Emily S. Keyes

One thing I was thinking about this weekend while watching "Only Murders in the Building" is that I'd like more MG set in apartment buildings. It's just a way to force disparate people to interact. Genre doesn't mater. "Attack the Block" is another fun example. #mswl.

I myself am particularly interested in Maya, Aztec and Egyptian mythology. But would LOVE to learn more about others.

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?

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.

So I would love to see new new tropes emerge to decolonize the genre (both kidlit and adult). Or even to turn those traditions on their head. One book I offered on and still wish I got to rep was THE STAR TOUCHED QUEEN by @Roshani_Chokshi which mixed Indian and Greek mythology

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/?)

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/?

The @xoxopublishingg Instagram really makes you think. #mswl

Happy New Year, all! I am officially open to queries again. Be gentle with me! querymanager.com/query/EmilyKey…

Talk of diversifying STEM very interesting to me! Definitely a #MSWL

#mswl?

#mswl MG or YA NF on "lies" taught in schools (particularly interested in the Civil War, myself. Immigration also a good topic). In honor of James Loewen.

The Olympics have reminded me. I always want GIRLS in sports. Especially in #MG. #YA okay too. Wacky teams are even better, like "the Breakaways". Maybe the kid isn't "good" but really likes it anyway? Just spitballin'. #mswl

My MerMay #mswl: adorable PB with synchronized swimming mermaids. Adult feminist horror about douchebags who go on boys’ fishing trip and scary mermaid who hunts them. That is all.

#mswl!

#mswl! What is it like to be so teeeny!

And, like everyone other publishing person in the world, I would like more graphic novels. (There were two I was very excited about that went to other agents. Sad trombone.) Particularly about MG kids doing fun things? This is vague. #mswl

Not those "episode of the week", let's learn to be nice to people who have disabilities. I want the cool fun stuff they get to do after people stop being jerks! #mswl This also applies for POC, LGBTQIA and other groups that usually have "issue books." JOY BOOKS.

I guess I should post some #MSWL? I'm still a bit ~fragile~ since I'm having a lot of symptoms from my chronic illness. What I want is to find something joyous in my inbox. Especially, I was thinking last night, about people with disabilities or illness.

As promised, I am opening to queries again today. QueryManager.com/EmilyKeyes I hope I'm not jinxing it by opening before the ceremony. But I am feeling hopeful and it's been awhile.