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Marissa Stapley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marissa Stapley
Born (1978-11-20) 20 November 1978 (age 47)
Stouffville, Ontario, Canada
OccupationJournalist and novelist
EducationRyerson University (2003)
Notable worksLucky (2021)
Website
marissastapley.com

Marissa Stapley (born 1978) is a Canadian author and journalist. She is best known for her novel Lucky (2021).

Early life and education

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Stapley was born 20 November 1978,[citation needed] in Stouffville, Ontario. She graduated from Stouffville District Secondary School,[1] before receiving a degree in journalism from Ryerson University in 2003.[2] Her grandfather and grandmother were both journalists.[3]

Career

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Stapley began her career as a journalist. Her reporting appeared in publications across North America including Elle, Reader's Digest, and The Globe and Mail. She taught creative writing and editing at the University of Toronto and Centennial College.[4]

Stapley has written five novels individually under her name: Mating for Life (2014), Things to Do When It's Raining (2018), The Last Resort (2019), Lucky (2021), and The Lightning Bottles (2024).[5] She also co-wrote Three Holidays and a Wedding (2023) with Canadian writer Uzma Jalaluddin.[6] Under the pen name Maggie Knox, Stapley and author Karma Brown co-wrote the holiday novels The Holiday Swap (2021) and All I Want for Christmas (2022).[7] Under the pen name Julia McKay, Stapley wrote the holiday romance novels The Holiday Honeymoon Switch (2024) and Christmas at the Ranch (2025).[8][9]

Lucky was a New York Times bestseller.[3][10][11][12] Stapley has written about how the death of her mother, Valerie, influenced her work, including the novel Lucky, which Stapley dedicated to her.[13][14] The novel was selected as the December 2021 pick for Reese's Book Club, the first Canadian novel chosen for the Club.[1][15][16] A sequel to Stapley's Lucky book, titled No Such Thing as Lucky, is scheduled for publication in 2027.[17]

The television rights to Lucky were optioned by ABC Disney Studios, with Carlton Cuse attached as producer and Stapley developing the pilot treatment with him.[18] The project moved to Apple TV+ as a seven-episode limited series, with a premier date of July 15, 2026.[19][20] It was created and co-showrun by Jonathan Tropper, with Cassie Pappas as his co-showrunner.[21][22] Reese Witherspoon executive produced the series through Hello Sunshine.[23][24]

Lucky features Anya Taylor-Joy as Lucky, Drew Starkey as Cary, Annette Bening as Priscilla, Timothy Olyphant as Lucky's father John, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as FBI Agent Billie Rand.[25]

Personal life

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Stapley lives in Toronto with her family.[26]

Bibliography

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As Marissa Stapley

  • Mating for Life (2014)
  • Things to Do When It's Raining (2018)
  • The Last Resort (2019)
  • Lucky (2021)
  • The Lightning Bottles (2024)
  • No Such Thing as Lucky (forthcoming, 2027)

With Uzma Jalaluddin

  • Three Holidays and a Wedding (2023)

As Maggie Knox (with Karma Brown)

  • The Holiday Swap (2021)
  • All I Want for Christmas (2022)

As Julia McKay

  • The Holiday Honeymoon Switch (2024)
  • Christmas at the Ranch (2025)

References

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  1. 1 2 Thomas, Jim (22 December 2021). "A Christmas celebration for former Stouffville author Marissa Stapley — 'small-town girl makes good'". YorkRegion.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "alum and author Marissa Stapley". Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 Martin, Simon (31 January 2022). "Stouffville author Marissa Stapley goes from Main Street to New York Times Bestseller". YorkRegion.com. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Sixth Annual Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize shortlist announced". Kobo Books Blog. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "How 90s music stars Jeff Buckley and Sinead O'Connor inspired Marissa Stapley's latest novel". CBC. 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 3 February 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Raymundo, Bridget (15 December 2023). "How romance writers Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley represent multi-faith holiday fun in new book". CBC Books. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "The Holiday Swap is a delicious romantic comedy featuring cupcakes, sourdough bread and a twin sister swap". CBC Books. 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 7 December 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Julia McKay". Penguin Random House. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Marissa Stapley". TIFA. Archived from the original on 11 April 2026. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  10. ↑ Hill-Paul, Lucas (3 December 2024). "Anya Taylor-Joy to star in adaptation of crime novel fans 'couldn't put down'". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 18 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  11. ↑ Hill-Paul, Lucas (3 December 2024). "Anya Taylor-Joy to bring 'unputdownable' crime novel to life in new TV series". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 17 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Paperback Trade Fiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Dec. 26, 2021 - The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 17 July 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "On Luck and Bravery". Reese's Book Club. 7 December 2021. Archived from the original on 17 April 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  14. ↑ Thomas, Jim (22 December 2021). "A Christmas celebration for former Stouffville author Marissa Stapley — 'small-town girl makes good'". YorkRegion.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  15. ↑ Seitz, Loree (2 December 2024). "Anya Taylor-Joy Lands Apple TV+ and Hello Sunshine Series 'Lucky' as Star and EP". TheWrap. Archived from the original on 18 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "Lucky by Toronto author Marissa Stapley is latest Reese Witherspoon's book club pick". CBC. 9 December 2021. Archived from the original on 17 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  17. ↑ "Marissa Stapley Brings Us Back to the World of 'Lucky' With 'No Such Thing as Lucky'". Cosmopolitan. 16 March 2026. Archived from the original on 28 March 2026. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "Marissa Stapley's upcoming novel Lucky optioned for TV by Lost producer Carlton Cuse". CBC. 30 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "Apple TV unveils the premiere date, first look and teaser for "Lucky"". Apple TV Press. Archived from the original on 3 June 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "'Incredible' 7-part heist thriller with Peaky Blinders star gets first look – watch". HELLO!. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  21. ↑ "'Your Friends & Neighbors' Releases Season 2 Teaser—and Unveils First Look at James Marsden". ELLE. 2 February 2026. Archived from the original on 27 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  22. ↑ "Watch the New Teaser for Anya Taylor-Joy's Upcoming Series 'Lucky'". ELLE. 4 February 2026. Archived from the original on 3 June 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  23. ↑ Porter, Rick (2 December 2024). "Apple Lands Anya Taylor-Joy Led Drama 'Lucky,' Based on Bestseller". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "Watch the First Trailer of Anya Taylor-Joy Starring in Apple TV+'s Heist Thriller 'Lucky'". Hypebeast. 5 February 2026. Archived from the original on 18 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  25. ↑ Gomez, Dessi (3 February 2026). "Everything We Know About Apple And Hello Sunshine's 'Lucky' TV Series Adaptation So Far". Deadline. Archived from the original on 14 July 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  26. ↑ "alum and author Marissa Stapley". Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Archived from the original on 21 November 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
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