We chat with New York Times bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer about Destroy The Day, which is the thrilling conclusion to the Defy the Night series and crafts heartrending twists and devastating turns that will keep readers breathless to the very end!
Hi, Brigid! Welcome back! How have the past few years been since we last spoke?
Thank you so much for having me! The past few years have been a bit of a rollercoaster, but that’s just part of being human, I think. I’ve had some amazing times, and some not-so-amazing times, but at the end of the day, I’m so incredibly lucky to be doing what I love, and I never let go of that.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve loved stories and storytelling since I was a little girl. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t have a book in my hands. I still have piles of handwritten pages of stories I wrote when I was in middle and high school, and I still remember getting in trouble in pre-calculus because I was writing stories when I should have been paying attention.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Ack! I don’t remember the title, but I have this memory of being really young, maybe 7 or 8, and reading a book where some kittens died, and I sobbed and sobbed.
- The one that made you want to become an author: This would have to be any book by Christopher Pike. I went from reading books like The Babysitters Club to Christopher Pike’s book Remember Me, and I remember thinking that I didn’t even know books could be that compelling.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I’ve never identified with a character more than when I read Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella. I’ve probably read it a dozen times now.
Destroy The Day is the final installment in your Defy The Night series! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Whoa! Okay, here goes. Royalty, Outlaws, Vengeance, Redemption, and Sacrifice
What can readers expect from this finale?
At the beginning of Destroy the Day, Tessa, Corrick, and Harristan all divided for the first time, and to find their way back to each other, they need to work with some really unexpected partners to survive.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring one last time?
So many! I had the opportunity to create some new characters (as well as bigger roles for existing characters), and it was so much fun! There’s Erik Rocco, of course, one of King Harristan’s guards … who’s now trapped with Tessa. There’s the rebel Lochlan, who’s stuck with Prince Corrick – and they HATE each other. And then there’s Olive, a completely new character who ends up befriending Tessa and providing help in the most unexpected ways!
How did it feel wrapping up another series? Do you have any traditions to celebrate?
Oh, I cried and cried to write this conclusion, but it really feels complete, and I love the way it turned out. As far as any celebration traditions, I don’t really have any. Like a true Capricorn, when I finish writing one book, I jump right into the next one.
After the huge success of Cursebreakers, did you have any fears about expectations? If so, how do you manage this when it comes to your writing?
I learned a long time ago that it’s important to keep my head down and just revel in the pure joy of telling the story. There’s only a short time where it’s just me and my characters, and I try not to put too much pressure on myself when I’m starting a new project.
What’s next for you?
Right now I’m working on a new adult fantasy, Warrior Princess Assassin, coming from Avon in 2025, as well as completing the next book to follow Forging Silver into Stars, a YA series that continues to expand the Cursebreaker universe.
Lastly, are there any 2024 book releases that you’re looking forward to?
Yes! I can’t wait to read The Absinthe Underground by Jamie Pacton. It’s a sapphic, friends-to-lovers romantasy about two girls who are hired to do a heist in Fae, and it sounds like it’s going to be right up my alley.
