Interview with Sarah J. Pepper, author 'Devil's Lullaby'

Created to be an organ donor, dying so that someone else can live longer; that is the fate of Catherine, the heroine of Sarah J. Pepper’s fantasy novel Devil’s Lullaby the first book in her Ringer’s Masquerade Series. But after meeting the irresistible Sebastian, Catherine is motivated to try to take control of her own destiny. In my interview with Pepper on February 19, 2013 we discussed Devil’s Lullaby, released last summer, and her writing process.

Q: Devil’s Lullaby has a very interesting plot line. Do you think that one day life could imitate art to the extent that it would be common for people to have their own individual spawns created for the purpose of organ harvesting? Do you think society will ever get to a place where such a practice would be accepted?

A: I do hope it doesn't get as far as creating a whole person to harvest organs. I do LOVE the idea of being able to have my "own organs" transplanted grown from a Petri dish, instead of waiting for someone else to die who is an organ donor. That idea really sprung the premise for this novel. I didn't like knowing that someone had to die in order for a donor recipient to have a "second chance" at life.

I think that humans will adapt and chance in whatever way it is unnecessary to live on, but I do hope that we don't start creating people just to live longer :)

Q: Who are some of your biggest influences as an author?

A: The author of the Hush Hush series. I love to read, and will often pick up a book during breaks of my own writing. I stumbled onto the books by accident and after finishing the first one in the series I thought, "Self, I want to write (similar) to this way - capture love and passion.

Q: How much do you plan a book in advance before you begin the writing process?

A: Lol!! I daydream about my stories, planning different ways they could develop. But honestly, when I sit down to write, my characters usually hijack my story. I think that's why I write the first draft so quickly, I want to know the ending as much as the readers :)

Q: What was the most challenging part of writing Devil’s Lullaby?

A: Oh, I'm not going to spoil the ending.... BUT deciding who will live or die. This series, more than any other series I've written has some darkness lingering throughout it. Some of the main characters will die.... but who???

Q: Is there a genre you haven’t explored yet but would like to?

A: Nope, I write romance and dabble in fantasy.

Q: What are your future writing plans?

A: I'm currently working on the "Fate Trilogy" - first book is "Forgotten" and was released last fall. I'm currently working on "Twisted Games" which will debut later this year. It stemmed from classical mythology, but with a modern, romantic twist. "My death granted immortality...with one look, I knew he'd be my undoing."