Elana Roth Parker
Literary Agent
Laura Dail Literary Agency
Kidlit agent w/ @LDLiterary , bourbon lover, challah baker, Trekkie for life, new quilter, stepmom, mom. Still not Elena. She/her.

Literary Agent

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

Literary Agent
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

Literary Agent
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

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
I'm reopening to queries on Monday, January 11th. In advance of that: some #MSWL for the new year! Don't know how NEW any of this is, but...hey, fresh content for the timeline. pic.twitter.com/5BAqU4ZiFoForever 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

Literary Agent
NYT Metro @NYTMetro
A century ago in New York, a very large wedding took place — not in spite of the Spanish flu epidemic ravaging the city but precisely because of it nyti.ms/2AxaMdpThis 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

Literary Agent
Elana Roth Parker @ElanaRoth
My consultation spots for Black #kidlit authors are now full. But I will add more every month (no end date planned) and post the links when available. Meanwhile, I'm always happy to chat on Twitter for general questions. elana.me/consultationsAnd 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

Literary Agent

Literary Agent
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

Literary Agent
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

Literary Agent
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

Literary Agent
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

Literary Agent
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

Literary Agent
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

Literary Agent
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

Literary Agent
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

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

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

Literary Agent
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