The following is an interview with author Kait Ballenger regarding the upcoming release of the romantasy novel (and sequel to Original Sinner), Wicked Believer, through publisher Amazon Publishing-Montlake. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Ballenger about returning to the world and characters for the second installment, future stories that will be in store for readers, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Wicked Believer! As a sequel to Original Sinner, where will readers find themselves within this romantasy story?
Kait Ballenger: Readers will find themselves back in a modern God-abandoned New York City alongside Lucifer and Charlotte, the hero and heroine of Original Sinner. Their story continues in Wicked Believer, but with Charlotte navigating her newfound immortality and Lucifer caught in a vicious battle with his angelic siblings, the stakes are higher than ever.
BD: With this second installation, did you find an ease to returning to the world and giving voice to its characters?
KB: Absolutely! I loved being able to return to this world. As a writer, characterization is one of my strengths, so I loved being able to follow Charlotte and Lucifer’s story for another book—and beyond.
BD: Do you feel that Wicked Believer will serve as a solid jumping-on point for new readers, or would you advise starting with Original Sinner?
KB: I suggest readers start with Original Sinner. New readers would be missing a lot of context by starting at Wicked Believer, not to mention the whole beginning of Charlotte and Lucifer falling in love, which is integral to the plot in urban romantasy.
BD: If given the opportunity, do you foresee further expanding the world and characters into further stories or other entertainment mediums?
KB: Yes! Wicked Believer is just the beginning. I just turned in edits for book 3, Beautiful Redeemer, which will be the final book with Charlotte and Lucifer as main characters, but I have plenty of ideas to explore the stories of the other Originals (a.k.a. the other seven deadly sinners) thereafter.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
KB: The Original Sinner series is my main focus currently, but readers who enjoyed Original Sinner and Wicked Believer may also enjoy my backlist titles, particularly my Seven Range Shifter series which starts with Cowboy Wolf Trouble.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Wicked Believer and your other work?
KB: Readers can find out more about my work by visiting my website at www.kaitballenger.com and signing up for my newsletter. My newsletter is truly the hub of my online presence and is also full of free bonus content. I also love connecting with readers on TikTok (@kaitballenger) and Instagram (@kait.ballenger).
