Q&A: Moira Buffini, Author of ‘Torchfire’

We chat with author Moira Buffini about Torchfire, which is the second book in the acclaimed Torch Trilogy, set in a future dystopia with star-crossed lovers, impossible friendships, and forbidden power.

Hi, Moira! When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I began to write plays and short stories in earnest when I was about thirteen. By the time I was sixteen I was probably a compulsive writer. It has been a lifelong habit.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Ant and Bee, a learning to read book.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Maybe Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber. Brilliantly written and so subversive.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: A book called The Chrysalids by John Wyndham. I read it when I was about thirteen. It was set far in the future and moved and frightened me very deeply at the time. I still think about its powerful effect and it’s definitely one of the inspirations for Songlight.

Torchfire is the second installment in your Torch Trilogy and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

An epic thrill-ride? A romance of resistance? ( I know that’s not 5 words).

What can readers expect?

The narrators we met in Songlight draw us back in to their world. Torchfire is in many ways, a story of interconnected journeys. Lark is a fugitive, on the run. Rye is now a refugee, escaping from Brightland. Piper is learning where his loyalty really lies and Nightingale is trying to keep Swan from destroying everything she cares about. The world expands when we meet Petra and her people, who are on the longest journey of all.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?

I loved world-building Petra’s people, the Sealanders, on their huge airship, Celestis, imagining their journey over the globe. I also really enjoyed writing Lark’s journey across Brightland as she falls in love with Kingfisher. Most of all, the boys in this book, Piper and Rye, took me where I did not expect to go.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

The challenge is always not knowing what comes next. I can only see a few chapters ahead. I might know in general terms where I am heading, but characters don’t always behave as you have planned and sometimes, a character does something that shifts the whole dynamic. It’s a scary way to write because you’re often rethinking every plan. But it’s also deeply exciting. When I am lost in the woods, I take a deep breath and listen to my characters.

What’s next for you?

When I finish Book 3? A holiday! Then it’s back to the screen trade…

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I find it very hard to read when I am writing. So I have a huge pile of books waiting to be read. Top of the list is James by Percival Everett. I’m also looking forward to reading the books of some of the YA authors I have met. It’s such a great, supportive community. 

Will you be picking up Torchfire? Tell us in the comments below!