Mara Rutherford’s readers are no strangers to escaping into fantasy worlds full of danger, intrigue, and secrets. Her latest book promises a new kind of adventure: cozier, but no less exciting. A Curious Kind of Magic transports readers to Ardmuir, where Willow Stokes sells fake magical curiosities — that is, until she meets Brianna Hargrave, who can transform everything she touches to magic. When Willow and Bri embark on a quest to find a grimoire that could break Bri’s curse, the hunt ends up being more than they bargained for.
Today, Mara joins us to discuss A Curious Kind of Magic as well as her upcoming book, The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake. If you love found family, wanderlust, and the magic of the ordinary, we invite you to read on.
About Mara Rutherford
Mara Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but quickly discovered she far preferred fantasy to reality. A triplet born on Leap Day, Mara has lived all over the world with her diplomat husband and two sons. She is the author of young adult fantasy novels, including the Crown of Coral and Pearl duology, The Poison Season, A Multitude of Dreams, and A Curious Kind of Magic. Her next book, The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake, releases in April of 2026.
Thanks for joining us, Mara! Let’s get started.
For those who may be unfamiliar with it, can you give us a brief intro to A Curious Kind of Magic?
A Curious Kind of Magic is a young adult cozy fantasy about a girl named Willow Stokes who has inherited her father’s sham magical curiosity shop, along with his debt. When outlander Brianna Hargrave appears, Willow realizes that Bri can turn all of her fakes into the real, magical thing, which could be the answer to all her problems. Bri reluctantly agrees to team up with Willow in exchange for Willow’s help in breaking her supposed curse. But when Willow is forced to participate in an ambitious collector’s quest for the rarest magical object in the world ― a quest that risks almost-certain death ― she learns that not all treasure is for sale, and that true magic is closer than she ever could have imagined.
A Curious Kind of Magic is your first cozy fantasy novel, perfect for curling up with a blanket and a hot drink. How did the process of writing this book differ from writing your other YA fantasy novels?
In cozy fantasy, the stakes are generally lower than in high fantasy, which meant I could focus more on the characters and their emotions — along with those cozy vibes! — since I wasn’t having to consider any major ramifications for the world at large. It made the process itself cozier and more inviting, which I really enjoyed.
A Curious Kind of Magic is your sixth published novel, and your seventh book, The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake, releases next April. What is your writing routine like, and how do you motivate yourself to write? Do you have any tips or advice for any aspiring authors who might be struggling to start or continue their stories?
My writing routine is pretty straightforward. I do a fairly basic outline following the Save the Cat! beat sheet, then draft chronologically from there. When I’m drafting, I really try to stick to a daily writing schedule, since staying immersed makes the process faster. If too much time passes, I have to go back and reread everything, which can slow me down quite a bit. Obviously, different approaches work better for different authors, but for me, fast drafting in a couple of months is ideal. I’m very lucky that meeting deadlines, even if they’re self-imposed, is a great motivator for me. My advice for authors who may be struggling is to challenge yourself not to self-edit as you work. I know it feels impossible, but I promise you can do it! You’re going to have to revise no matter how “perfect” you think your draft is, so you may as well get it done!
Willow, Bri, and Finlay encounter magical beings on their quest, such as witches, dragons, and wolpertingers. What was your favorite part about crafting the magic of Ardmuir and beyond? Were there any specific magical aspects that were particularly interesting or fun to write?
The magic system in this book is fairly straightforward — no reinventing the wheel here! — but I enjoyed adding my own touches, like how the bones of magical creatures retain magic. I also really loved coming up with magical items for the shop, like the harpy-bone wind chimes and the fairy ink.
Willow, Bri, and Finlay journey to different places and meet a variety of people during their search for a grimoire. You’ve lived in several countries, including England, Peru, and Serbia. How have your family’s travels across the globe influenced your characters’ quest?
Traveling has provided me so much inspiration for world building, because when you’re forced out of your comfort zone, you think about the world in a different way. It’s easy to take things like climate, geography, food, and music for granted if you stay in one place. But when you have to adapt to a new place, you’re automatically made more aware of those things. Also, traveling — even in the modern age of technology — almost always involves some misadventure. You get lost, or you can’t communicate, or you inadvertently err somehow, and while it may be scary in the moment, you grow as a person, too.
If you could live in the world of A Curious Kind of Magic, what kind of magic would you like to have? Would you be a witch, possess a magical item(s), work with a familiar, etc?
I would LOVE to have a familiar! I’m a big animal lover, so to have a creature sidekick who can communicate with me and provide some magical benefit would be awesome (my mini-poodle, Mishka, is basically my familiar at this point).
Magic can be found in many places in Ardmuir and the surrounding regions, but Willow comes to realize that true magic is closer than she always thought. What are some sources of “magic” in your day-to-day life that help you realize that it’s not limited to fiction?
I absolutely experience magic every day! In Rome, it’s looking out my window to see bright green parrots in the trees, or the marble statues on the sides of buildings that look like they’re about to come to life. Granted, Rome is a particularly magical city, but I experience these little moments wherever we are. In Brussels, there was a large park behind our house, and sometimes an old man would be out there playing the accordion on a bench overlooking a pond full of swans. Truly magical!
A Curious Kind of Magic explores many themes, such as different kinds of connections and relationships, hope and grief, the struggles of growing up, self-identity, and more. What do you hope readers will take away from this book once they turn the final page?
I hope readers will appreciate their own found family a little more, or perhaps realize that they are surrounded by people who are ready and willing to accept them exactly as they are. Willow has so many walls built up that she believes she’s unlovable, but once she stops trying to be what she thinks everyone expects, she realizes that she’s always been lovable. It’s when she tries to “fix” things that she really screws up!
This novel has been described as Howl’s Moving Castle meeting Little Thieves. Do you have any similar media recommendations for readers who enjoyed your book?
I’m a huge fan of the Emily Wilde series! I also love T. Kingfisher’s books, which are an amazing blend of cozy and fantastical, but also a little dark.
To finish off, could you give us a teaser or sneak peek of your upcoming release, The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake?
In Wisteria, the very act of innovation is forbidden. Any creation — art, music, engineering — conjures a demon from the other side. The greater the innovation, the more dangerous the demon.
This has never stopped Aurelie from inventing — but it has made it more difficult. Her inventions are small by necessity, producing demons that she is capable of dispatching alone. But she knows she’s meant for something greater, and each day has her chafing more at the boundaries of her society.
Destrier lost his parents to demons as a child and has devoted his life to preventing more senseless murder at the hands of demons. He was young when he joined the hunters, and each year he’s grown stronger. But it’s never enough.
When a mysterious figure offers Aurelie a job she can’t refuse — an impossible, magnificent invention — her decision to accept sets off a chain of events that will alter every aspect of their world… and sparks the connection that will change both Aurelie and Des irrevocably.
Thanks again to Mara for speaking with us! Visit her website or follow her on Instagram to keep up with her work — and don’t forget to check out A Curious Kind of Magic!
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