Get ready to learn more about the book A Kiss of the Siren’s Song in this discussion with sapphic author E. A. M. Trofimenkoff.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz E. A. M. Trofimenkoff about A Kiss of the Siren’s Song, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Pirates category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write A Kiss of the Siren’s Song?
During a doom-scrolling session on Instagram, I came across a reel of two cosplayers, and I sent it to a friend of mine, saying that she should write a story about sapphic pirates, inspired by Anne Bonny and Marie Read. We had a long talk where I pointed out a number of plot points and characters that could work well in the story, and by the end of our conversation, she told me that I should write it. So I did!
I was deep in the grief of losing my Nana at the time. I never expected to process this loss through writing a sapphic pirate novel, but it was one of the most healing things I did during that difficult time. Somehow, she wove her way through the pages, and into the heart of a fan-favourite character: Harlan. She was a phenomenal woman, and although the vast majority of my readers never had a chance to meet her in person, they will get to experience the warmth of her love, the joust of her teasing, and her free-spirited nature through Harlan’s character. And if that isn’t magic, then I don’t know what is.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
It depends on what kind of season of my life I’m in, but right now, I feel like Elora is definitely my favourite. She’s so wonderfully stubborn and driven, she has such a wall around her heart and mind, and yet, there is a part of her that cares so deeply about the people she lets in. She doesn’t really fit into a single mold or box, and neither do I. While I am obviously not a pirate, nor on a revenge mission, I relate to her passion and sense of justice. I’m also difficult to reason with sometimes, and I am often closed off until something big happens and I feel like I am either comfortable enough, or have no choice but to share some of the things I keep close to my chest. My circle is small, but the connections I have are unmatched in authenticity, strength, and trust.
What inspired the idea for A Kiss of the Siren’s Song?
Anne Bonny and Mary Read, as well as a reel on instagram that featured two cosplayers having a bit of a steamy knife fight. I also wanted to bring sirens to the page in a different way. In the 2003 film, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, the sirens are depicted almost as water nymphs. I have always been intrigued by different interpretations of the same (or similar) creatures. So I asked myself: what if they weren’t much different than us humans? What if they had different abilities that made them unique, and what kind of history might they have in order to bring that along? This inspired a whole week’s worth of imagination sessions where I came up with the original lore behind the sirens depicted in A Kiss of the Siren’s Song.
What was the biggest challenge writing this book?
Finding my voice and the characters’ voices. I did a lot of work and dedicated a lot of time into ensuring each character had their own distinct personalities. This meant I had to do a lot of re-writes and edits. I lost count of how many drafts I went through, but the end product was absolutely worth it. I also hired a developmental editor (Britney Waldrop), who was instrumental in this process. My alpha and beta readers also provided me with priceless feedback that helped shape the book into what it is today.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
The sequel, “A Kiss of the Ocean’s Breath,” picks up right where we left off in book 1. It continues with the themes of secrets, lies, mysteries, and how to continue on when everything feels lost. It once again has themes of loss, sacrifice, family, and what all of these mean in the grand schemes playing out. There’s some political intrigue, new characters, deeper insights into old characters, and plenty more fun adventures!
What is your favorite line from your book?
“I’ve been alone, with only my ghosts to keep me company. It’s hard to let them go when they’re the only presence I’ve ever known.”
What is your writing process like?
I am DEFINITELY a pantser. Aside from the main characters and their broad relationship arc, I went into the first draft completely blind. It felt more like I was dictating a movie playing in my head than anything else. For me, writing this way keeps the magic alive. I love exploring the story as things unfold, like I too am reading it for the first time. Unfortunately, this can sometimes mean the first draft is a bit more messy than I would like, and it tends to need more rounds of revisions. As I’ve grown as a writer, I’ve incorporated more plotting in, especially with character arcs and major plot events, which has made the editing process a lot smoother. But overall, I just love getting to explore the story and the characters in the raw way you get from pantsing.
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
I have so many! The Hunger Games was probably the series that sparked my interest in historical and modern politics, and the horrors that can arise given the powers in control, and the society(ies) that participate in, allow or even facilitate these horrors. As such, I would undoubtedly love to meet and talk with Suzanne Collins. I would also love to spend the day with Xiran Jay Zhao. Iron Widow is one of my favourite books of all time, and I would love to learn more about the Chinese history and mythology they considered while writing. They also just seem like a really interesting person, so I think that regardless of what we talked about, it would be a fascinating and engaging conversation.
Do you have any odd writing quirks?
Whenever I’m writing facial expressions or body movements, I always act them out. I have caught myself on more than one occasion pinching my lips together or squinting, trying to figure out what it feels like so I can describe it better. I’ve filmed myself writing before and it’s always an adventure seeing what happens from moment to moment!
Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing?
I have four lovely and chaotic cats. Kalypso, Pippin, Omen, and Simon. Of the four, Simon (three-year-old long-hair orange tabby) is the one that is consistently glued to me. He has contributed many “aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa” lines to my manuscripts, and loves to sit on my laptop to keep me from writing. Sometimes I write in the bathtub using the microphone on the Google Docs app to write for me, and he will sit on my chest and flick his tail in my face to make it difficult to speak as well. I have learned that when it’s Simon time, he means it. Even if it means crawling into the bathtub with me to get it.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
I do a bit of an interview with them in my head to get their basic motives down: if they were in a situation, would they fight, flee, freeze, etc, and is there a chance they could evolve from one instinct to another; what was their upbringing like; how do they talk (formal / informal); would they take a free pass, or would they think it was a trick; what do they value in themselves and others, and what do they think their weaknesses are; how do they perceive threats; do they have a strong internal monologue; etc. I also usually have a song or two that gives the general vibe of the character. Elora’s song is Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes. Sybine’s Song is I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by Sleeping At last. Drakkon’s song is Bad Moon Rising by Mourning Ritual. And Harlan’s song is Heroe by Il Divo (one of my Nana’s favourite songs).
Have you ever cried when writing an emotional scene?
All the time. I explore grief quite thoroughly in my work. There are a few points in “A Kiss of the Siren’s Song,” where I asked myself “if this were my nana, what would I want to do with her? What would I want to say? And what would I want from her in return?” Those answers flowed onto the page in a variety of ways, but particularly in chapter 62. In fact, I had nearly forgotten how emotional that scene was until I heard it read by Laura Horowitz in the audiobook version, and I SOBBED.
Do you feel bad putting your characters through the wringer?
Generally, I don’t feel bad for putting my characters through the wringer. Real life always has another curveball to throw at you. By sitting beside my characters and helping them through their adversities, it gives me the courage to get through mine as well. They bring me hope that things can work out, even if things feel hopeless. I will say though, that I felt just a tiny bit of guilt when I . . . no, never mind. That’s a spoiler.
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
Madeline Miller’s “A Song of Achilles” definitely inspired me to become a writer. Her lyrical prose is so beautiful and heart-wrenching. All I could remember thinking after I finished it was, “wow, I didn’t realize I could cry so hard while reading a book,” and “how magical would it be to have people feel the same way about what I could write?” and that turned into a passion of trying to put my readers in their feels!
What books did you grow up reading?
I grew up on The Lord of the Rings and The Hunger Games. This undoubtedly led to my fascination with powerful lead characters, fantasy worlds, strong character development, dynamics and relationships, and the importance of hope. These are all themes I had held onto and incorporate into my writing as well!
What books have you read more than once in your life?
I have read The Hunger Games over thirty times! I read it every winter (sometimes twice a winter) and I always come back with another message or another take on the characters, their decisions and sometimes even the atmosphere, structure and setting of the books. The storytelling, the pace, the characters and the writing style has been especially interesting to study as I grow as a writer. I think that having characters you can relate to, either in motivations or circumstance can be really powerful. These books also do a great job of grounding the reader in the story using the emotions of the characters, and also through the description of them experiencing the world and their surroundings. Immersive storytelling is so important to keep your readers engaged, and I feel like I have a learned a lot through revisiting these books throughout my life and author career.
