Get ready to learn more about the book Her Princess Her Pearls in this discussion with sapphic author A.A. Fairview.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz A.A. Fairview about Her Princess Her Pearls, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Mermaid category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Her Princess Her Pearls?
My good friend and cover artist Sophie (dextrose.png) expressed interest in creating something for MerMay. I wanted to write something that would be fun for her to illustrate so I knew it had to be sapphic and had to have a more monstrous mermaid! Since this was all for MerMay I had to have it finished by the end of the month so story was written on a pretty short deadline, but I’m really proud of it.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
Shui is my favorite because I absolutely loved designing her. I knew I wanted a deep sea mermaid so I took inspiration from oarfish for her size and tail. She’s also blind and bioluminescent like many deep sea fish. It was also interesting writing a blind character since sight is such a go-to for me when describing things but that’s not a sense Shui experiences, so I had to lean much more into sound and touch when writing. I don’t think we’re all that similar. Shui has lived a very lonely life and is happy when she finds other mermaids. I however, am very introverted and prefer to be alone. I would love living at the bottom of the ocean with nothing but myself and my thoughts.
What was the biggest challenge writing this book?
The short timeline! Having just a month to draft and edit was an absolute whirlwind. I don’t think anyone but me read Pearls till it was released. There is something special about a piece hasn’t been touched by anyone besides myself and still have it resonate with people. So despite having to write quickly, I would do it again.
What part of Her Princess Her Pearls was the most fun to write?
I always love writing character dynamics and Shui and Nadia were so fun to write! Nadia is absolutely spoiled, with doting maids and adoring subjects. Meanwhile Shui has never had anyone but herself. It was fun writing such different characters who were so ride or die for each other from the start. It was also really fun writing Nadia’s love confession, it’s so fun when a character bares their heart and soul like that. Confession scenes are always my favorite in books, they always have me giggling.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
I love an alliteration and it is a story about a mermaid princess, so pearls were a given. From there it was easy to say, “well, it’s Shui’s Princess, and Nadia’s Pearls, Her Princess, Her Pearls!” So many of my titles have been alliterative it might be part of my author brand at this point.
How much research did you need to do for Her Princess Her Pearls?
I’ve been interested in the ocean all my life so some things I knew off the bat, but I did look into fish a lot! I wanted both Shui and Nadia to be inspired by real life fish. Nadia is inspired by parrot fish and Shui is an oarfish! I also knew the story had to take place somewhere where there are both coral reefs and deep ocean. The Marianas Trench was an obvious choice but there’s actually quite a few ocean trenches located near Guam, which also has beautiful reef life. This was really helpful when deciding what Nadia would look like and I took inspiration from Chamorro women of Guam.
What is your writing process like?
I’m all over the place but I lean more towards plotter. I like having an outline as a guide, reminding me what’s the next beat in the story and what the next scene needs to lead into. Unfortunately for my last few projects I’ve ended up ignoring big chunks of my outline. I also rely on character bios a lot. If I know the character well and understand their motivations then it’s much easier to write. I do wish I was a bit better about mapping out emotional beats, they’re such an important part of any story but they sometimes get pushed aside for more “plot” focus in my outlines. Understanding where a character is in their emotional journey can really change a draft. Right now I sort of let the character decide what they’re feeling while drafting, and then have to go back and figure out if those emotional beats make sense to anyone other than me or the character (which is extra messy since people don’t always make rational decisions!).
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
I get myself an affogato from my local gelato place! Extra points if I can snag one from the food truck and sit out in the park by the bay and just enjoy the scenery. I also usually start a new project that’s completely different from the book I’ve just finished. I love mixing things up!
Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing?
My tabby cat Pinto is my writing companion, I also call her my literary agent. Pretty much everything I’ve written she’s been there, sleeping next to me. When she’s not sleeping next to me she’s biting my hand (with love!). She’s only about three years old but still has kitten energy. Her favorite things are boxes and paper bags. Anything she can hide in and get a good swipe in when anyone passes by.
What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?
My own ego helps and hurts me! Sometimes I really think my writing is trash or that no one will be interested in what I’m writing except me. Then when that passes I think, “actually, I am a decent writer, and less decent writers have published so why shouldn’t I?” Maybe that’s a little cocky but the only reason I ever self published is because I had the confidence to say “I think this is good, others will too.” Unfortunately when I’m drafting and editing the “you suck” voice can really hold me back from working on a project. I also do get distracted. Sometimes by a new, shiny project and sometimes by video games (I will never get back the hours I lost to Baldur’s Gate 3 but I’m okay with that)
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
I create character bios but instead of focusing on things like birthdates or simply likes and dislikes I ask myself, “where are they happiest? What’s their secret desire- so secret maybe they don’t even realize it?” Playlists are also super helpful. I’m a big music person so figuring out what music a character would listen to (especially their guilty pleasure music) is super enlightening.
If you could be mentored by a famous author (living or not), who would it be?
Mary Shelley! Frankenstein is my favorite book of all time and I’d love to pick her brain about modern medicine and the landscape of scifi fiction today. There are also so many stories about Mary and the other Romantics that are so ridiculous I want to know if they actually happened. They say that Mary kept her husband Percy Shelley’s calcified heart in her writing desk. It sounds impossible but it’s a story told time and time again so I want to ask her, “is it true?”
What books did you grow up reading?
The Magic Treehouse series got me into reading as a kid and I think the way the series blended the real world with fantastical elements really shaped my taste! I’m a paranormal romance author primarily and I love writing a world where both magic and our own reality exist. The series also got me super interested in history and I still love doing a deep dive into a historical event or person. Everything I write requires some sort of research whether it’s learning about new monsters or using google street view to get a better idea of a setting.
What books have you read more than once in your life?
I reread my favorite books all the time, Frankenstein, Howl’s Moving Castle, and The Scarlet Letter are the ones I find myself rereading the most. For me when I reread a book it gives me a chance to really dig into a book’s prose. It absolutely gives me a new appreciation for the work itself and also inspires my own writing style and goals. I also love the characters of these stories. The Monster, Howl, and Hester Prynne are some of my favorite characters of all time. They all make some pretty bad decisions in their respective books which makes them so much more interesting. I always strive to write characters who are as complex as people in the real world, which means not everyone will like them nearly as much as I do, but I prefer that to writing a character who could only ever exist in fiction.
Do you only read books in one genre or do you genre hop?
I am such a genre hopper. I just finished Our Wives Under the Sea which is a horror scifi book and now I’m reading Kit McBride Gets a Wife which is a historical romance. Sometimes I pick up a book because there’s something about the setting or characters that draw me in, maybe it’s set in a place I rarely read about or it has a character that relates to an interest of mine. I also pick up books because I’ve heard really great things about them or a friend recommended it to me. Generally I like to read the fantasy and romance genre, but I will honestly read any and all subgenres within those categories. Though I gravitate towards things with fantastical elements way more.
