Get ready to learn more about the book The Fate of Stars in this discussion with sapphic author SD Simper.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz SD Simper about The Fate of Stars, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Ocean / Sea category in the 2026 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write The Fate of Stars?
The book started as a simple writing exercise (which I elaborate on below) but turned into a full-blown story that ended up resonating a lot with my own struggles. Much of what Dauriel, the love interest, has gone through mirrors a lot of my experiences growing up, but instead replaces a repressive patriarchal religion with an oppressive, abusive mother. Additionally, her complicated feelings with gender and infertility relate strongly to my own experience, notably the complicated feelings that come from having something taken away from you even though you didn’t really want it, but removing the choice still hurts.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
My favorite character is the Goddess of Stars, Staella. She has a smaller role in this book but plays a large role in other books I’ve written. We are nothing alike. While I am an empathetic person (which is kind of Staella’s core trait as a goddess), I’m much louder and boisterous and inclined to take center-stage, whereas she is more comfortable living quietly. However, we do both love gardening, and her love of the desert stems from my love of my homeland.
What inspired the idea for The Fate of Stars?
What if, in The Little Mermaid, instead of rescuing the prince(ss) and everything being happy, the mermaid was kidnapped for her good deed?
How did you come up with the title for your book?
The title comes as a reference to Tallora’s firm devotion to the Goddess of Stars, Staella, who has many different, and occasionally conflicting, narratives about her origin. Staella is married to the Moon Goddess, Neoma, who is known to be a cold, stoic force, domineering in all her deeds, whereas Staella is soft-spoken and gentle. To add a further complication, she famously left a different domineering god to be with her wife. A question is asked at the beginning of the book: Was this the fate of stars, to be subsumed by the moon’s light?
But Neoma’s devotion to her wife is revealing to be her greatest strength. Staella’s choices matter, and in many ways mirror Tallora’s (which is the entire point).
Ultimately the question is answered: The fate of the stars was her own.
How much research did you need to do for The Fate of Stars?
Because it’s a fantasy novel, not too much. However, one ever-important question remained, though it was more pertinent to the second book in the series: How do mermaids have sex? So I did a helluva lot of research into how ocean creatures copulate. If you want to find out yourself, read the book.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
The first book ends on a bittersweet note. The second book follows up on the consequences of that. (It’s already out.)
What is your favorite line from your book?
As referenced and explained above: “The fate of the stars was her own.”
What is your writing process like?
I am more often than not a pantser, and this book was definitely written that way. Being a pantser means that there are breaks in the writing process because I have to think of what comes next. Admittedly, outlining does get the job done a lot faster.
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
I take an extended stay-cation and play a lot of video games.
Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing?
I have five animals, but only one really hinders my typing. My sweet Mumu, a gorgeous little Siamese cat who my wife and I call my “jealous girlfriend”, is very clingy and wants to sit on my hands and wrap around my mouse (as is appropriate for a cat to do, when you think about it). She’s turning 10 this year, and she’s my guardian angel and my soulmate, but she’s also the Regina George of our house, ruling over the other animals with an iron fist (except for the dog, who is oblivious to hierarchies).
What are three words that describe your personality?
So I asked my wife, because I always worry my own self-perception is purely ego-driven. She dithered. I said, “Gun to your head, what do you say?” and she narrows her eyes and says “brazen”.
I think that story illustrates a bit of how I operate… The other two words she picked were “determined” and “creative” (specifically, she would like to clarify, both in the crafting but also the problem-solving way).
When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?
I find the right music. I turn off the lights and write and candle. I shut my door so I can’t be interrupted, and I prepare to cry.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
I dunno. I just sorta live in there.
Have you ever cried when writing an emotional scene?
All the time. Constantly. I’m a huge crier. But that’s also how I know the scene is hitting right. I’m sure part of it is that I have the “big feelings” disorder, i.e. bipolar disorder.
Do you feel bad putting your characters through the wringer?
No. They deserve it. I don’t feel glee, and I don’t do it for fun. I do it for the story. The Fate of Stars is one of my only books with a truly morally good protagonist, whereas when a major character in Fallen Gods spends several days being tortured and vivisected and mutilated by a brainwashed love interest…look, it’s not nice, but she deserved it. (Hi, I’m a horror writer at heart.)
What type of books do you enjoy reading the most?
Dark fantasy and (weirdly) non-fiction. I’ve always been a huge fantasy fan, since childhood, especially stuff that felt like a video game. Non-fiction because I love to learn. I especially love books about different culture’s mythology (which toes the line of fiction vs non-fiction) and learning how our minds work.
What book do you wish you had written?
I WILL someday write my planned F/F/F Phantom of the Opera retelling. SOMEDAY.
