Hello, dear readers! I’m very excited to bring you an interview with Julie Abe, author of Eva Evergreen: Semi-Magical Witch, on her latest book, The Magic Library of Waterfall Way.

Katy: Congratulations on the release of THE MAGIC LIBRARY OF WATERFALL WAY!  I’m so excited to have another of your books out in the world!

Julie: Thank you so much for inviting me to chat about The Magic Library of Waterfall Way! I appreciate you and all you do to share the word about good books

Katy: Where was the initial idea for this book?  Did it start with a character, a setting, or something else?

Julie: The Magic Library of Waterfall Way started with a word: Prophecymaker. I loved the word; it clinked around in my mind, sounding full of possibilities, it sounded absolutely magical. But, I didn’t know the right story for it… Until I started daydreaming about a place I’d love to disappear to: a cozy village nestled in a valley, a magical library in desperate need of someone to save it… And, that’s when Lyra (and Wishlight) came into my mind.

Katy: Both THE MAGIC LIBRARY OF WATERFALL WAY and the EVA EVERGREEN books share themes of people who society doesn’t think will amount to much.  Could you talk about that as a theme that continues to resonate for you?

Julie: From a young age, I’ve struggled so, so much with feeling “good enough”. I wasn’t very talented—sports, academics, friends, etc.–I was always “just okay” or “not good enough”. But, as I’ve grown older, through writing these characters, I’ve been able to gain confidence. A lot of what Eva and Lyra tell themselves are the same things I tell myself. Because, the world will reject me enough already, and I have nothing left to lose—-so I’ll try my best, and let the world do the rejecting, not myself. 

The Magic Library of Waterfall Way
by Julie Abe

Bloomsbury, August 2026

ISBN 9781547618293

Katy: THE MAGIC LIBRARY OF WATERFALL WAY also talks a lot about the importance of free access to a wide variety of books.  How does it feel to release this story in the current climate?  

Julie: As you noticed, the theme of the importance of access to books is so much impacted by the world as it is, today. I hope this story will remind readers to continue to cherish and protect books. It breaks my heart to see beautiful, heart-felt books being banned for all the wrong reasons. Books have been my best friend in tough times, and I’ve learned so much about the world through books, and I hope others will feel the same.

Katy: Not to keep things too heavy, what was the most fun part of writing this book?

Julie: My editor, absolutely. I know that isn’t as specific as a scene or a plot point, but—Kei Nakatsuka, my editor, has tirelessly worked on The Magic Library of Waterfall Way. If there’s anyone as dedicated to this book as me, it’s Kei. Yet, even if they had to read it a thousand times over, Kei truly expressed joy and appreciation of my words each time, and to me, it has made all of the difference… so much so that the sequel is dedicated to Kei! This book has truly been filled with love for words and books—and the people who love and protect books, too.

Katy: If you can talk about it, what’s up next for you?

Julie: I am beyond excited for the release of the sequel of The Magic Library. Is it too early to speak about it? Hehe, probably! But—being book obsessed as I am, I am so incredibly excited for a book about a bookstore! I can’t spoil too much, but of course the literary obsession continues in book two!

Also, the cover for the sequel of The Magic Library is exquisite. I hope I can share it soon!

Katy: Do you have a favorite quote or motto you’d like to share with my readers? 

Julie: “When I get lost in a good book, I finally feel found.”

I loved this quote so much I put it on a tote, haha! It speaks to how much I needed books when I was a young reader. I used to hide in the school library during recess—and no matter what, books were always there for me. When I have a good book, everything else fades away. And that’s the absolute magic of books.

Katy: What are your favorite fictional libraries? 

Julie: I’d never pass up the opportunity to get lost in a good book—or library—but the library in Lirael by Garth Nix is one of my absolute favorite fictional libraries. Though the book is for older readers, it’s an inspiration for The Magic Library of Waterfall Way. There is something so irresistible in a library brimming with mysteries and magic, and that’s why I created the four Archive Halls, each filled with a special kind of whimsical charm and intrigue.

Thank you so much, Julie, and to publicist Faye Bi at Bloomsbury Children’s for connecting us! This was so much fun! You’re inspiring me to reread Garth Nix’s Old Kingdom books. And I’m also very excited to read the sequel to The Magic Library and see its cover.