Mara Rutherford

I am so thrilled to share with you the cover for my next cozy fantasy, MY UNFAMILIAR, created by the truly magical @thelolloco 💖 I have been blessed with many gorgeous covers, but the level of detail on this one is incredible! Every time I look at it I discover something new, and believe me, it’s going to be even more beautiful in person. MY UNFAMILIAR is available to preorder now, and I hope you’ll consider adding it on Goodreads so you don’t miss any giveaways from @wednesdaybooks ! Links in my bio. Swipe for the tropes and summary! #myunfamiliar #cozyfantasy #romantasy #bookstagram #authorsofinstagram

The first line of THE DEMONIC INVENTIONS OF AURELIE BLAKE for the first day of November! I commissioned this art from the lovely @musetheart and I love how she captured Aurelie and Mephisto, the first demon Aurelie summoned (and the only one she hasn’t killed). Here’s the blurb for DEMONIC INVENTIONS: 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. If you like true enemies to lovers romantasy duologies with unique magic and dark academia vibes, I think you’ll love this one! Can’t wait to share more about it in the months to come! #romantasy #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #darkacademia #darkacademiabooks #yafantasy #bookish #bibliophile #writersofinstagram

A closer look at the cover for THE DEMONIC INVENTIONS OF AURELIE BLAKE and some of what you can expect! 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. With the fierce enemies-to-lovers romance of Heartless Hunter and the high-concept worldbuilding of Arcane, The Demonic Inventions of Aurelie Blake will thrill readers looking for their new cross-genre favorite. Cover art: @eleonorpiteira 🗡️ #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookish #bibliophile #romantasy #enemiestolovers🔥 #authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram #epicreads

I’m opening up a select number of Street Team spots for MY UNFAMILIAR! US only this time (I have a lovely international team already!). Members will receive an advanced copy of the book from @wednesdaybooks and join my IG chat, run by the wonderful @booksnbeers13 Sign-up sheet is linked in my bio! You will be notified if you’re accepted 💖🎀 #myunfamiliar #streetteam #cozyromantasy #cozyfantasy

Exciting news! I’m opening up my Street Team to a select number of US-based readers who want to get their hands on MY UNFAMILIAR early (and receive an arc from @wednesdaybooks !). Sign-ups will go live on Friday so keep your eyes peeled! 🎀 #myunfamiliar #cozyfantasy #romantasy #bookstagram #booksofinstagram

Flash back to a few weeks ago when I got to stay at the Barry Lopez cabin with @sj_and_matcha for our little writing retreat. I’m currently sitting in a Residence Inn with no power, which is rather less inspiring. Kiddo starts his program today, so I’m hopeful for more sunny days ahead. PS this was my first dress from @linennaive 🪷

Goodreads is running a giveaway of 100 arcs of MY UNFAMILIAR right now! Link in bio! Swipe for a quote 💖 And in case you missed the description: Perfect for fans of Allison Saft and Sarah Beth Durst, a grumpy mage and a familiar matchmaker navigate their surprising connection in Mara Rutherford’s newest cozy fantasy. Winslow Green is known far and wide for her ability to match mages with the perfect animal familiar. Though she doesn’t possess any magic, she has a knack for knowing what her customers need, even if they can’t see it themselves. Still grieving the tragic death of his last familiar, Bastian Triplehorn reluctantly seeks Winnie’s aid in finding a new partner. She’s determined to live up to her reputation, despite Bastian’s excessive grumpiness. Until the inexplicable happens: Bastian sparks a familiar bond with Winnie instead. Impossible to deny, the two agree to help each other until they can solve the mystery of their connection. As Bastian and Winnie train for a royal mage competition that could solve all their problems—or ruin their lives forever—Winnie gets a taste of what it’s like to have magic herself. And Bastian discovers that all of these unfamiliar feelings are a little like magic, too.

I’m not really sure how to talk about this, let alone write about it, but last week, my kid asked for help. So he and I are spending some time in America, getting him the help he needs. We’re taking things one day at a time, prioritizing what matters, and have already received so much love and support from friends and family. I know a lot of people are struggling right now, so if you or your kid are going through it, just know you’re not alone ♥️

The first pages and the character art (by @thelolloco ) 💖 I had to include two since MY UNFAMILIAR is dual POV! I just love the little glasses and the bow, don’t you?? MY UNFAMILIAR is a cozy romantasy coming this December from @wednesdaybooks . There’s a Goodreads giveaway of 100 advanced copies currently if you’d like to read more about my grumpy mage and sunshine familiar matchmaker 🌧️☀️

These early blurbs for MY UNFAMILIAR are making a challenging week a little brighter 💖 If you didn’t know, there’s a Goodreads giveaway happening right now for 100 advanced copies (yes, 100!) from @wednesdaybooks . Link in bio, and huge thanks to @allisonhsaft , @alechiadow and @heather1ee for reading 🥰

The covers, the author photos, the outtakes. There’s a reason I make @sj_and_matcha take my author photos: she’s really good at it, and she has the patience of a saint.

I didn’t just go to Portland for my book launch - I went to spend a week with my twinsie @sj_and_matcha at a little cabin in the woods, where she was doing a writing residency and I was lucky enough to tag along! We haven’t taken a trip just the two of us in ages, so it was really fun to drink morning tea in our rocking chairs, do our daily tarot pulls and journaling, and confuse people with our twin-ness, just like I imagine we will as little old ladies. Sarah insisted on stopping oncoming traffic with her body to rescue a lost dog, who I’m happy to say was reunited with his owner, but who I was not willing to risk my life for in the way she was. She is a brilliant filmmaker (she was on a very cool panel at OSU while we were there) and a great steward of her friendships, as evidenced by our childhood bestie Erin coming up to Portland to visit. One of the things on my yearly vision board/phone wallpaper was this little poem by Phoebe Wahl (whose work I encountered continuously on this trip!): “There is a little house somewhere, surrounded by green cedar boughs, where we are eating oatcakes with honey, dipping them in our tea three times for good luck. Somewhere I am sitting with you in stillness.” So grateful we got to make it come true. 💖