Sara in front of Seljalandsfoss in Iceland.

For this Employee Spotlight, we encouraged Sara Hardin to take a break from cuddling her cats to give us her thoughts on work, free time, and hobbies galore!

What's your favorite thing about working for Brunette Games?

I can't rave enough about the team I get to work with. Creative people aren't always the most gracious when it comes to having their work critiqued, but my coworkers are experts at giving and receiving feedback. Reviews and edits are a huge part of what we do, and it would be so much more difficult with less patient peers. We're also lucky that we share many common interests, which makes small talk so much less excruciating for a group of introverts!

What's your favorite thing about being a game writer?

Does the fact that I get to call myself a game writer count? In all seriousness, I couldn't imagine a better fit for myself, even as I continue to learn and grow. I love putting myself in the players' shoes and experiencing the story from all angles as it develops. It's such a unique position to be in, and I hope to never take it for granted.

What do you like to see in games as a player?

Complex characters! Even better, a complex antagonist. Villains are so interesting when they're multi-faceted and not just moustache-twirlingly, cackingly evil (though that does have its place). That being said, it's a challenge to craft an interesting villain—how do you make someone sympathetic without endorsing their twisted actions? It's a delicate balance to strike, which is why I love seeing it done well. Olgierd von Everec from The Witcher 3: Hearts of Stone, Mads Mikkelsen's portrayal of Hannibal Lector, and Breaking Bad's Walter White are a few favorites that come to mind.

Do you have any pets? Can we see a picture?

My husband and I have two cats, Calcifer (Cal) and Moose. They're our whole world. Here's one of my favorite pictures of them cuddling on my work desk:

What kind of game character would you be?

I get a lot of  slack from my friends about how I always choose to be a ranger in any RPG that gives me the option. So... I'd be a ranger. I'd hang out with and tame woodland creatures, make an intricate shelter high in the trees à la Swiss Family Robinson, and whittle little wooden figurines for my friends. What's not to love?

How do you like to spend your personal time?

In addition to playing mobile, Nintendo, and PC games, I'm also an avid reader. I've hit a personal record this year of 40 books read in 2022–something that feels incredible as a slow reader! My book club is full of wonderful women, and we meet monthly for book chitchat and snacks. I also have this habit of picking up random hobbies every so often to see what sticks. Most recently, I've dabbled in knitting, crocheting, watercoloring, and jigsaw puzzling... and I start a stained glass class this week! "Jack of all trades, master of none" feels relevant.