better. Understanding the life around you, with all of its characters and emotions, makes you a fantastic writer. Being able to take your reader to a whole new world, outside of what we know and inside to what they know. I can tell immediately if a writer is in-tune to their emotion and past relationships. What irritates me the most is when a writer has a outside-the-box book idea, but has no clue how to deliver it. The delivery of the story all comes through how much the writer truly understands what he/she is writing - really figuring out how the best-of-the-best do it. Making up a breakthrough premise is just the beginning. Then comes characters, structure, plot line, voice, and pace. Can you execute it? I believe in the art of storytelling. I believe that everyone has a story behind them, and if they are honest with themselves and are able to let it out in a beautifully-written novel, they have it. Being able to connect with a universe is extremely difficult, but the first step is to be able to connect with yourself. Do not hold anything back. When I find a writer I want to work with, they have all of the above: heart, life-understanding, smarts, and passion. I feel their story in my bones, just as they felt it while they wrote it.
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