Brigid Kemmerer Returns with the Second Book in the 'Cursebreakers' Series

BK: Yes! Real life never really works out like it would in a fairy tale. I spent a lot of time thinking about what it would have done to Rhen and Grey to spend so long being trapped in the curse being tortured by Lilith, and what kind of baggage they’d carry out of it. Rhen will definitely have to come to terms with some of the choices he makes in Heart. As Rhen says in Curse, the choices we get may not be the choices we want—but they’re still choices.

GR: Book one takes place in both the modern and fantastical world, but book two is set purely in the fantasy realm. Why is this, and will book three incorporate both real and fantasy worlds?

BK: Book two shows us a few glimpses of Grey’s ability to enter Harper’s world (our modern world), and this will definitely come into play in the third book.

GR: Do you know yet how many books there will be in this series and how it will end?

BK: Right now, I’m only contracted for three books, but the world of Emberfall and Syhl Shallow (and Iishellasa, which readers will learn about in Heart) are vast and have a lot of room for more stories.

GR: Readers continually praise the depictions of relationships in your books, whether it’s friendship, romantic relationships, or that between siblings, such as between Lia Mara and her sister, Nolla Verin. How do you go about capturing the complexity of these relationships?

BK: It’s very important to me that every character—even side characters—have their own desires, fears, wants, needs, and motivations, and I make sure that those traits are at the forefront of my mind for every single interaction.

Then I consider who they trust and who they dislike—even if they’re wrong, ha ha—and I build on that every time characters are on the page together. I try not to shy away from closeness, either. I know sometimes it’s easier to create conflict if people aren’t getting along, but I think a deeper, more profound conflict can arise when people actually love each other.

GR: You’ve written YA novels in multiple genres—contemporary, fantasy, paranormal romance. Which do you enjoy the most, and why?

BK: I love them all! Really! Contemporary is sometimes easier because everyone knows what a toaster is, but fantasy gives me so much room to explore some truly off-the-wall ideas. At their core, though, all of my stories are about the family you have and the family you make and about dealing with all of the complex messes that life throws at you.

GR: What can you tell us about Defy the Night, your new fantasy series, the first part of which is due out in 2021?

BK: Defy the Night is about two outlaws named Weston and Tessa who live in the kingdom of Kandala, whose people are suffering from a mysterious fever that can only be cured by teas made from petals of the Moonflower—an expensive commodity. Wes and Tessa steal medicine to distribute it among those who can’t afford any—until Wes is caught and Tessa tries to rescue him. In doing so, she runs afoul of the king and his wicked brother, and everything she thought she knew about Kandala turns out to be wrong...

GR: Do you have a daily writing routine or any rituals that help get your prose flowing?

BK: I need coffee and music. That’s it. Otherwise, I can write anywhere at any time. I especially love writing on airplanes.

GR: Tell us about some books you recently read and loved or can’t wait to read.

BK: I just got a chance to read Havenfall by Sara Holland, and I loved it! I’m really looking forward to Hood by Jenny Elder Moke.