Elana Roth Parker

I updated my #MSWL listing now that I'm looking for adult fiction too. Nutshell: commercial, escapist, fun or thrilling reads in MG, YA and adult. manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/elan…

I only do MG and YA. My taste leans commercial and escapist and ultimately…fun. Big imaginations. Joy of adventure. Humor. Romance. Big feelings. I’ts okay if we’re not a match. There’s a bazillion agents these days. #MSWL

I feel like I need to clarify what I mean about books that make me happy. I'm NOT looking for books that ARE HAPPY all the way through. That's nuts. Books need conflict and complications and ups and downs. I am looking for books that MAKE ME HAPPY. #MSWL

I have more space for MG on my list than YA. My YA list is really healthy and active. In either case, I'm looking for people who complement it, but don't replicate it. (Does that make sense?)

MG:
- I like zany humor and mad-cap adventures. (See TIME VILLAINS and 7TH GRADE V. GALAXY on my list.)
- Epic fantasy is great—but the more original the world the better.
- A sense of FUN and POSSIBILITY and MAGIC (doesn't have to be literal magic, but it doesn't hurt).

Let's talk #MSWL! (Is this still a useful hashtag? I'm so rusty.) When I reopen on 3/1, I'll want...

MG/YA generally:
- I want books that make me happy. I do not want to be depressed.
- Things really need to stand out right now. BIG concepts. BIG feels. BIG twists.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Does anyone write MG or YA without dead parents? With alive, loving parents? With semi-functional families? Anyone? #MSWL

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