Character Interview of Emerson Clarke by Harper Ross

THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC

“Elegant and empathetic…Crisp prose, mature characters, and well-wrought emotional trials propel this introspective journey of self-discovery.” ~ Publishers Weekly

The Unwritten Rules of Magic follows Emerson Clarke, a woman yearning for control amid a lifetime of familial chaos, who discovers that her late father’s forbidden vintage typewriter can make her typed wishes come true. As she uses its power to reshape life for her family, the magic exposes long-buried family truths and the devastating cost of chasing perfection. Blending memory, grief, and generational secrets, Emerson’s journey leads her to a breaking point where she must either embrace the uncertainty of an unscripted life or pay the high price for bending fate.

***Interview***

My paint-splatter room smells faintly of turpentine, an oddly comforting aroma. Streaks of emerald and cobalt drip down the four walls like tears. I glance at my speckled overalls, thinking there’s probably also a smear of green paint across my cheekbone.

I head into the house to wash up and nearly jump out of my skin when I run into a woman perched on a kitchen stool as if she’s been waiting for hours.

“Emerson Clarke?” Her expression manages to be both delighted and curious. “Your daughter let me in.”

Sadie lets strangers in now? Another problem to add to the ever-growing list. “And you are?”

“Harper Ross, a writer at Women Writers, Women’s Books. We run interviews with authors and author-adjacent creatives. I’ve been doing a piece on your father’s legacy and heard you inherited his infamous good-luck charm.”

My stomach drops. Inherited is a polite euphemism for my stealing his vintage typewriter from my parent’s house after his funeral.

“Oh.” I adjust my dirty overalls. “Sorry, I don’t usually walk around looking like a Jackson Pollock painting.”

Harper grins. “Honestly? I kind of love it.”

She says it with such sincerity I almost believe her.

“I’ve been hoping to talk to you,” she continues, glancing toward the hallway that leads to my office. “Just a short interview. Nothing heavy.”

I resist the urge to groan. “If this is about Dad’s estate—”

“Oh, no. Nothing legal.” Harper waves a hand. “More personal. His writing habits. Your work as a ghostwriter.”

I blink at her. “That sounds pretty vague.”

“I promise I’ll keep it gentle.” Harper smiles.

Gentle is not how my life has felt lately. Between Sadie’s silent grief, my mother’s drinking, and the magic typewriter that keeps tempting me, kindness feels more like a rumor than a reality. Still, I nod and lead her to my office, where I sit behind my desk and try to look like someone worthy of a profile.

She sits across from me and opens her notebook. “Losing a parent, especially one in the public eye, can shift how a writer sees her own work. How are you doing with that?”

“I’m managing,” I say. “Mostly I’m trying to keep my head down and meet deadlines.”

She nods and jots a note. “Your father was known for being incredibly disciplined. You’ve ghostwritten more than six novels yourself. Did the two of you ever talk craft or process?”

“Sometimes,” I say, beating back his criticism of my ideas and efforts. “But every writer has his or her own perspective and process, so we didn’t always see eye-to-eye.”

Her expression softens with understanding. “Do you feel pressure to finish his Pandemonium series the way Christopher Tolkien finished his father’s work?”

The question catches me off guard. “I don’t think my father would want anyone to write in his world,” I say, even though I’ve been asked to consider it following one rashly-worded typed wish. “Not even his daughter.”

“Parent-child relationships can be tricky,” she says carefully. “You’re raising a teenager. Does motherhood affect your writing life?”

I let out a quiet laugh. “Of course. Especially lately. Sadie is grieving, and I’m trying to make things better for her. Unfortunately, teens aren’t always big on talking.”

Harper smiles sympathetically. “Writers are always trying to fix things with words. Sometimes we might need to realize there are things we can’t fix at all.”

“True.” I glance down at the letter opener on my desk. My hands feel restless.

She studies me for a moment. “Rumor has it you’ve had a sudden romantic plot twist recently. Something about running into an old flame and meeting someone new on the same day.”

“It’s been interesting,” I say, my mouth quirking into a half-smile.

“Any thoughts on the unusual timing?” Harper asks.

“Just another of life’s curveballs,” I offer, my gaze drifting to my dad’s typewriter. Whatever possessed me to type that Mr. Right wish list?

She laughs, her gaze following mine.

“One last thing,” she says. “What is it like having something so important to him here with you now? Does it influence your work? Your mindset?”

I hesitate, then choose the safest truth available. “It’s been…surprising,” I say, thinking about how it felt to realize my typed wishes were coming true. “In some sense, comforting.” Although that’s feeling less so each day.

“Good for you.” Harper closes her notebook, thanks me for my time, then pauses before leaving. “Creative inheritances can be powerful. Make sure what you take from it is truly yours.”

After she walks out, the house falls quiet. I look down at my paint-speckled hands, thinking about whether I’ll ever find the answers I’m seeking.

The typewriter emits a faint hum, steady and low. I tell myself it will all turn out well. Now if only I could believe that.

BUY THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC HERE

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HARPER ROSS has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with the dramatic story worlds in books and movies. After leaving her legal practice to raise her kids, she discovered her own creative side and began writing novels that explore friendship, family, and forgiveness. Because she also appreciates the magic in everyday life—from the spark of attraction to those serendipitous moments we all experience—you’ll find a dash of that in her work too. When she’s not at the keyboard, she’s likely to be singing badly in her car, dancing in her kitchen, or walking her adorable dog, Mo. She’s also a lucky wife and mother to a very patient and supportive family.

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Interviews, On Writing