SHORT BIO:
Julia Ember is a fantasy writer and speculative poet. Her books include The Seafarer’s Kiss duology and Ruinsong, as well as the upcoming, How to Meddle with Magic and Not Get Murdered, co-authored with Rebecca Schaeffer. Her poems have appeared in Small Wonders and Star*Line and are forthcoming in Menace and Kaleidotrope.
Julia Ember is a fantasy writer and speculative poet. She is the author of The Seafarer’s Kiss duology (Interlude Press), a Norse myth inspired retelling of The Little Mermaid, and Ruinsong (FSG/Macmillan), a dark standalone sapphic fantasy set in a world where magic is sung. Her upcoming novel How to Meddle with Magic and Not Get Murdered, a comedic fantasy murder mystery co-authored with Rebecca Schaeffer, will be released by Sourcebooks Fire in 2027. She was a finalist for the Bisexual Book Award, and her work has been recommended by USA Today, School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, Reactor and Kirkus. Her poems have appeared in Small Wonders and Star*Line, and are forthcoming in Menace and Kaleidotrope.
Julia currently lives in Pacific Northwest with her wife, two cats, two dogs and two very fluffy ponies.
One Sheet Data for Booksellers and Librarians
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Currently, most of my work is fantasy, but I also dabble in historical fiction and a little light sci-fi. I am the author of The Seafarer’s Kiss duology, a Norse myth inspired retelling of The Little Mermaid. My latest book, Ruinsong, is also high fantasy. It is a f/f romance that takes place in a world where magic is sung, ruled over by a tyrant queen and a quartet of goddesses. How to Meddle with Magic and Not Get Murdered is a fantasy murder mystery set at a boarding school for students who have been cursed.
Lately, I’ve also been delving into writing speculative poetry. Most of my work in this space is dark fantasy / horror.
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I would love to! I have lots of experience working with teens (ages 12-17) in schools and would be delighted to conduct a reading or a workshop with you. When I lived in Scotland, I worked with the Scottish Book Trust in many high schools. Especially if you are in the Seattle city, please get in touch. I also offer virtual visits.
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Yes! I am happy to hear from bloggers and members of the press with interview questions. I generally have a pretty fast response time, but please let me know in the initial email if you have a specific deadline in mind!
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I am represented by Eric Smith at Neighborhood Literary.
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I do not run an editorial service. In the past, I have mentored with both Pitch Wars and Author Mentor Match. If you are looking for a freelance developmental editor for your book, I recommend Katherine Locke and Kat Howard.
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I can’t refer books I haven’t read and will only recommend writers I think my agent would also enjoy working with. So unless we are critique partners or personal friends, and I know both you and your work, I can’t refer you to my agent. Neither of my publishers accept unsolicited submissions.
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If your book is under contract for publication and you think I might be interested in reading it, please contact me via my agent. I tend to like dark SFF and historical, with strong worldbuilding and unlikeable protagonists. If you are a queer author with a small press, please feel free to email me directly.
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The series was always planned as a duology, with one book from Ersel’s perspective and one from Ragna’s. It’s complete and no other books are planned in that world.
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Dreamspinner Press, the parent company of Harmony Ink, underwent significant financial challenges in 2018. These novellas are now out of print, at my request for rights return, as a result of these challenges. I don’t have any plans to self-publish these books.