Elana Roth Parker
@ElanaRoth
Children’s and YA literary agent with @LDLiterary , bourbon lover, weekly challah baker, Trekkie, Ravenclaw, stepmom, mom. Still not Elena.
Detroit, MI
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · Jan 23
Fantasy is a tough one right now for me. I think I'm more game for fantastical elements in MG/YA rather than "capital F Fantasy." Weave something speculative into something ordinary. Riff. Innovate. Iterate. #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · Jan 23
I'd be interested in seeing MG or YA that explores step-families in an interesting, nuanced way. I have step-parents, step-siblings, a former step-parent, former step-siblings, a new "step-mom" i.e. dad's third wife. It's rich. #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · Jan 23
I really have more room for PBs, MGs and perhaps some graphic novels on my list. I'm generally hungry for more illustrated work. Author/illustrators only for the PBs. I like a whimsical, quirky book. Not too over-the-top. Has to have an emotional core. #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · Jan 23
I've been toying with adding more witches for both MG and YA, but not standard New England/Salem brand stuff and not cutesy like we see in MG a lot. It has to offer something fresh to the trope. #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · Jan 23
All things being equal, I'm *not* looking for murdery/thriller YA books right now. I have two incredible clients writing in that category, and my list is small. #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · Jan 23
On the whole, I'm looking for page-turning, escapist, transporting MG and YA fiction. Light on trauma. Big on feelings—humor, romance, friendship, family connections. #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 24 Sep 2019
I read for FUN. Swooning and rapid-page-turning and feeling all the feels is part of that! Get me out of my head for a little while. #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 24 Sep 2019
Okay. Here it is. For reals. I want books that make me feel like this: #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 24 Sep 2019
In this vein, I am always up for books that have interesting family dynamics with kids who have to figure out who they are in that context, especially in contrast to their parents. How they fit into the fabric and how they can also be themselves. #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 24 Sep 2019
Thing I’ve noticed: my YA list skews more girl, and my MG list more boy. I’d like to balance that, but still maintaining my overarching tastes: high concept, good plots, not-issue-books, joy and exploration and fantasy (both literal and just escapism). #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 24 Sep 2019
My MG #MSWL is basically this: if Rick Riordan Presents would publish it, I want it. Epic fantasy adventures that I haven’t seen million times already. With humor and loads of imagination.
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 24 Sep 2019
Ah #MSWL day. My perennial list is here, with some updates at the bottom: elana.me/wish-list. I’ll try to tweet some more “specific” things today, but I try not to be too laundry-list-y on this stuff. Just try me!
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 4 Sep 2019
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
Also I’m certainly not saying parents NEEEEEED to be alive to query me. But if you spent any time in my queries, you’d wonder if there were any other launching points besides major trauma. Kids can be interesting AND come from intact families. Is all I’m saying... #MSWL pic.twitter.com/AooESpIyH0In fact, I’d just love to see stories from kids in a variety of family structures that WORK. The beauty of a family is that there is no defined shape to a loving support network. Show me! #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 4 Sep 2019
Also I’m certainly not saying parents NEEEEEED to be alive to query me. But if you spent any time in my queries, you’d wonder if there were any other launching points besides major trauma. Kids can be interesting AND come from intact families. Is all I’m saying... #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 4 Sep 2019
Does anyone write MG or YA without dead parents? With alive, loving parents? With semi-functional families? Anyone? #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 13 Mar 2019
It's been a minute (or 8,000) since I worked on my own website, but...I did! I finally added client info (always in progress) and an #MSWL page. And gave it a visual update. Killed the blog (because...ugh, blogs). Give it a look (if you care😜)... elana.me
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 29 Jan 2019
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
I feel like every single query I read tonight had a car crash and dead people in it. Is everyone okay? Do we need to talk?So jumping off last night’s tweet…my threshold for suffering is pretty low. I’d love to see less punishing stuff in my inbox. More escapist. Fanciful. Fantastical. Inventive. Romantic. Just loads less…death? MG/YA. #mswl
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 8 Jan 2019
Diane Magras ⚔🏰🏴 @dianemagras
For every #mglit author of adventure, fantasy, & sci-fi who is seeing your book left off lists of adults' favorites: Our books are often considered less serious because of our genres—but they're the books that often stay in kids' minds, the books that kids reread. Courage.I love this thread. It speaks exactly to the kind of books I love and want to work on and why I want to work on them. #MSWL
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth · 3 Jan 2019
I *really* want to do more author/illustrator picture books and illustrated projects in general. For a sense of my taste, these are my clients: ldlainc.com/illustrators #MSWL