Elana Roth Parker

Okee dokee. Queries are reopened. I see some of you are already on that! But here’s a re-up of last week’s #MSWL thread. #querytip

Major emphasis on marginalized creators doing all of the above. Kids of all backgrounds and identities and abilities being KIDS. #MSWL

At the moment, I'd say I want to see YA and MG that leads with joy. Falling in love. Doing something exciting. Exploring new worlds. Kids with quirky passions. Humor. Families (of all configurations) that love each other. #MSWL

I call my taste "timeless meets timely" meaning I like books that lean into a genre or trope but spin it for a modern reader. Fairytales? Princesses? Magical creatures? Sci-fi adventures? Great! Update it. #MSWL

I like fantasy and fanciful books, but it has to offer something new. High-fantasy YA was my biggest query category in 2020 and had the highest rejection rate as a result. I'd prefer contemporary with a splash, or just something really fresh. #MSWL #querytip

Forever and always: commercial, plot-driven fiction for MG and YA. I have more room for MG. I am flexible on genre, but don't love gore or problem novels. I'm more interested in kids going on adventures than Only Suffering With Issues. (obvs kids do have issues in life) #MSWL

This is the kind of obscure Eastern European Jewish superstition content I am here for. (Though this is pretty macabre.) And if you managed to weave it into a YA novel with the actual magical part? Yes. #mswl

And not to conflate things, I have never stopped looking for Black voices to add to my list of authors. If you write fun, escapist stories for MG or YA, I'm here! Currently hungry for rom-coms and light fantasy, but open to an adventure. elana.me/wish-list #mswl

And I will most assuredly miss lots of pitches today (yay kids at home!). My queries are open regardless of today's event. I'm always looking for funny, madcap adventures in MG and big sweeping escapist stories in YA (all genres, but not the bloody ones). #DVpit #MSWL

In our constant struggle over car music, I introduced the 5yo to "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" today. And now I want that MG or YA graphic novel. #MSWL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I do NOT want books that make me feel like this: #MSWL

Okay. Here it is. For reals. I want books that make me feel like this: #MSWL

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