We chat with author Lia Riley about The E.M.M.A Effect, which is a brand-new Jane Austen inspired story featuring an AI program that may know more about love than you think.
Hi, Lia! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hey everyone! I’m Lia Riley (she/her) and I’m work in higher education by day, and write romance by night. My recent series is the Regals Hockey Romance series…Austen-inspired hockey romance. In Puck & Prejudice, my goalie hero accidentally travels through time and ends up in Regency England where he’s rescued by a contemporary of Jane Austen (tropes include: marriage of convenience, time travel and only one bed). In The E.M.M.A Effect, my heroine’s sports AI application becomes sentient and starts matchmaking her with her best friend’s little brother whose a professional hockey player (tropes include: friends-to-lovers, age gap, slight forbidden). I’m a huge fan of Korean dramas and co-host Afternoona Delight, a podcast that explores Korean dramas through a romance writing lens (starting our fifth year!). I hid some K-drama easter eggs in both stories. I’m also ARMY and very involved in the BTS fandom.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I started writing fan fiction in elementary school, though I didn’t know what to call it then. I’ve always loved everything about books—from hushed libraries to cozy bookstores to the hallowed Scholastic Book Fair. While I majored in Creative Writing in college, I didn’t truly understand how to be a working writer, or even what kind of writer I wanted to be, until I reflected on my lifelong love of genre fiction, particularly romance.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Trumpet of the Swan by E.B White
- The one that made you want to become an author: Anne of Green Gables, by L.M Montgomery
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
Your latest novel, The E.M.M.A. Effect, is out December 2nd! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
He likes following her lead 😉
What can readers expect?
While this story has plenty of humor and lightness—the banter, yearning, and the romantic chemistry—internal conflict remains at its heart, something I weave into all my work. In The E.M.M.A. Effect, my hockey hero carries traumatic baggage that directly impacts his gameplay, creating moments where his past collides with his present in ways that are both heartbreaking and ultimately transformative.
Where did the inspiration for The E.M.M.A. Effect come from?
I didn’t want to do another time travel book, but I wanted a fun fresh take on Jane Austen’s EMMA. I also wanted to center Harriet as a heroine, and have an unexpected Emma play matchmaker.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I had so much fun crafting E.M.M.A.’s voice. As an AI character, she could easily have fallen into tired tropes—either coldly technical and distanced, or artificially dumbed down for accessibility. Instead, I gave her a tongue-in-cheek sensibility that allowed her to be both sophisticated and playful, acknowledging her artificial nature while maintaining genuine personality.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I always have doubts when I write but I have to override them—it’s a constant battle because like most writers I’m really good at getting in my head. I think any time you do a retelling or play with popular source material, there is a level of intimidation, but for me it’s always grounded in homage. I like taking the familiar and experimenting with a twist.
What’s next for you?
I will be re-releasing some old titles I got the rights back to in 2026 and as for writing new material…all I’ll say is expect the unexpected!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up in 2026?
Given that I essentially have been writing Jane Austen fan fiction, I think it’s reasonable to say I’ve also really enjoyed reading fic this year. It’s fun to go into A03 and experience the wild west in terms of plotting, tropes, story, length. I think it helped get me more into the idea of possibilities and feel liberated to swing for the fences with my own writing. My most anticipated read of 2026 is The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden.
