Dark Depths: An Author Interview with E. A. M. Trofimenkoff
- Swords & Sapphics team
- 12 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Seafaring sapphics and magical sirens are just some of the things you can find in the Dark Depths series. Today, we chat to the author, E. A. M. Trofimenkoff, about how they came to pen this fantasy duology, and what we can expect next!
Thank you for joining us! Could you start by introducing yourself?
I’m E. A. M. (AKA Liz)! Scientist and chemistry instructor by day and author by night. I love fun facts and in-depth conversations! But most of all, I love my partner, our cats, and my emotional support water bottle. I write fun stories with a side of emotional damage!
We would love to know more about the Dark Depths series and what inspired you to write it!
It’s a funny story that dates back to October 30, 2022! After a long doom scroll (as one does), I came across a video of two female cosplayers who, at the time, appeared to be dressed as pirates. I sent it to my friend and fellow author, Cathrine Swift, and said that she should write a story about sapphic pirates, and proceeded to outline various plot points and character traits / arcs. By the end of the conversation, she said “You know what, Elizabeth, I think maybe you should write this book.”
And so I did.
And that’s how A Kiss of the Siren’s Song was conceived! It was originally meant to be a standalone, but after my alpha reader and beta readers started asking other questions and where the story might go next, the story bloomed into something else entirely: a series of duologies, each following a different couple, each contributing to an overarching plot. Renfrey (one of the antagonists in A Kiss of the Ocean’s Breath) then popped into my head, and it’s been game over ever since.
What drew you to the fantasy genre in particular?
I’ve always been a fantasy reader! I was raised on Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, and as such, I’ve always found myself gravitating toward stories that focus on resilience and highlight magic in different forms.
Do you have any favourite romance tropes, and do any make an appearance in this series?
I’m a sucker for a one bed trope, and you bet you can find that in here (and my other books as well)! All with fun twists!
Tell us about the world-building process! How did you create this exciting setting of otherworldly forces and seafaring sapphics? Was there anything in particular that inspired your focus on the ocean?
The world-building actually came fairly easily. I have a chemistry background, so I knew that I wanted to take a different approach to the magic systems in this world, one rooted in science. As such, the sirens have the ability to manipulate water in a variety of ways, and later in the series, I have taken inspiration from mushrooms, electrons, and the properties of light. I wanted to take something familiar (like pirates and sirens) and provide an extra layer of fun through the magic of science.
As for the seafaring sapphics, this came from my fascination with Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two historical female pirates who disguised themselves as men and kicked ass. Absolute icon behaviour. I couldn’t not be inspired!
Are you a plotter or pantser, and did any additional, perhaps even unexpected, research go into these books?
I am 100% a pantser. However, one of the things that comes with writing an elaborate fantasy series is that some things need to be planned and plotted so that the overarching plot makes sense, and that the foreshadowing moments are powerful and intentional. So I’ve definitely had to adjust how my brain likes to do things! I also had to do a ton of research on the different parts of a ship!
Can you tell us a little bit about your characters? Which, if any, do you identify with most and why?
I tend to pour little bits of myself into my characters in different ways. Elora has my tenacity, and Sybine my optimism. Harlan is, in many ways, all the very best parts of my late grandmother: her playfulness, her cheekiness, her compassion, her wit, and the sense of home she always brought. So I relate to all of them in different capacities. Except maybe Erryk.
And which characters do you hope your readers will connect with the most?
I always hope that Harlan and Mags (A Kiss of the Ocean’s Breath) feel like a safe place, like adopted grandparents, and like a warm hug when you need it.
Why was it important for you to centre queer and disabled characters in these books, and is there any representation you would love to see more of as a reader?
The vast majority of popular romantasy books at the time of writing AKOTSS, and even now as I write this, are cis-het normative. If there are queer characters, they’re on the side and are often oversexualized, tokenized, and/or killed off to further the plot of the protagonists. In short, the romance part of their queerness and relationships simply wasn’t represented. Including this in the Dark Depths series was and still is extremely important to me, especially highlighting the soft and joyous moments even in the darkest times.
I also think it’s important to have characters that aren’t impervious to damage, ones that get hurt and are forced to deal with the consequences. My characters do not come out of the events of book 1 unscathed. There are chronic and acute disabilities that Sybine and Elora have to navigate, and I think translate well into real life. At some point, any one of us may have something happen that completely changes the way we live our lives. Having relatable characters that can show you hope through these moments is extremely important to me. I hope that translates through the page too.
What can readers expect from the Dark Depths series going forward? How many books do you currently have planned for this series?
At this point, I have four duologies planned with one book as a grand finale! But this might change as we go along. The muse goes where she wants!
With a Master’s degree in chemistry, does your background in science and academia ever come in handy while writing, or do you prefer to keep the two worlds separate?
My background in science has absolutely come in handy in a few different ways! Obviously with respect to the magic systems, but also with respect to my contemporary books that feature femmes in STEM (high school chemistry teacher in You and I Collide and university instructor in The Cabin Calculation).
What made you decide to pursue indie publishing?
There were a few things, but primarily, I just wanted to have 100% creative control! As an academic, I don’t have a ton of spare time, so I also wanted to not have any hard deadlines or stress when it comes to writing and publishing. This is really my mental health time that I love to share with the world!
Have you come across any surprises or challenges in writing or publishing so far? How have you overcome them?
The biggest surprise has definitely been the substantial support I’ve received! Everyone wants people to connect to their work, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to have my books find some incredible people who loved them and love to talk about them! I honestly can’t say enough about the giddiness I feel every time I’m tagged by someone who loves my characters in all of their messy glory.
I won’t lie, there have been a ton of challenges though! I was, unfortunately, ghosted by my cover designer right before the release of Ocean’s Breath, so I had to make the back cover myself. I love how it turned out, but wowzers was it ever a process to learn! The nice thing about that though is that I have continued learning and experimenting and am now confident in making my own covers for the series moving forward!
Do you have any advice for indie authors just starting out?
Be yourself! Don’t try to fit into any one else’s definitions or put yourself into any specific box. Be flexible, and don’t be scared to make mistakes.
With quite a few books under your belt, which of your works would you direct readers to next if they adored Dark Depths?
If you enjoyed the healthy communication and wholesome grandpa vibes of the Dark Depths, you should read You and I Collide. If you liked the emotional damage component, read Cerebral Supernova (Sweet Bitter Love Anthology) and Remember Me (Classic Conversations Anthology). If you liked the sapphic silliness and whimsy, read The Cabin Calculation. If you liked the sapphic spice and wanted it hotter, then you should check out Love at First Knight (The Tenth Muse: Rebellion). If you liked the dark themes and plot twists . . . just wait. I have a few other things in the works right now!
Finally, since you also write contemporary and short stories, are there any genres you’d love to dip your toe into next?
I am currently working on a dystopian sci-fi project! I would also love to experiment with something in the horror genre. Or maybe a funky space opera!
Our podcast focuses on media we’re currently loving. Are there any books, shows, movies, or games you’re enjoying at the moment? Any recommendations for our audience? Bonus points if it includes sapphics!
I’ve actually been getting into Dungeons and Dragons lately, which has been a blast. On theme, I recently read Roll for Love by M.K. England, which is a YA sapphic contemporary small town romance book with a D&D campaign, and I absolutely adored it. It was so fun!
I’ve also been watching a lot of anime! My recent favourite is Frieren, which is a gorgeous, whimsical, and cozy story that follows an elf mage after the events of a large world-saving campaign. Bonus for ace representation too!
About the Author
E. A. M. Trofimenkoff (they/she) is a Lord of the Rings and cat enthusiast from Southern Alberta. When they’re not doing research, writing papers, preparing presentations or teaching chemistry, you can find them writing fiction (obviously), binging TV shows with their partner, re-reading The Hunger Games for the 30+ time, or pestering one or more of their four cats. If she’s not doing that, you can probably find them in a quiet corner writing critical emails to their representatives.
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