In our Campfire Chats we talk to some wonderful authors about their books, life and Camp spirit! Today we’re excited to visit the author of The Darling Devils series, Alexandra Moody, at the Ransom Devils ice skating rink to chat about handsome ice skaters and great tips to start your own writing journey.
The Darling Devils series is a sweet, sporty YA romance series with stand-alone books, packed with fake dating, fierce hockey rivalries, and swoony slow-burn love.
What inspired you to write Rival Darling and dive into the world of ice hockey romance?
I have always been such a big sports romance fan. I love reading about the competition, the pressure, the team dynamics and, of course, the swoony romances. I was inspired to write Rival Darling after falling in love with adult hockey romances. There were so many amazing books being released, but I felt like there weren’t many featuring ice hockey that were suitable for teens. I’ve been writing teen rom-coms for years, and I loved the idea of writing a super fun and wholesome ice hockey romance that was accessible for everyone.
How do you balance the intense sporting rivalry with the swoon-worthy romance in your books?
Sport and romance can both be intense and emotional in their own ways and I think the juxtaposition of the two themes can be really fun to explore, especially when you can make your strong, sporty MMC (or FMC!!) show their softer side. Sport and romance can also clash though, and I love when the game is used as a vehicle to either push characters together or pull them apart.
You’ve got fake dating in Rival Darling and a brilliant grumpy sunshine dynamic in Grumpy Darling! Which romance trope is your personal favourite?
I’ve always been such a sucker for a fake relationship. But I also really love when the relationship has a forbidden element to it, so tropes like brother’s best friend or the coach’s daughter…
With the third book in the Darling Devils series coming in March 2026, can you give us a sneak peek of what readers can expect?
Wild Darling has been such a fun book to write! It has very different character dynamics to the first two books in the series. This book is about Parker; the cocky, charming youngest Darling brother, and he’s a bit of a playboy, very different to Reed and Grayson. Then there’s Mackenzie. She’s the new hockey coach’s daughter, a total badass and plays hockey too. The two of them drive each other a little crazy (in both the best and worst ways), there’s lots of playful banter, enemies-to-lover’s vibes, more Darling family dinners, forbidden romance, and you can expect a pretty wild ride. I had the best time writing this book and I’m so excited for everyone to finally read it!
Who is your favourite Darling sibling to write?
I love them all so much, it’s difficult to choose a favourite! It honestly changes depending on the scene. I love writing Reed when he’s being all romantic, Grayson when he’s being grumpy and pining after Paige, and Parker when he’s being thoroughly chaotic. They’re all very different, which I think is why the scenes when they are all together are so much fun.
What’s been your favourite scene to write in the series so far, and why?
Tricky!! I love writing Darling family dinner scenes. I don’t think I could write a Darling Devils book without one! The boys have such a bad reputation around town—one they often play up to. But when they’re with their family you see them for who they truly are. I have so much fun playing with all their different personalities in those scenes and it makes it easy to fill them with family banter.
I also loved writing the scene in Rival Darling where Grayson and Parker are first introduced and you get to see them interacting with Reed and each other for the first time. I had the idea for these three brothers long before I sat down to actually write the book and it felt so special to finally bring the boys to life.
What advice would you give to aspiring YA authors, especially those looking to write romance?
The first piece of advice is one people have probably heard countless times before, but it’s an important one. Read! A lot! Both inside and outside the genre you want to write. Reading widely can help you understand the different techniques you need to write your own novel, like tone, pacing, structure and dialogue. It also helps you figure out what you do and don’t like in stories, what tropes you think are overdone, what’s popular and what you might be able to bring to the genre you want to write.
When considering the kind of book you want to write, I would say, write something you love. You’re going to spend a whole lot of time with your novel, so you have to enjoy it.
If you’re just starting your writing journey, the most important thing is getting that first draft done. Don’t worry about perfection. My first drafts are terrible, even now, after writing 20 books! I try to churn out that first draft as quickly as possible. Then I go back and spend most of the process editing and perfecting what is there. You could sit and rewrite your first chapter a thousand times only to scrap it entirely once the rest of your story takes shape.
There are so many amazing online communities and resources available to writers these days. Take advantage of them! For me, the BookTok community has been invaluable for sharing my work, getting inspired and connecting with other authors and readers.
Finally, don’t give up! Believe in yourself and know that no one can tell your story the same way as you.
Rival Darling and Grumpy Darling are published by Farshore in the UK.
Thank you to Alexandra Moody for answering the questions!
About Alexandra Moody
Alexandra Moody is an Australian author who writes romance novels for young adults. She lives in Adelaide with her husband, their three kids and naughty dog. When she's not busy writing, you'll find her reading or spending time with her family.
