Tigest Girma: On the Allure of Vampire Stories

Tigest Girma is an Ethiopian writer based in Melbourne, Australia. After graduating with a Bachelor of Education, she splits her time between writing and teaching. Passionate about exploring East African characters and myths, her work weaves Black stories with the dark and fantastical. Follow her on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

In this interview, Tigest discusses how one powerful image helped inspire her debut YA fantasy novel, Immortal Dark, her advice for other writers, and more.

Name: Tigest Girma
Literary agent: Paige Terlip
Book title: Immortal Dark
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Release date: September 3, 2024
Genre/category: YA Fantasy
Elevator pitch for the book: In a world where students study a philosophy to inherit powerful vampires, a girl hellbent on finding her sister will stop at nothing to kill the accused vampire—even live with him first.

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What prompted you to write this book?

I’ve always had a deep love for vampires. Something about eternal youth paired with questionable morality always captivated me. I wanted to play with this popular trope and infuse it with a different lore—­centering Black people. I asked myself, “What if vampires originated from Africa? What would that look like?” That image was so powerful by itself, I had to write the story.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

It took three years to go from initial idea to publication. The core of the idea never changed; it remained a story about a girl searching for her sister and the cruel vampire at the center of it. However, the worldbuilding did significantly change. My agent and editor’s insightful questions made me dig deeper and introduce some very cool elements like secret societies and powerful houses. It elevated the book in a way I couldn’t imagine.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

This is my debut, so a lot of the publishing process was new to me. I didn’t know books had to be finished almost a year before they ended up on shelves. The cover design process was incredibly fun and collaborative. Oh, and it’s totally normal for titles to be changed throughout the process!

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

Around my second revision, the word count ballooned up unexpectedly. The worldbuilding was detailed, and the characters were vivid but the book was simply too long. I still don’t know how it happened, but suddenly we had to cut 40,000 words. I had a mini panic attack and proceeded to stare at my wall for hours. It worked out fine, of course. My editor and I surgically removed the plot threads without impacting the story. And it ended up as a useful lesson in the power of revision.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

Firstly, I hope Black readers will feel seen in this book. I want them to enjoy being front and center in an epic fantasy series where the immortals have dark skin and stunning braids. Secondly, this story is for anyone seeking a reimagined take on the vampire trope, for those who like to question who is really the monster and the human.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

I suggest investing in craft books that break down character arcs and story structure. There are also YouTube channels dedicated to analyzing screenplays and the hidden parts of storytelling I find very useful.