Get ready to learn more about the book Antarctica in this discussion with sapphic author Katherine Rupley.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Katherine Rupley about Antarctica, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Antarctica, North Pole, and South Pole category in the 2026 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Antarctica?
I have been fascinated by Antarctica since I was a child and heard stories about the vast landscape, harsh winters, and wintering over. After taking an Antarctica cruise with my wife, this story or the concept for this story just came alive for me. I had so many big ideas and wanted to get them across in a story that would help bring them to life. Women in leadership, treaties and politics, the beauty and harshness of the land.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
I’d have to say Jo (though I really like Christina – hot, smart, and secretive). Jo is an introvert who would rather run from people than deal with emotional situations, but she’s also solid and has a real sense of fairness. She loves to learn and travel. I’m an introvert and I like to think I’m fair, and I love to learn new things and travel.
What inspired the idea for Antarctica?
Hearing about Antarctica as a child and then seeing it in person. The scientist, engineers, historians, and the doctor on the Antarctica cruise all shared their experiences and inspired me. I had a burning desire to write this book.
What was the biggest challenge writing this book?
Condensing all of the myriad topics that I wanted to write into just a few solid, fully formed ones. Thank Susan Meagher, my GCLS WA mentor, for helping me with that.
What part of Antarctica was the most fun to write?
I loved writing the dialog between the characters. Giving them life and voice.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
It was easy (kinda). Antarctica. Big, vast, cold, harsh, beautiful, alive.
How much research did you need to do for Antarctica?
I did a lot of fact checking and including things about Antarctica that I don’t think most people every think about.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
I keep getting asked this question. What’s next for Jo and Christina? Hmmmmmmm.
What is your favorite line from your book?
Rules don’t apply.
What is your writing process like?
Definitely a panster or as I like to say a discover writer. My pre-writing life was all about planning and now I love just sitting down and letting the characters tell me their story. The problem is that as the books get more complexed it’s harder to keep it all clear in my head and I have to do a lot of reworking to get things clear for me and the reader.
Where do you usually write, and what do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
I write in my office at home but lately, I’ve enjoyed going to a local coffee shop with others who work, read, and chill. Anonymous in a crowd. Good energy and vibe.
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
I’d love to spend time with Lee Winter. I love her writing style and sense of humor. My favorite books of hers are The Chaos Agent and The Fixers, Vengeance Planning for Amateurs, and Shattered. All of these are very different but each is very Lee Winter.
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
I’m very bad at this. I call a few friends and have a nice dinner.
Is there a particular genre you would love to write but only under a pseudonym?
I’m thinking about writing a late in life romance. I think it would be a senior rom-com romance because really…. but I don’t think I could write all the sex scenes and let my parents read it.
Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing?
I have three cats. Belle, my six year old calico, sits/sleeps behind my laptop and pushes it toward me. Plus she like to lick the screen as she cleans herself. Danae, my thirteen year old torty, explains to me in a loud voice all the things I’m not doing for her: letting her outside, food, pets, play, just because. And Leela, my three year old short hair, wants my lap constantly and pets and food and attention and….
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing, and by whom?
You can’t edit what’s not on the page. It is better to have a few well developed ideas then many poorly developed ones. The first piece of advice, I think, is general good advice and I’m not sure where it came from. The second was from Susan X Meagher, my GCLS WA mentor. As a discovery writer there is so much I want to add but during editing it is more important to focus and refine. What do I really want to say.
What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?
The more I know about writing the harder it is to write. Self editing before you get the story down is a great hindrance. Get the words on the page and then worry about the grammar, clarity, POV, world building, anything that stops me. I can always go back and layer in what is needed but if I stop to clarify I might miss an idea or the point of the scene.
When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?
I just put down my head and write it. Sometimes I have to go for a walk to refine it in my head but mostly it just writing it. Get the basics down and then layer.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
I listen. I think about who the character is and what they want to accomplish. Why are they there and what are their fears and hopes.
Have you ever cried when writing an emotional scene?
Yes, I have shed a few tears over an especially emotional scene. I don’t know that I’ve cried writing a scene but I have definitely cried when rereading/editing a scene and feeling the emotion within the scene. Sometimes I surprise myself with the emotion.
Do you feel bad putting your characters through the wringer?
Someone once said to put your characters in a tight spot and then throw rocks at them (maybe Rita Potter?). I don’t know that I’ve done that exactly but I find that stretching a character is good and helps create tension in the story. Making mistakes (in learning) helps me grow and I’ve used that with my characters. I don’t have all the answers and my characters certainly don’t.
Also, in my latest novel, my writing buddy asked me if I was going to kill off a especially villainous person – I just smiled.
What type of books do you enjoy reading the most?
Fantasy and science fiction are my favorite reads. I like how the writer can deal with complex topics in a non-real life world.
Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve been a reader forever. I played with writing when I was young but then didn’t really get back to it until in my forties. After I read my thirty sapphic/Niaid novels, I thought well maybe I could write one.
What books did you grow up reading?
Everything in the library. Any title or cover that caught my interest. Mom had a rule, I could read anything I wanted but not watch. I covered a lot of ground and a lot of genres. I love biographies and histories as much as mysteries, fantasy, sci fi, and romance. The combination of history and other genres really appeals.
What books have you read more than once in your life?
I’ve read a lot of books repeatedly, especially when I’m in a dark place. I love Mercedes Lackey’s Arrows of the Queen series, David Eddings Honor Harrington series (wow, I wish I was as badass as Honor Harrington), and Lee Winter’s books (Pandas all the way). I keep coming back because the stories and characters are compelling. The world building is phenomenal and I want to live in those worlds.
Describe your favorite reading spot.
I listen to a lot of audiobooks. So anytime, anywhere.
Do you only read books in one genre or do you genre hop?
I read almost all genres. I don’t care for erotica, poetry (books), or horror, but I’ll read everything else. I love a good story and don’t really care about the genre if the story is good and pulls me in.
