The following is an interview with author Kait Ballenger regarding the upcoming release of the dark romantasy novel, Original Sinner. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Ballenger about her shared creative process in bringing the world and characters to life on the page, what she hopes that readers may take away from the story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Original Sinner! For those who may be unfamiliar, what can you share with us about the story’s premise?
Kait Ballenger: Of course! In Original Sinner, Lucifer and the other seven deadly sins are now celebrity billionaires who are living it up in a God-abandoned NYC. When the heroine, Charlotte, a young woman who’s trying to escape the clutches of her cult-like religious past, ends up working as an intern for Lucifer’s company, chaos and romance ensue. Original Sinner is perfect for fans of Netflix’s Lucifer, but who’d like to see a darker, more twisted take on devil’s story—and with more romance, of course.
BD: This story deftly weaves together the intrigue of the paranormal and the connection provided from emotionally resonating characters. How would you describe your creative approach in weaving these elements, as well as the depth of character, into your narrative?
KB: For me, it all starts with character: who they are, where they come from, what their goals, motivations, and conflicts are. That’s always where the story begins for me. Creatively, I’m most interested in the depth of the emotional and romantic connections the characters can make with each other and how I can make the characters feel truly real to the reader. The paranormal elements and the world tend to build out from there. For example, when I first came up with the concept for Original Sinner, I knew I wanted to create a romantic dynamic between two characters that had a Hades/Persephone feel, but in a fresh and unique way. The idea of Lucifer as the main character—as a parallel to the myth of Hades—sparked and once I started to play around with the idea of what Lucifer would be doing if he lived topside, it only seemed natural that he wouldn’t be the lone paranormal figure. The concept of the other seven deadly sins being his siblings was born from there.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that the story may connect with and impact today’s readers?
KB: I think the underlying themes of Original Sinner speak to those in our current culture and political climate who’ve found themselves marginalized, alienated, and shamed by Christian purity culture, as well as the rise of Christian nationalism and conservativism, particularly those who’ve been assigned female at birth. Any women who’ve been victims of violence, especially at the hands of so-called “godly” men, will connect and find supportive/healing messages in Original Sinner. At its core, Original Sinner uses paranormal and fantasy elements in entertaining ways to share the message that the shame our culture tries to inflict on those it deems to be “sinners” isn’t ours to bear; it’s theirs, and it also teaches that sometimes it takes descending into the depths of the hell to birth a queen.
BD: What makes Amazon Publishing-Montlake the perfect home for this story?
KB: Original Sinner is a cross-genre blend of urban romantasy, paranormal romance, and dark romance, so Amazon Publishing-Montlake is the perfect home for this story, because they know exactly how to get Original Sinner into the hands of readers who will enjoy this unique cross-section of genres the most. They also have an excellent track record of empowering independent creators, and as an indie author, it was important to me that the more controversial themes in this story not be edited out or downplayed. From the start, the whole Montlake team has been willing to give me the creative freedom to write the stories I want to tell while also giving me the full support of a publisher, for which I’m grateful.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
KB: Definitely! For upcoming titles, Original Sinner is the first in a series and the sequel, Wicked Believer, will be out on September 9th, 2025, with the third installment to follow in early 2026.
For readers interested in my backlist titles, I suggest starting with Cowboy Wolf Trouble, the first book in my Seven Range Shifter series, or Rogue Wolf Hunter, the first in my Rogue Brotherhood series.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Original Sinner and your other work?
KB: The best way to find out more information about my work is via my website, www.kaitballenger.com, where readers can also sign up for my newsletter or get a free book.
