Get ready to learn more about the book Stargun Messenger in this discussion with sapphic author Darby Harn.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Darby Harn about Stargun Messenger, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Self-Discovery category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Stargun Messenger?
This is a book about discovering and valuing yourself, and I wrote it as much for me as readers. This story has been with me a while, but this is the time for it. People like Astra Idari are under attack across the world for who she is and who she loves. They’re been shoved into the dark, but Idari has spent long enough in the dark. She wants to step into the light.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
Idari is by far my favorite. We’re very different – she’s a badass as much as she is a goofball – but we’re both a little bit of a mess who always come together for people we love.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
The sequel is actually up for preorder now. Astra Idari Beyond Lights’ Reach continues the trilogy and really digs deep into the characters.
What is your favorite line from your book?
“I see you.”
What’s your favorite writing snack or drink?
My go to snack is a KIND bar. Peanut butter and dark chocolate.
Is there a particular genre you would love to write but only under a pseudonym?
I love romance in books. There’s a really strong romance thread in all my books. More and more I’m attracted to writing an out and out romance. I’m a sucker for Regency romances. Any love story, really. Love, Actually gets me every time.
What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?
I learned I was autistic about eight years ago. I didn’t know how much this impacted my writing until then. I’ve written all my life, but was frustrated in getting all these tangled ideas on the page. After I got to know myself more, I could untangle the knots. Stargun Messenger would have been impossible without this.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
I sort of have a conversation with her. I let her talk a little to get the voice back.
Have you ever cried when writing an emotional scene?
Yes. The scene between Idari and Emera on the shore in Stargun Messenger. “I see you.”
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
So many. Neil Gaiman. Kelly Link. Chris Claremont. Claremont’s work on X-Men was so transgressive for comics. It was diverse, queer, provocative, and still grand superhero fun. I think it’s a big reason why my books are the way they are.
What books did you grow up reading?
Lots of comics. Shocker. Frankenstein. I think that book really helped me appreciate the other. We’re much more than the sum of our parts.
