1--What is the title of your latest release?
THE OTHERWHERE POST
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
It’s the story of a young woman named Maeve whose father committed a terrible crime. Because of it, she’s had to live in hiding, fearful of others discovering whose daughter she is, until the day receives an anonymous letter stating that her father was actual innocent. To discover the truth, she sneaks her way into the Otherwhere Post’s courier apprentice program, where she’ll be trained in scriptomancy—a dangerous magic that allows couriers to enchant letters and deliver them to other worlds.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Shortly after I came up with the idea for a post office that delivered enchanted letters across a multiverse, I took a trip to Edinburgh. The gothic buildings had this cool black sediment dripping down their stonework and almost looked ink-stained. I felt like I was standing somewhere outside of time. That moment inspired me to set my story in an ancient university city that could give readers that same feeling I had.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Of course! I love all my characters dearly (cough cough Tristan Byrne), but Maeve Abenthy holds a special place in my heart. But Maeve has deep trust issues and prefers her own company, so there’s a good chance she wouldn’t want to hang out with me!
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Prickly. Determined. Loner.
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
The magic system in my book is called scriptomancy, and it’s all writing based. So to get it right, I did research on the history of the craft of writing—from quill feathers to inks to how to fold parchment into envelopes and the use of wax seals. Did you know molted feathers of predator birds make good quills? And even the smallest acidity in ink can burn holes through documents over centuries? These little tidbits all helped to shape my magic.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I’m definitely a layerer! My first drafts are pretty spare in everything from world building to my line-level sentence structures. My favorite part of the process is in revision when I go through and layer in all the things that make a story rich. Sometimes I even double my wordcounts and have to delete.
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I am such a foodie—give me all the fancy restaurants and tasting menus! But lately, I’ve been really into ramen. It’s perfect for the frigid Minnesota winter I’m currently living through.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
I call it Chaos Office. It looks like Howl’s bedroom from Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle. Pilled with books, a magpie collection of ephemera stacked on shelves and pinned on walls, plants (I’m a plant-o-phile), crystals, weird little knickknacks from travels, and multiple cups of coffee and water. One cannot be too hydrated.
10--Who is an author you admire?
It’s impossible to pick just one! Laini Taylor, Holly Black, and Juliet Marillier are three of my absolute favorites—and huge influences on my writing.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
There are two. Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt was my gateway into romance and gothic literature, and Twilight was my gateway into YA.
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
After reading so many horror stories about submission, I was expecting it to take forever. But it happened fast. A couple days after going out with my first book, Hotel Magnifique, one of my amazing agents called to tell me that an editor loved it. She then asked me to send my schedule in case more editors were interested and wanted to do calls. Well, they did! By the next day, I had a handful of calls scheduled, and we went to auction. I worked on that book for years, so to have it sell so quickly was a whirlwind, life-changing, tear-filled week!
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
Exactly what I love to write—fantasy with romance and mystery. But I’m a total mood reader and read widely. I love historical romance, thrillers, and big scifi—basically any great story with a compelling hook and characters I can root for. Pitch me a big cool idea I’ve never heard before and I will read it.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
Too many, but the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice probably takes the top spot. The rain scene is my roman empire. Basic, I know. Ugh, it’s just so good.
15--What is your favorite season?
Spring, specifically for the rain (my all-time favorite weather) and the scent of petrichor!
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Walk, massage, sushi + wine. In that order. Maybe catching a basketball game from the comfort of my couch.
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I just zipped through the first season of Silo and started the second. Rebecca Ferguson is phenomenal. And I recently read an early copy of Lyssa Mia Smith’s new YA fantasy GILDED IN VENGEANCE, and it was so much fun! Highly recommend.
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Sushi. Eggs. Ice cream that’s not chocolate.
19--What do you do when you have free time?
I have two little kids, so free time is rare these days, but I love to walk—I’m obsessed! All my best ideas come from my subconscious while walking.
20--What can readers expect from you next?
Another lush, high-stakes dark fantasy with a swoony romance and a totally unique magic system.
The New York Times bestselling author of Hotel Magnifique returns with another glittering dark fantasy about a deadly mystery that spans worlds and a teenage girl who must risk everything to uncover the truth.
Seven years ago, Maeve Abenthy lost everything: her world, her father, even her name. Desperate to escape the stain of her father’s crimes, she lives under a fake name, never staying in one place long enough to put down roots.
Then she receives a mysterious letter with four impossible words: Your father was innocent.
To uncover the truth, she poses as an apprentice for the Otherwhere Post, where she’ll be trained in the art of scriptomancy—the dangerous magic that allows couriers to enchant letters and deliver them to other worlds. But looking into her father’s past draws more attention than she’d planned.
Her secretive, infuriatingly handsome mentor knows she’s lying about her identity, and time is running out to convince him to trust her. Worse, she begins to receive threatening letters, warning her to drop her investigation—or else. For Maeve to unravel the mystery of what happened seven years ago, she may have to forfeit her life.
Young Adult Fantasy | Fantasy Dark | Fantasy Romance [G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, On Sale: February 25, 2025, Hardcover / e-Book , ISBN: 9780593404546 / eISBN: 9780593404553]
Emily was born and raised in California and has since refused to stay put. She's lived in four states and two continents, all of which have conveniently given her an endless amount of story fodder. She currently works as a creative director in Minneapolis, where she spends the long winters dreaming up glittering worlds to spin into dark tales.
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