Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Zilla: There’s a lot of doom and gloom in the world, and sometimes what we need is a reminder that more hopeful futures exist. Brightflame is here to tell us about their solarpunk fantasy, The Working, which offers us just that spark we need.

Brightflame: A modern coven must thwart a looming eco-cataclysm and find the key to the bright futures we need.

Betsy’s a modern-day Witch with an ageless problem: she’s worried about screwing up her coven’s ritual. Again. But the coven has a bigger issue to face—a greed-fueled entity will soon obliterate Earth’s ability to support life.

Zilla: What inspired you to write this book?

Brightflame: I wrote The Working to answer my own burning question: what can we do about the massive ills of the world, not only our climate emergency, but all the intertwined ills that include fascism, racism, and greed? What is the Working to counteract this and restore a vibrant, regenerative Web of Life? I didn’t have an answer when I began to write.

I also wanted to embed real magical practice and ritual for younger Witches and covens—or anyone drawn to an Earth-based spiritual path.

Zilla: I love that, but let’s delve deeper into your inspiration. Is there a visual image that inspired you?

Brightflame: A pentacle—the five-pointed star—inspired the structure of The Working. There are five coven members in the story, each with their own point of view. A pentacle represents interconnection—each point is connected to every other point. The number five also represents the Elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Spirit.

Zilla: If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them?

Brightflame: I would thank them for their wisdom and allowing me to tell their stories. Yes, this is a work of fiction. Still, I got to know Betsy, Sail, Fire, Mari, and Tal as dear friends through the years of writing the book. And the five Old Ones in the story are based on my actual Ancestors who I met in the astral realm and who told me to get this story out to the world!

Zilla: And what would they respond back!

Brightflame: I fear the five coveners would ask who my favorite is. But that would be like asking who my favorite child is. I love them all!

Zilla: What’s your next writing project?

Brightflame: I’m shopping my story collection that forms a mosaic novel—the stories are all set in the same solarpunk future through time. Some of them are published—links on my website. And I’m working on a nonfiction Solarpunk Witchcraft book.

Zilla: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?
Brightflame: Visit my site https://brightflame.com and consider subscribing to my newsletter and blog. My book: https://waterdragonpublishing.com/product/working/   Follow me on Instagram (@brightflame.2), Bluesky (@BrightFlame), Facebook (@brightflame.1), and Mastodon (wandering.shop/@BrightFlame)