Get ready to learn more about the book Broken to Belong in this discussion with sapphic author Charity Muse.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Charity Muse about Broken to Belong, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Alabama category in the 2026 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Broken to Belong?
I wrote this book after my wife and I talked about the lack of happy endings and deep stories within Sapphic films. We started daydreaming about “what if there was a story…” and I took off from there! I especially felt it was important to tell a story about being queer in the south and highlight the resilience of the queer community here.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
I really love both Dani and Mae and I see myself in both of them, almost as if they are different sides of me. I am also a musician like Dani (and recorded songs of hers for the book!) and like Mae, I am very tied with nature and am a deep feeler.
What was the biggest challenge writing this book?
I wrote most of the first draft while breastfeeding our son. I just typed in a google doc. It was hard to find time, and when it came time to finish the book, it was strange to type on a computer during the day instead of my phone at all hours.
What part of Broken to Belong was the most fun to write?
I really enjoyed writing the scene when Dani and Mae have their first kiss. It took some moments from my own experience and expanded on them in a really beautiful way.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
There’s an important scene when a character talks about the safe house for LGBTQ+ youth, and she says how important it is for them to have a place where they can move from feeling broken to feeling they belong. It’s one of the main themes in the book, and it just fit perfectly.
What is your writing process like?
I write with a blend of loose plotting and planning and mostly pants my way through a story. I like to be surprised by where the story wants to go, but I do get stuck at times. When that happens, I like to think about what is the next logical domino or potential dominoes to fall.
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
I wish I could spend time with Mary Oliver. Her poetry has been incredibly important to me, and knowing she was also queer and deeply into nature makes me feel like we would have a lot to talk about. I’d also love to meet Robin Wall Kimmerer. I feel like we see the world in very similar ways.
When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?
I put on a playlist to match the mood. For example, I had some specific playlists for Broken to Belong. A lot of acoustic instrumental music, but also a lot of Indigo Girls to set the tone.
Have you ever cried when writing an emotional scene?
Oh my gosh, yes. I am a very deep feeler and empathic person (And I was a therapist for over 15 years!) It doesn’t take much to make me cry. I cried a lot when I wrote Broken to Belong. Some of it was also because writing this book helped me work through some of my own pain and heartbreak as well as my healing.
What type of books do you enjoy reading the most?
I have found that I most love books about nature, including books where nature or the setting really feels like a character itself. I think the sense of place has become very important to me in the past few years, and seeing it reflected in a story really engages me as a reader.
Describe your favorite reading spot.
In the shade of a tree, especially places with water next to them. But I also love to spread out a blanket and have some tea with me and listen to the leaves rustle above me.
