Advice from IR Approved Author Rachyl Moore: “Whenever you feel that pull, not to tell a story, but to tell this story, trust that voice over the outsiders.”

The Things We Would Bear: Received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.

Following find an interview with author Rachyl Moore:

1. What is the name of the book and when was it published? The Things We Would Bear. It is scheduled to be released on May 15th, 2026
2. What’s the book’s first line? “I can’t breathe.”
3. What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”. In a future shaped by loss, veteran Leo Trask just wants to stay forgotten. Now, his only companion, an unsanctioned AI support animal called Bear, is running out of time. The only way for Leo to save his biggest secret is to risk exposing it.
4. What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event? One of my biggest inspirations was the idea of invisible burdens, and how even though we each individually carry something, we often fail to fully understand what others may be carrying. The concept of Bear, in particular, came from the current dichotomy in which society seems to simultaneously mistrust and rely on AI systems, especially in roles they weren’t necessarily intended for, like human connection. I started to wonder what it would look like if the technology were modeled after a therapy animal, so I set out to create something that could monitor, respond, and support a single individual in the purest way possible. I found myself exploring the balance of a system that could both see a person completely, in a way no one else could, and also not be enough to replace human connection.
5. What’s the main reason someone should really read this book? I would say the main reason would be its exploration of differing perspectives. My intention wasn’t to express a clear wrong or right way to think, but rather acknowledge that expanding our understanding to include the experiences of people not like ourselves only serves our ability to truly connect and grow.
6. What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character?  Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of? I would say the most distinctive thing is that I set out to not have one main character at all. While Leo is central to many of the events of the story, it was important to me to build an ensemble where the actions of several people drive the plot. I wanted very much to decentralize the perspective. While some characters were initially inspired by fictional figures (I originally imagined Odessa to be similar to the TV-adaptation of Juliette from Silo), I found that over time, each character unintentionally reflected different facets of my own personality.
7. When did you first decide to become an author? I don’t know that I ever decided that. I suppose it happened when I started writing this book. I’ve spent a lot of my life processing thoughts through poetry, but this was my first foray into fiction.
8. Is this the first book you’ve written? Yes, The Things We Would Bear is my first book and my first fictional piece outside of my poems.
9. What do you do for work when you’re not writing? I am an Occupational Therapist by trade, and although I have not practiced in my field since my oldest was born almost eight years ago, that experience has very much impacted both the way I think and the way I write.
10. What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie? The best part of being an indie is the ability to maintain full creative control over your vision. The hardest part is visibility, particularly for someone very new to this world.
11. What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors? Whenever you feel that pull, not to tell a story, but to tell this story, trust that voice over the outsiders.
12. Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire? Top of my list is probably Barbara Kingsolver. The Poinsonwood Bible was a novel that deeply impacted me when I first read it. Another one is Ted Chiang. It’s just mind-boggling how much depth he packs into a short story. I think for me, reading Ted Chiang expands the mind and reading Barbara Kingsolver expands the soul.