Q&A With Harper Ross 

I’m excited and honored to be doing this Q&A with Harper Ross. Harper is the author of her debut novel, The Unwritten Rules Of Magic, which will be available on January 27th, 2026! The title alone has made me excited about reading the book! 

Q: Harper, would you please give a brief description of The Unwritten Rules Of Magic? 

A: Thank you for inviting me to speak about my story, which is set in one of Connecticut’s wealthy coastal enclaves just outside of New York. You can read the back jacket for a bit more detail, but essentially the plot involves a ghostwriter named Emerson who inherits her recently deceased father’s vintage typewriter and discovers that whatever she types comes true. At first, it feels like the best magical chance to edit her messy reality. However, each result comes with an unexpected twist, and she also begins to question how her father may have used this power to control their family. She ultimately also learns of the steep hidden cost for each wish granted. That revelation comes at a time when she is desperate to make one last wish on behalf of her daughter, leaving her with a very risky choice. 

It’s part family drama, part magical what-if, and it digs into questions about personal boundaries and what exactly makes for a wonderful life. It’s for fans of books like The Midnight Library and In Five Years, with a touch of fairy-tale danger.

Q: How long did it take you to write The Unwritten Rules Of Magic? 

A: I’d been ruminating on the idea for a while before I typed a single word. The first draft took roughly nine months to plan, plot, and develop into an actual story. I then spent another six months editing the story based on comments from a freelance editor, two author friends, and my agent, all of whom beta read successive drafts. When my agent finally took the polished manuscript out on submission, I may have chewed all my nails down to nubs. Luckily, it received interest from a few imprints. I am thrilled to have accepted an offer from St. Martin’s Press, and beyond excited to see the hardcover on bookshelves next winter.

Q: Would you say that the characters and places in The Unwritten Rules Of Magic came from real people you know and places you’ve seen? 

A: A few months before I started plotting this story, my dad passed away following a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. We had a complicated relationship, so my grief was laced with the need to reconcile the parts of him I loved with the parts that I didn’t. Anyone who grew up in chaos—whether that’s abuse, neglect, addiction, whatever—probably gets that. My childhood experiences left me with some control issues (still working on that!).

This book is fiction, and while the main characters are not replicas of my father and me, there are aspects of Emerson’s emotional journey that mirror my own (minus the magic, of course!). As such, writing this story turned out to be strangely healing. It also forced me to reevaluate my own parenting, especially now that my kids are grown(ish) and making real, high-stakes choices. I want to give them space, but it’s hard not to jump in and take control. If this story helps someone else let go of perfectionism or guilt just a little bit, I’ll call that a win.

Q: What emotions do you hope readers feel once they finish reading The Unwritten Rules Of Magic? What lessons do you hope readers learn?

A: Many themes are running through this story, including forgiveness, redemption, and judgment. But perhaps the most significant point I hope the story makes is to not let fear of the unknown—or the desire for a particular future—rob you of cherishing each day of your one beautiful, messy life. Also, have faith in your resilience. In a world that feels like it’s spinning faster every day, keeping that in mind is more important than ever.

Q: If there were to be a sequel to The Unwritten Rules Of Magic, what would the characters be doing right now?

A: Hmm… This is difficult to answer without giving away any spoilers. At the beginning of any sequel, Emerson would publish her own novel with a new love at her side. Her mother, Dorothy, would be sober and living in Darien, happy and thriving at the literacy foundation she formed. Emerson’s daughter, Sadie, would pursue her dreams in college without undue influence. Of course, all good stories need conflict to arise. Having learned her lesson with the typewriter, Emerson would no longer turn to magic to cure her problems, so I’d also need to imagine some other kind of trouble for her to fall into. Right now, I prefer to give the whole family a break and let them enjoy the fruits of their labor for a while. If I think up something later, I’ll tell you!

Q: If it’s not too early, can you reveal any details about book 2?

A: I’m superstitious about talking about new projects, so I don’t want to reveal too much. I can share that it is wholly unrelated to this one yet will be another magical realism novel that features seriously tangled family dynamics. The story is set in Vermont (a place I love and frequent often), and it will explore complicated sister dynamics, family secrets, social media, and the ethical tightrope between the right to know and privacy. Book clubs will have much to chew on with this one.

Q: If/When Hollywood gets the rights to The Unwritten Rules Of Magic, who would be your dream cast to play the characters you created? The entertainment industry needs new original content again! 

A: This fantasy is entertaining, so let’s swing for the fences. In my “movie,” my dream cast would include the following:

Emerson: Rachel McAdams (I think she would nail the internal angst of this role while keeping the character sympathetic).

Dorothy: Sharon Stone (She would be wickedly good at playing the deadpan, alcoholic mother, but would also keep the role from becoming a one-note performance).

Sadie: Bailee Madison (She looks exactly like the character I picture).

Jefferson: Kevin Kostner (He’s the right age and could carry off the self-centered arrogance needed for the literary star/father. A younger Jack Nicholson would’ve been my top choice, but I’m at least ten to fifteen years too late for that!)

Sawyer: Ryan Gosling (Chef’s kiss on his ability to be both endearing and sexy simultaneously).

Will: Austin Butler (he’s literally who the character is described to resemble, and he has that puckishness about him that would be needed for this role).

Mel: Reese Witherspoon (She’s charming and fun and would be the perfect best friend for Emerson).