New Book Spotlight

Countess

A mini-interview with Suzan Palumbo

Tell us about your new book?

My novella, Countess, is a queer, Caribbean anticolonial space opera, inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo. Virika Sameroo is a descendant of West Indian immigrants forced into colonized space because of the effects of catastrophic climate change in the Caribbean. Her family wins an immigration lottery that allows them to move to Invicta, the capital planet of the colonial empire. Virika grows up to be a hard working member of the merchant marine. To her shock however, after returning home from a mission, she is accused of murder, found guilty and sent to prison. We follow Virika’s journey towards discarding indoctrinated self-hate, accepting justified rage and ultimately fighting for freedom.

What aspect of the book was the most fun to write?

Countess is a dark story with heavy themes. That said, I LOVED writing a space chase and the banter between all of the pilots/captains. I’m a big fan of Star Trek the Original Series as well as Star Wars and getting to write that scene let me live out my space fighter jet dreams! It also made me laugh because pirate bravado is FUN to write. I also really loved getting to describe and write about a lot of the foods I grew up with. Yes! I put curry in space!

If there is one emotion or theme that you would hope that the reader connects with, what would that be?

There are many. That injustice, personal and structural, hurts us all. That rage can spark change. That love, community and human dignity are worth fighting for until your very last breath and that even in the darkest times hope can be found anywhere, even in a pebble.