Hi Smart Bitches! Debut sci-fi romance author Amy Zed here!
I’m still all starry-eyed from interviewing sci fi romance icon Jennifer Estep for Smart Bitches last month, so it’s hard to believe I’m here again to introduce you all to another amazing author!
And, Bitches, this is gonna be a good one. Meg Smitherman and her work are truly unique.
Meg first staked her claim in indie publishing back in 2022 with her dark romantasy debut Destroyer, but the move that shot this author to self-pub success was her recent switch to sci-fi horromance.
Yes, you read that right – horromance. Meg’s novella Thrum (2024) mixes elements of science fiction, horror and romance to tell the story of stranded astronaut Ami, who boards an alien ship in search of aid. The ship’s lone occupant calls himself Dorian Gray and tailors his appearance to Ami’s sexual taste, tempting her to stay. But Dorian is not what he seems, and neither is the mysterious, labyrinthine ship that haunts Ami’s mind with an incessant, life-like thrum.
If you’re getting the gothic romance shivers from that description, you’re going to love Meg’s books. I highly suggest you read Thrum immediately, then chase it with her sexy new release Swallowed.
NB: Don’t forget to check the trigger warnings though, as Meg’s books do contain mild horror elements and darker romance elements that some readers may choose to avoid.
But first, let’s chat with Meg! I think you’ll be as fascinated as I am by Meg’s work and her thought-provoking take on the relationship between horror, romance, and patriarchal fear.
Amy: Meg, I first found your work through Thrum, and I’ve been waiting on the edge of my seat for Swallowed. But sci-fi horror romance isn’t the first genre you’ve published. There’s a lot of crossover between sci-fi romance and fantasy romance readership, so please tell us about your fantasy books!
Meg: It’s actually such a pleasant surprise to me that most of my readers have found me through Thrum, when fantasy (specifically romantic fantasy) was my first love as both a reader and a writer.
My debut, Destroyer (book one in The Shattered City Duology), is like Thrum in that it’s kind of a weird genre-bender that takes inspiration from all kinds of things. It’s about an archaeologist who discovers a volatile, mysterious artifact that everyone in the kingdom seems to want. It has elements of classic fantasy, but there’s also dark academia, cozy fantasy, and a lot of mystery. I think its weirdness (which gets truly out of hand in the sequel, Sanctifier) is the reason it hasn’t found a very wide readership. But honestly, that’s fine with me! I’m very proud of it and loved writing it, but it is a strange story about cults and fate and science vs magic, so I see why it wouldn’t have mass appeal!
The Frost Queen’s Blade, on the other hand, was my very blatant attempt to write to market. I say “attempt,” because as usual, it ended up being very “me” in a lot of ways. It took inspiration from Gladiator, of all things (one of my favorite movies), and my longtime desire to write a book set in a snowy, frozen landscape. It’s about a queen who survives an encounter with an enemy assassin, and ends up making a deal with him — he becomes her bodyguard, and she’ll bring peace to their warring lands. As you can probably guess, it’s an enemies to lovers romance. TFQB was the most fun book to write, because the banter between the leads is really the star of the show. And I love writing banter!
Amy: And with all these great fantasy romance books under your belt, what prompted you to make the switch to your current, more sci-fi based “horromance” genre?
Meg: I said fantasy romance was my first love, and that’s true. But science fiction is my greatest love. There’s something about the genre that allows stories to ask big questions about existence, consciousness, philosophy, what it means to be human, and the universe as a whole — questions that aren’t as often explored in fantasy, I’ve found. At least, not in the same way as sci-fi.
I’m especially drawn to sci-fi horror, because I think the immediacy of it and the way it can leave you shell-shocked and guessing is such a great way to tell meaningful, high-impact stories. All the best horror movies are science fiction. For years I had this dream to write something with as much emotional and intellectual impact as my favorite scifi horror films, like Sunshine, Annihilation, or Ex Machina. (Can you tell I’m a massive Alex Garland fan?)
And because I am who I am, I had to add an element of romance into the mix. I have this affliction where I can’t write a book unless there’s at least kissing. I’m actually surprised there isn’t more going on in the scifi/horror/romance sector. Lust, love, and all of those feelings are so intense, and can be all-consuming in a very dark way at times (as dark romance readers can attest). So why not combine that with the existentialism of sci-fi, and the thrilling impact of horror? A match made in heaven! (Or hell??)
I’m not sure I accomplished all that with Thrum, but I’m so proud of myself for taking a risk and writing in an entirely new genre, because I loved every second of it. After writing Thrum, I knew I had to keep writing sci-fi horromance.
Amy: And you seem to have found your sweet spot in horromance. Your earlier books have hundreds of reviews, while Thrum has thousands. I’m assuming that reflects a huge difference in sales.
Meg: Absolutely. I feel very very fortunate to have found such a large readership with Thrum. A lot of readers have told me they went back and read my fantasy books after Thrum, which is so lovely to hear.
Amy: In a market up to its ears in fantasy romance, what does horromance offer that’s drawing so many readers to your books?
Meg: I think it’s something new and weird. And people want new and weird. It feels like traditional publishing isn’t taking big risks right now, despite the fact that people are strange and they like reading about strange things, so Thrum filled a freaky sci-fi horromance shaped hole in readers’ hearts. People like a bizarre genre mashup. They like a mind-fuck. They want to set down a book and ask, “What the fuck did I just read?”
So I think the novelty of Thrum, and the fact that everyone felt so shell-shocked after reading, and wanted to encourage their friends to join them in that “wtf” moment, contributed in a big way to its success.
Amy: And the change in genres has come with a definite vibe switch in your cover art. The style of your new covers is a pivot from the look of your fantasy novels, but it’s also very different from popular sci-fi romance and horror book covers on the market. I’d love to hear more about your decision process and the making of this gorgeous artwork.
Meg: So the story behind the Thrum cover is easy. One night I was almost asleep, thinking about this sci-fi horror story I wanted to write, and all at once the title — Thrum — and the cover fell into my brain fully formed. I knew exactly how I wanted that cover to look, so I hired an amazing artist (Nastya Litepla, who I’ve worked with several times and is highkey one of the most talented artists out there) to bring it to life. There was no thought beyond that, really!
For Swallowed, I was inspired by the older paperback covers of the Southern Reach trilogy by Jeff Vandermeer, but I wanted something darker and more lush. My husband (who designs all of my covers) understood the assignment.
Amy: Thrum’s cover was irresistible to me, but at the same time, it also low key creeped me out—kind of like the content! But what the cover doesn’t show is just how sexy this novella is. Despite containing few open door scenes, the whole book oozes an erotic vibe that plays with the connection between attraction and repulsion, eroticism and fear. It’s got a very “gothic romance” feel that I think women raised on Beauty and the Beast and Twilight are drawn to.
Why do you think the connection between fear and sex is so intriguing to readers, and how do you tap into that when writing your horromance books?
Meg: I kind of touched on this earlier, but there is so much to say about it! There is this rise of incel culture and the very frightening celebration of toxic masculinity that’s becoming louder and louder. Men are, in many ways, women’s primary predators. Domestic abuse, sexual assault, doxxing, harassment, stalking… these are things held over us every day, as a gender. It’s impossible not to be afraid of these things. So when it comes to fiction, I think in many ways, people find it cathartic to read stories that can feel as terrifying as the real world, but which allow us to process those emotions in a fantastical setting, especially if there’s a happy ending.
Stories like Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera, and Twilight appeal so widely, in my mind, because the monster (the man) is redeemed in some way. We learn who he is on the inside, and grow to love him. Whether or not he gets the girl in the end isn’t always the point. It’s the fantasy of “I can fix him.” Because what person hasn’t been in a bad situation with some asshole? Fiction allows us to live out a scenario where things don’t end in heartbreak or mess or both.
And so gothic romance, dark romance, and all of these sexy/scary genres that explore the darkness of eroticism and lust, I think come from the long, long history of fear in women. Fear of cis men, the patriarchy, all these things that can be forced on us. All these things that harm us, things we’re expected to endure. So reclaiming that fear, and making it sexy and fun, and giving ourselves a happy ending even in the midst of it, is essential to our collective healing, I think.
This isn’t to say Thrum has a “happy” ending, but it does have a weird, dark kind of HEA (happily ever after). And for Ami, the protagonist, that ending was necessary to me. She really went through it for 122 pages, and that final moment was not only intrinsic to her story but also to the reader’s catharsis. I wanted people to put down the book and think, “Good for her,” and not just, “Good lord that poor girl.” Ami needed a win, in the end. And while the meaning of the book is debatable (and people have been debating online!), in my opinion, she won.
Amy: And I get the feeling Swallowed is going to be even sexier. I’m already dying to find out about the aphrodisiac alien plant pollen. Tell me more!
Meg: If we’re talking about explicit sex scenes, Swallowed is definitely sexier than Thrum. I had an itch to write something with more open-door “spice” as they say, and so I had to give those scenes a narrative reason to exist in Swallowed, which informed how I told this story of four explorers on an alien planet.
The Planet is basically a character all to herself, and the way the protagonist, Jill, responds to the Planet is largely erotic. She kind of loses herself in the beauty of this perfect new planet, and brings her hot military work crush down with her (in a sexy way).
And yes, the plants do get involved! For mysterious reasons! I don’t want to give anything away, but there really is a reason for all the plant-based smut. It’s not just the author being an earth sign.
Amy: Where can we get our hands on your books?
Meg: You can preorder Swallowed at Amazon, and it’s in Kindle Unlimited. Paperback preorders will be available soon, so if you’re interested in being notified when that goes live, subscribe to my newsletter!
Amy: Thanks again for chatting with me, Meg! I’m loving your books and it’s been such a treat to get a peek into your writing journey. For readers who want to continue to follow you and your work, what’s the best way to keep in touch?
Meg: Thank you for the opportunity! I always love yapping about my books. The best way to get to know the real me is probably Instagram. I post most consistently there, and share about my writing and my personal life so you can form a parasocial bond with me! You can also find me on TikTok!
The best way to stay on top of my book news (ARC signups, spicy art, announcements of all kinds) is to subscribe to my newsletter.
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Amy Zed is the debut author of A Symphony of Starlight, a unique take on sci-fi romance that plays on elements of Rockstar Romance and Cyberpunk. The ebook is Available on Amazon and FREE on Kindle Unlimited.