Hi, Emily! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I’m originally a small-town girl and now a lifelong journalist in Washington, D.C. who discovered a love for actually making things up (aka writing fiction) in my spare time. I’ve been a food writer for the Washington Post for the last seven years, but my career has taken a few turns: I covered policy in Congress, and was the Post’s gossip columnist for years.

I’m happiest when I’m cooking, hosting parties, doing puzzles, trolling antique malls, trying new restaurants, and kayaking with my husband.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I was a huge reader as a kid, but my passion for storytelling really started when I was 16 and landed a job at my local small-town newspaper writing feature stories. Five bucks an hour to ask nosy questions and peep into the lives of strangers? I was sold.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
• The one that made you want to become an author: Last Chance Saloon by Sophie Kinsella (I was a recent graduate from a serious college English program, and ran across it in the laundry-room basement of my apartment building while waiting for my clothes to dry. It was so funny and real and unlike anything I had been taught was Good Literature. I didn’t write fiction until years later, but this was the book that made me think I could someday.)
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Your debut novel, A Pinch of Magic, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

A cozy paranormal with heart!

What can readers expect?

The book has elements of romance, mystery, family drama (and there’s a ghost!) but the story is at its core about a woman who learns to step outside her comfort zone and finds the courage to embrace a happiness she never knew she wanted.

Where did the inspiration for A Pinch of Magic come from?

The initial idea was a kind of hook I thought of – “what if a ghostwriter met an actual ghost?” –  and I developed the plot from there. And then in writing it, I drew heavily on my own life. The quirky setting –  the fictional coastal-Virginia town of Silver Cove –  is a dead ringer for my charming hometown. And Birdie, the main character’s grandmother, has a lot of my late, beloved mom in her. I put so much of my own passion for food, old houses, libraries, and books in it, too.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I adored writing Ada, the book’s resident 1920s-era ghost. Her sections are written in a first-person point of view, which was a refreshing change-up for me. I had so much fun channelling her boldness and her saucy takes on modern life.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I got stuck at a few points along the way, where I hadn’t entirely fleshed out the plot ahead of time, but had rather yada-yadaed it. I was flummoxed when I got to the point where my outline said something vague like “and then they solve the mystery!” but I hadn’t quite figured out how. But I got through it by asking a lot of what-if questions and by skipping ahead and writing the ending. That helped me see ways to connect the part where I was bogged down to the final scenes I knew I wanted.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

Every step is both a learning process and a new reason to turn into an absolute stress case! It makes me admire all the more those writers out there who have been doing this for years. But truly, it’s a dream.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on the edits for my second book, which I’m just as thrilled about as my debut. It is slated to come out in September of next year, and shares many elements of A Pinch of Magic – the same setting, lots of delicious food, a cozy and heartfelt vibe, and a touch of the supernatural.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

I can’t wait to read The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman, whose book Practical Magic is living in my head right now (I’m currently working on the manuscript for a novel about women with a magical familial power). And one of my favorites this year has been Best Offer Wins by my talented former Postie colleague Marisa Kashino. It’s not my usual genre, but the main character is unhinged in the most relatable, terrifying way.

Will you be picking up A Pinch of Magic? Tell us in the comments below!

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