Meet S. D. Simper — a bestselling horror author, award-winning fantasy romance writer, and the creator affectionately (and accidentally) known as “the gay mermaid author.” With lush prose, emotionally charged storytelling, and fearless exploration of identity, desire, and darkness, Simper crafts stories that haunt, enchant, and endure.
Her most recent novel, Carmilla & Laura, is a stunning gothic reimagining of J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s classic vampire tale. Set in late 19th-century Styria, the novel follows Laura, whose quiet, isolated life is transformed by the arrival of the beautiful and enigmatic Carmilla. As attraction deepens into forbidden passion and a mysterious plague claims the lives of young women, Laura must confront a terrifying truth — that the woman she loves may be something monstrous, divine, or both. Centered unapologetically on the provocative relationship at the heart of the original, Carmilla & Laura breathes new life into a legendary story with intimacy, tension, and emotional depth.
S. D. Simper’s life is as eclectic as her fiction. She has lived in both the hottest place on earth and the coldest, worked across a wide creative spectrum — from theater teacher to professional editor — and plays more musical instruments than can be counted on one hand. She shares her home with her wife, a Great Dane, four cats, and more bookshelves than anyone truly needs.
Blending gothic atmosphere, fantasy, horror, and romance, Simper’s stories celebrate queerness, longing, and the beautifully strange — proving that monsters can be tender, love can be dangerous, and darkness can be unforgettable.
✨ Meet S. D. Simper at the Scottsdale Book Festival and discover stories that seduce, unsettle, and stay with you long after the final page.