S.T. Gibson
Saint is an author and village wise woman in training. A graduate of the creative writing program at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and the theological studies program at Princeton Seminary, she currently lives in New England with her partner, spoiled cat, and perfume collection. She is represented by Tara Gilbert of KT Literary.
Q: How did the idea for AN EDUCATION IN MALICE come about? Had you always wanted to do a Carmilla retelling?
I knew i wanted to do a companion novel in the DOWRY OF BLOOD universe based on another gothic classic, and I re-read some favorites and read some new-to-me classics to get into the mood. When I encountered Carmilla (I had never read it before!) I knew I had found the right story. I was so taken by the obsessive bond between these two young women, and I couldn't stop thinking about what that bond would look like in an insular, high-pressure academic environment. I had wanted to write a dark academia novel since I fist read The Secret History ten years ago, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Q: The dynamic between Carmilla and Professor De Lafontaine, and a little later on Laura was really captivating to read! Can you talk a bit more about the inclusion of Professor De Lafontaine and what inspired her character?
DeLafontaine is a minor character in the original Carmilla novella; a stern governess who looms over the girls. I was fascinated by this older, demanding female presence in the story, and when I asked myself how that sort of presence would translate to an academic setting, a professor seemed natural. From there, DeLafontaine truly took on a life of her own. She's one of my favorite characters I've created, and I think she's one of the most mysterious, even to me.
These Sapphic Stories Book Club author profiles are compiled by founder Aliya Bree Hall. Aliya is a freelance journalist and author who founded the book club in 2021 to uplift sapphic stories and celebrate LGBTQ+ authors. This excerpt has been lifted from an interview Aliya conducted with our September 2024 author. You can read the full Q&A by joining the book club.
