Get ready to learn more about the book Storm-swept in this discussion with sapphic author Marina Tempest.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Marina Tempest about Storm-swept, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Taboo / Forbidden Relationship category in the 2025 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Storm-swept?
I thought about all the brilliant women throughout history whose work was stolen or hidden—published under male names, credited to fathers or husbands, erased entirely. That kind of feels really relevant today as women in the US have their rights under attack.
Also, I really wanted to write a competent woman scientist who gets to kiss a hot pirate captain. 🙂
Who is your favorite character in the book?
Eliza owns my whole heart. She’s spent years believing her intelligence makes her unlovable, that she has to hide who she is to be safe—and then she meets someone who sees her genius and wants more of it, not less. That journey from self-protection to self-acceptance is beautiful.
Am I like her? God, more than I’d care to admit. I don’t have her mathematical brilliance (sadly), but that fear of being “too much”? The instinct to make yourself smaller so others feel comfortable? The shock when someone actually wants you to take up space? Yeah. I know that feeling.
What part of Storm-swept was the most fun to write?
The storm rescue scene where they work together for the first time—Margot reading signals, Eliza operating her modified equipment, both of them falling into this perfect rhythm without even realizing it. That moment when competence meets competence and they just click? Chef’s kiss.
How much research did you need to do for Storm-swept?
I read everything I could find about Scottish lighthouses, Victorian-era women scientists, maritime navigation, the abolitionist movement, ship design, 1840s Scotland, and the history of women publishing under pseudonyms. I watched documentaries about traditional sailing. I visited actual lighthouses. I’ve learned an embarrassing amount over the past year or two about pirates and sailing, but it’s fun for me!
Is there a particular genre you would love to write but only under a pseudonym?
I’ve thought a lot about writing literary fiction dealing with a lot of the political and social ideas that are being attacked in the US (and around the world, really) right now. I see a lot of ugliness coming, I’m afraid, and I feel like my strength is in telling stories. I have something I’ve been outlining and semi-drafting for a few months about the importance of democracy.
What animal or object best represents you as an author or your writing style?
Hah, this one is funny. I have a tendency to go-go-go at super speed, then when I finish a project, I’m super lazy. I’d liken myself a little to a cheetah. I’ll chase my goal, hit it, then just chill out for a while (maybe too long!) before I decide to get moving again!
When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?
I go into hiding. I have a tendency to write in bursts, and often I will write a chapter or two straight, but when I get to those emotional scenes, I need to breathe and MOVE when I’m done. Those hard scenes are probably the only time I write by hand, and it’s usually in the basement reading nook where no one will bother me.
What author in your genre do you most admire, and why?
She doesn’t write historical romance – more general historical fiction – but Kristin Hannah is one of my all-time favorite authors. Somehow, she brings you into the story so deep that you are LIVING it. Writers like to say “show, don’t tell” but she takes it five steps further. Being able to wheedle your way into someone’s heart and head to the point where they viscerally FEEL what your characters feel is a feat indeed.
What books have you read more than once in your life?
Outlander. A gazillion times. Until the end of book 7 when I refused to go back after that damn cliffhanger. I don’t know if a Sapphic version of that would have quite the same impact – there are way too many gender dynamics in play in that book/series, but it’s inspired me to write my next Lesbian Pirate (full-length) novel in Scotland.
Do you only read books in one genre or do you genre hop?
I read a bit of everything. I binged about 200 sapphic romances last year (which actually started me writing), but now I’ve been popping around to a lot of popular stuff in all kinds of genres, trying to understand what makes readers gravitate towards certain books and not others. Sapphic readers are different from mainstream readers in some ways, but a good story is a good story!
