Fantasy writer, recording artist and storyteller Amaris Emersleben, known as Amaris, finds inspiration in the vast, mysterious depths of the ocean in her gripping new novel “SHADOWS OF CERULEAN”.
Raised in Switzerland and later based in London, Amaris is a multi-talented true creative who builds narratives about underwater realms, tapping into a genuine life-long fascination with the deep blue abyss.Before turning to narrative fiction, Amaris built a career in music as a recording artist, songwriter, and playlist manager for a major record label. She released six albums, earning over 100,000 streams on Spotify with her latest record, Love and Oceans, which was inspired by the oceans. In 2021, her fantasy book Lagoona: A Journey through the Reef was published, followed by the insomnia-inspired short story Nightmares. Through her music, writing and live readings, Amaris advocates for marine preservation and the stories that connect humanity to the oceans.
Released in February of 2026 with publisher BellingsBooks, Shadows of Cerulean tells the story of Bead, a thief surviving in a city’s abandoned deep-sea district. After an accident casts her into the wealthy Downtown district of the city, Bead comes up with a plan: Steal the blueprints that keep the city alive – and could save her dying district. But shadows lurk beneath the glittering lights of Downtown – and an ancient terror is stirring in the depths.
Through the story and characters, Amaris brings universal themes of selflessness, heroism, ethics and social responsibility to light in this epic and suspenseful story that is certain to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
I had the chance to connect with Amaris to learn about her musical and literary journey.
Had you ever written fiction prior to this book?
Yes, but I started by writing short films, including Supernova, before moving on to short stories and eventually ocean fantasy. Visual storytelling has always influenced how I think about dialogue and structure when writing, and keeps being a source of inspiration for me.
In your transition from musician to fiction writer, what elements or skills did you find carry over from one medium to the other?
Both writing and music are forms of storytelling, though they are very different. I find that writing lyrics forces you to convey your message, your emotions, in a few sentences, which is something I tried to do when writing Shadows of Cerulean. Ultimately, it’s about getting across your emotions. But instead of tweaking a sub bass for hours, the focus is now on plots and dialogue.
What do you want readers to take away from shadows of cerulean?
I hope that readers fall in love with the submerged worlds of the deep sea – and that the story inspires them to protect the oceans.
What can we expect from you in the future?
Reading live will be a focus, and of course new stories from the depths.
Keep up with Amaris Emersleben through her website as social media below. And make sure to support her music, and writing! And check out Shadows of Cerulean on Goodreads (link) and Buy “SHADOWS OF CERULEAN” here.
Instagram: @silvermaranth
Web: https://awemersleben.com
Spotify
*header photo by Cristian Palmer
Nadia Elkharadly
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