Get ready to learn more about the book A Curse Bright and Breathing in this discussion with sapphic author Moira Darling.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Moira Darling about A Curse Bright and Breathing, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Dark Romance category in the 2025 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write A Curse Bright and Breathing?
I wrote A Curse Bright and Breathing because after finishing A Hunger Soft and Wild, Selis stayed with me. I couldn’t stop thinking about her… about how guarded she was, how sharp her edges had become, and what it might look like if someone refused to be scared away by any of it. I wanted love and kindness to throw her completely off balance. I wanted someone to see past her cruelty and meet her with compassion, and that someone became Naera. Their dynamic came alive in my head before I even knew what the plot would be. I just knew Selis needed her story told.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
Selis is my favorite. She’s not much like me, and I think that’s why she was so fun to write. She says things I would never say and guards herself in ways I don’t, but I understand where it comes from. There’s something really vulnerable hiding underneath all that bitterness, and I loved peeling back her layers piece by piece.
What part of A Curse Bright and Breathing was the most fun to write?
The banter between Selis and Naera was by far the most fun to write. Selis could be so mean, especially earlier in the book. But Naera held her own. I loved having them unravel each other.
What is your favorite line from your book?
“And somewhere between the frost curling through the air and the fire still roaring under my skin, I know… in that moment, I would’ve killed ten more men for her. A hundred more. And I wouldn’t have blinked.” – from Selis’s POV
Where do you usually write, and what do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
I usually write at my desk in my home office. I like having a fantasy instrumental playlist playing in the background… the same one every time, actually. There’s something comforting about the familiarity of it; it helps me slip back into the world I’m building.
What’s your favorite writing snack or drink?
My go-to writing drink is usually a hot cup of coffee with a splash of creamer or a Dunkin iced coffee (mocha swirl, cream, sugar). The hot coffee is my usual. The iced coffee is a treat.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing, and by whom?
“Write the story that won’t leave you alone.” I heard that line on a writing podcast before I started A Hunger Soft and Wild, and it completely changed the way I approached writing. Before that, I kept trying to write stories I thought would “sell well” and I never finished a single one. But then I started writing A Hunger Soft and Wild, the first full-length book I ever completed, simply because it wouldn’t stop whispering to me. That advice reminded me to follow the stories that actually inspire me.
Have you ever fallen in love with one of your characters?
Absolutely, though maybe not in the traditional sense. I fall a little bit in love with something about every main character I write. Sometimes it’s their vulnerability, sometimes it’s their conviction, or the way they love so fiercely even when they’re afraid. With Naera, it’s her compassion. I think falling for them is part of how I get to know them.
Describe your favorite reading spot.
My favorite reading spot is curled up on the sofa beside my partner while they play video games, with a big comfy throw draped over both of us. There’s something really peaceful about just being close, doing our own cozy things, with the soft hum of the game in the background and a good book in my hands.
Do you only read books in one genre or do you genre hop?
I mostly read romance, but I love hopping between subgenres like fantasy, paranormal, historical, dark, cozy, spicy, sweet… I’ll read it all. I think what draws me in is the emotional core of a romance story. I love watching two people slowly figure each other out and choose each other again and again. The setting and vibes can change, but that feeling always hits.
