Emma Harrison grew up in Montvale, New Jersey, and still lives in New Jersey. Emma graduated Rutgers University (double-majoring in English and Journalism). She is an editor turned writer who has worked on many series, such as Sweet Valley High Senior Years, Roswell High and Fearless. She has always wrote for fun while growing up and kept a Journal, as well as wrote for a literary magazine in High School. Writing is a very solitary existence, so when Emma is not working, she gets out and goes to the gym, hiking, goes to the movies, or hangs out with family, her boyfriend and friends. Oh, and Emma never misses an episode of Charmed...of course!

Interviewed by Andrea V. Haag
April 2003 © TheCharmedOnes.com

I had the pleasure of interviewing Emma Harrison, on her recent Charmed book release, "Something Wiccan This Way Comes". In this book, Paige Matthews convinces her sisters to go to a Witches Convention, so they can save the innocent witches who are turning up missing or murdered. Piper and Phoebe are very reluctant to go at first, but saving innocents becomes their top priority with such a large gathering of witches from across the nation. Danger lurks even for the Charmed Ones at the Witches' convention.

Emma, other than writing two Charmed series books, "Something Wiccan This Way Comes" and "Garden of Evil", also you wrote a Mary Kate and Ashley series book called "Never Been Kissed", and most recently "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle", which will be release this June. What inspired you to become a writer, and especially to write books for young readers?

I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was in grade school. Back then I was addicted to the Little House on the Prairie Books, Anne of Green Gables, Sweet Valley High . . . I always wanted to be able to create stories like those, but the idea of writing a novel is so daunting! I was never convinced I’d be able to handle it. Then, when I was in college I switched my writing focus to journalism, but I never lost my love of books. I graduated with a double degree in English and Journalism and got a job as an Editorial Assistant at the publishing company that produced Sweet Valley High! It was like a dream come true. It was there that I started to gain an understanding of how authors put stories together and what makes a good read. I decided to try my hand at it and an editor hired me to write a book for a series called “Love Stories.” I ended up doing a few more of those and it just grew from there! I love writing young adult series fiction because a lot of it is pure entertainment. Plus, I enjoy all the things that are supposed to be entertainment for teens—all the WB shows, pop music, “teen” movies and romantic comedies. I even like Teen People magazine better than People. I guess my brain never matured beyond high school!

You started out as an Editor, what made you take that step into writing? Have you always wanted to be a writer or was there a certain inspiration that lead you to it.

I guess I answered that question above but I will say that I found editing wasn’t really for me. I wasn’t that great at giving other writers criticism and direction because I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Writing is very personal and when you have someone telling you something you did was wrong, it can be very disheartening. I didn’t want to do that to people I respected anymore. Now, of course, I’m always on the other side of it, having to TAKE criticism. It’s not easy!

Your biography states that you are a 'Charmed' fan and that you never miss an episode. How long have you been a fan of the show and who is your favorite character, past or present? Do you go to the Charmed websites to find out information on upcoming episodes as well?

I’ve been a fan since the first season, but I think it’s gotten better as it’s matured. Season three had a lot of my favorite episodes, though! Piper is definitely my favorite character. I think Holly Marie Combs plays her so smart and witty and I love her relationship with Leo. Plus the writers have done a great job transitioning her from the role of the middle sister to that of the oldest. She’s taken on new responsibilities and new confidence and I think it’s really benefited the character. As for spoilers, I try not to read ahead about any of my favorite shows so that I can be surprised when the writers want me to be surprised. But I’m always looking at thecharmedones.com for news on the actors!

Thanks Emma! I'm glad you enjoy the site.
Many fans read the 'Charmed' book series and make comparisons between the book and the TV show. In your writing, do you also make comparisons between the show, such as borrow a few of the character's personality traits and characteristics from it?

I try to remain as true to the characters as I possibly can be. Sometimes I write a line and then I think, “Wait a minute! Paige would never say that! That’s a Piper line!” Then I make sure to change it. I figure if die hard fans are reading my books they’ll pick up on things like that, too! I also think of the actors as I write and try to incorporate their unique ticks/facial expressions/body language. It’s a challenge, but it’s also fun.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and even loved the surprise at the end of this book. The TV show has become so predicable at the end of the episode, that no one thinks twice, but your story lured me in and to an unforeseen ending. It reminded me of a whodunit book where it kept you guessing who was the evil behind the events. Was it your intent to write it this way? Did you feel that you needed a new twist, in which it kept readers contemplating the true foe?

I always like books and shows that shock me at the end. When I first wrote the outline for this book, the Anubi were the bad guys and that was that. Then I looked at it and thought, “Huh. That’s boring.” So I went back and fixed it. I’d much rather write a story that makes people say, “I can’t believe it!” than “I knew it!”

What kind of research do you do before writing a new story? Will you go back to certain episode just to review what a character's emotions or reactions will be? Is there a favorite character that you like to highlight rather than another?

Mostly I think about the things that interest me and see if I can work them into a story. My first Charmed book, “Garden of Evil” came from my love of the book “The Secret Garden” and the fact that I love to write romance. With “Something Wiccan this Way Comes” I wanted to write about Las Vegas because 
I was there on vacation once that thought it would make a cool setting. I also wanted to touch on the whole fake-wicca thing, which I find funny, and the too-cool-for-school witches. I guess it’s all put together to make the writing experience fun and hopefully the reading experience as well! I do tend to like writing about Piper the most and Paige would be my second fave. I feel like I can’t get as good of a grasp on the Phoebe character. I don’t know if she’s too vague for me or too complex!

Do you grimace when fans take apart or nit-pick details in the Charmed books and compare it to what they see on the television screen? Have you received any feedback from fans?

I sometimes read the reviews on Amazon.com and bn.com, but fans haven’t contacted me directly. I don’t mind much when people nitpick because I’m the same way. I hate when books or shows suddenly have a character veer from the person they’ve been all along and I’m practically offended when writers 
don’t seem to care enough to get a character right. I’m a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer so I read a Buffy book last summer. Cordelia had this line at the beginning that was so not her and I almost tossed the book aside out of irritation, but I kept reading and discovered that she was actually possessed by another character and that was why she sounded so odd. Phew!

How do you come up with some of your ideas to write a book? Are you given freedom to change or create new items, such as powers, and include recurring characters or characters already killed off in the television show?

I try to come up with stories that I really want to write. That said, it’s sometimes difficult creating a supernatural threat that hasn’t been thoroughly covered on the show or in the other books. Usually I try to think of a personal dilemma for the characters, then try to relate it to something supernatural. In “Garden” Paige wanted a man because she was tired of being a fifth wheel, so she went out and found one and he turned out to be evil. Then she realized it was okay to be alone until she found the right guy. In “Wiccan” Piper overcomes her prejudice against wannabe witches when she learns first hand to take them seriously. When it comes to characters and powers, the writers are told where our books need to fall in the Charmed timeline. We usually write to match how the show is as we’re writing. So if I were writing a book today, Cole and Prue and Andy would have to be dead and Piper and Leo would be married and have a new baby, etc.

Do you have a special time or a favorite place in your home that you like to do your writing? On your off time from writing, what books from other authors do enjoy reading?

I’m a morning person so I like to grab my coffee and get to work right in the a.m. I have a little office set up with my computer and any books I need. For Charmed I have guides to San Francisco and a couple of Wicca books. I just finished writing an Alias prequel for which I had to whip out a map of Brooklyn and my old Italian text books—stuff like that. Afternoons are always slow for me, but sometimes I get a freakish burst of writing energy in the evening, too, and I go back to work if I can. Adult authors I’ve been reading lately are Alice Sebold, Michael Chabon, Jennifer Weiner and I love the “Shopaholic” books by Sophie Kinsella. I read young adult stuff to keep up with what’s out there as well. Right now I’m loving the “Gossip Girl” books by Cecily von Ziegesar.

As a former editor, and now author, what advice can you give to the many aspiring writers on the 'Charmed' websites, who post their own 'Charmed' stories and fan fictions?

Keep writing, stay true to your characters, and never be afraid to be creative. It’s fiction, it’s sci-fi, you can do whatever you want as long as you stick to the Charmed world/rules.

Any special message for 'Charmed' fans, that are hungrily devouring the Charmed books during the rerun periods?

Thank you for reading our stuff! I know all the authors are working very hard to bring it to you and we appreciate your support. I hope I’m giving you a good between-show fix! J

Thank you Emma and we hope that you will continue writing for the 'Charmed' series!

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