As autumn settles in and cozy reads call from the bookshelf, Emily Grey welcomes readers into a world where magic and heart intertwine. Her debut novel, Merchant’s Book, is a captivating blend of fantasy and romantasy, filled with lush worldbuilding, emotional depth, and characters who feel achingly real. It is the kind of story made for crisp evenings, warm drinks, and losing yourself in a world that feels both familiar and new.

Grey’s storytelling balances whimsy with reflection, exploring themes of equality, identity, and empathy within richly imagined settings. With her signature attention to detail and love for character-driven stories, she creates worlds where choices matter and love, in all its forms, becomes the truest kind of magic.

In this exclusive Author Spotlight, Emily shares her creative journey, from early fanfiction beginnings and a love of theatre to the organized chaos of sticky notes and thick binders that fuel her process. Merchant’s Book marks the beginning of an exciting new fantasy series and introduces a voice full of warmth, honesty, and imagination. Thoughtful and beautifully crafted, Emily Grey’s debut is the perfect companion for the season, reminding readers that sometimes the most magical stories are the ones that come straight from the heart.

Join us as we explore the imagination, heart, and creative spark behind Merchant’s Book and discover how Emily Grey turns empathy and enchantment into storytelling magic.

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey as a writer?

Since I was a kid, being artistic was just an obvious part of who I am and I come by it naturally, my mum is artistic whether she’ll admit it or not. Growing up, I was in art classes which became a small online business. Playing flute in seventh grade music class became attending a performing arts high school for instrumental and drama, onto college for theatrical production as a stage manager. But like many people, I've dealt with debilitating mental health issues and it took me out of college. I don’t regret making the decision to step away from what I considered my dream. It set me on the path to focus on being an author.

2. What inspired you to start writing, and how did you discover your passion for storytelling?

The first time I felt the need to write anything, it was a fanfiction for the trilogy Darkest Powers by Kelley Armstrong. I think I was in the seventh grade. We only had a desktop computer and it was in my mum’s room, so I wrote the whole thing by hand and eventually typed it out. It didn’t take until college to realize writing was an escape and passion.

3. Could you share some insights into your creative process? Do you have any rituals or habits that help you write?

Sticky notes. I love sticky notes. Generating a timeline on my laptop and plotting it out on a foamboard with sticky notes is how I start all my books. And then I make a binder with everything I’ve come up with because I will absolutely lose it if I don’t. The binder for Merchant’s Book is THICK.

4. What themes or messages do you often explore in your writing, and why are they important to you?

I didn’t know this until my second manuscript, but I gear towards equality and reflections on our society. As a queer writer and growing up in a mixing pot of people, I was exposed to a lot. I find that I don’t intentionally add these conflicts into my writing, it naturally happens. But it’s important for my readers, and readers in general, to be exposed to it. If at some point, your reader can feel sympathy for the injustice happening to the characters, then they have the capacity of understanding what happens in real life.

5. Are there any particular authors or books that have influenced your writing style or storytelling approach?

I easily thank Kelley Armstrong for being the author who helped me start writing and not just because the first long-form piece I wrote was based on her books. The way that she writes female lead characters makes them much more three dimensional than other writers.

6. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers who are just starting their journey?

There’s no right way to start planning a book. I see some people who have everything done digitally and I can’t wrap my brain around that. My brain is built to have tangible copies of things and make multiple copies. I think for the second book in the Merchant’s Series, I have three timelines printed out and marked up. But there’s no way you should do it or feel ashamed you’re not. Tiktok isn’t always right.

7. How do you balance writing with other aspects of your life, such as work, family, and personal interests?

I don’t lol. I’m an introverted person and would prefer to be at home, typing with my cats than being out. A lot of my interests can be done at home. I’m not saying that I don’t go out, but my social battery depletes quickly. Some days, going to my retail job for eight hours is enough and I need to go to bed after that. But I’m okay with that. My friends know this about me and respect that. When there’s something like visiting family or going to concerts, which I love, it’s like a hole punch. It’s not taking time away from writing. I just work with it.

8. How do you stay motivated and overcome writer's block when faced with challenges in your writing process?

I’ve been really lucky, because a lot of the media I’ve consumed over the years where writers are mentioned, writer’s block is always talked about. It’s normalized. I mean, it is a plotline to movies. So, when it happened to me, it wasn’t scary. I wait. Now that I’ve got a timeline with WIP, I do have to try and write, even if it’s crappy. But I can go back and work on it later.

9. How do you manage your time and set goals to ensure consistent progress in your writing projects?

As much as I am a discombobulated person, using a planner is my life line. I put everything inside of my planner and use it to divide my time. The only goal I ever work towards is the official due date. I put too much pressure on myself or forget self made deadlines/goals.

10. How do you handle moments of doubt or uncertainty in your writing process, and what strategies do you use to persevere through challenges?

I’m very focused on manifestation when it comes to my writing. If I have doubts, I don’t say them out loud.

11. What role do emotions and empathy play in your writing, and how do you strive to evoke emotional responses from your readers?

Books that emotionally torment the readers tend to be the remembered ones. I could easily name three and two of them are in my top five books. So I have a tendency to think of what I can evoke from my readers. There’s moments of ‘oh is this too much?’ thoughts when writing book two recently.

12. Can you share any insights into the importance of a strong opening hook or first chapter in capturing readers' attention and setting the tone for the rest of the book?

Until I got serious about writing, I never realized how important the opening hook/first chapter of the book is. The only way I can explain it is through my favourite example, the opening line of ‘The Outsiders’ by S.E. Hinton. It’s so pure and memorable, but it doesn’t hint at all the chaos and pain that is going to be revealed. There’s only a finite time to make a “first impression”.

13. Can you discuss any experiences of writer's block or creative burnout, and how do you rejuvenate your creativity during those times?

I’ve always been artistic in other aspects of my life. When I have felt burned out, sitting still and not doing anything to rejuvenate isn’t something I can do. I have to be doing something with my hands. Painting is the first thing I gravitate towards and I have created some pieces that I love that have come from burnout. Knitting is a new habit and I’m not good.

14. Are there any upcoming projects or future plans that you're excited to share with your readers?

Alongside the rest of the Merchant’s Series which I’m hoping will go into book 4 and 5, I’ve decided I’m going to rewrite my second book. It’s an urban fantasy but I’d love to dive more into horror and see what I can flesh out of it.