Emily S. Keyes
Literary Agent
Founder of the Keyes Agency, LLC. Bookish. Short. Invisible Disability. Brooklyn, NY. She/her
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1472541069053247488/-Pst0M6f_bigger.jpg)
Literary Agent
tl;dr When I took a fantasy literature class in college, it started with British folklore, then King Arthur then LOTR. These are still the foundations of most fantasy stories. Why?
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1472541069053247488/-Pst0M6f_bigger.jpg)
Literary Agent
I'd also love to see historical fantasy (which is hard because you have to world build AND do tons of research, I know) about very specific times and places that aren't England during medieval times.
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1472541069053247488/-Pst0M6f_bigger.jpg)
Literary Agent
Further, our fantasy now is very heavily influenced by Tolkien and he set out specifically to write a "mythology for England". And what I'd love to see is a "mythology of [X non-western] country." (2/?)
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1472541069053247488/-Pst0M6f_bigger.jpg)
Literary Agent
An update to an on-going #MSWL. I love non-western fantasy. And some people seem to think "just making it up" is non-western. It's not. So much of the fantasy we are familiar with is rooted in European folklore (fairies, dwarves, etc). 1/?
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1472541069053247488/-Pst0M6f_bigger.jpg)
Literary Agent
I watched one of those documentaries about how Edward VIII was a Nazi and stuff. And I saw him say "Bertie was a good boy it was that bitch he married [or whatever]" who got us exiled. And I was like "ooh I would love a fantasy book abut the bitch who exiled all the Nazis! #MSWL
![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1472541069053247488/-Pst0M6f_bigger.jpg)
Literary Agent
Emily S. Keyes @esc_key
I always struggle to put words to my wants on #MSWL day.![](https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1472541069053247488/-Pst0M6f_bigger.jpg)
Literary Agent
This was my most recent #MSWL post. esckeyes.tumblr.com/post/139111809…