We chat with author Jennifer Pearson about Drop Dead Famous, which sees an investigation turn into an obsession when the younger sister of a slain pop starlet is determined to uncover her sister’s killer, no matter what it costs.
Hi, Jennifer! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I live in the North East of England, in the cathedral city of Durham with my husband and two energetic sons. I was a teacher for twenty years before becoming a full-time author. When I’m not writing, I’m usually doing something sporty – netball, running, swimming.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I only started writing when I was thirty-seven. It was through sharing stories with my classes that I was first inspired to try to write one of my own. As I read aloud to my students, I would see how completely enchanted they were and I just thought it would be a wonderful thing to be able to do.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Dogger by Shirley Hughes. I won this picture book in a school raffle, and I can remember being so captivated by the illustrations. I would carry it everywhere with me.
- The one that made you want to become an author: I started off my writing career in middle grade and that was inspired by Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s book Millions.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.
Your latest novel, Drop Dead Famous, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Fame, Secrets, Obsession, Murder, Twists.
What can readers expect?
Hopefully a fun and twisty read that delves into the world of celebrity and tightly held family secrets.
Where did the inspiration for Drop Dead Famous come from?
The original spark for the book came from watching the sheer intensity of modern celebrity culture—especially around global megastars like Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus etc—and wondering, what if? What if something unthinkable happened right at the height of that kind of fame, in the middle of all the noise, adoration, obsession, and pressure? That question really crystallised during the Eras Tour, when it rolled into the UK in summer 2024 and the public response was absolutely enormous. It made me think about how these artists can fill stadiums and be loved by millions—yet still be deeply vulnerable and, in some ways, alone. From there, the idea took shape: what if a megastar like that suddenly became the centre of a crime scene? And that’s where Drop Dead Famous begins, with the murder of international pop star Blair Baker—and her sister Stevie determined to uncover the truth.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed writing the developing friendship between Stevie and her unlikely investigative partner, Blair Baker superfan, Colby Green.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
So many challenges, mainly to do with what to reveal, and how and when to reveal it. I think the only way to overcome that is time at the lap top and trying and failing until it finally feels right.
What’s next for you?
Editing the sequel to Drop Dead Famous and working on a middle grade series I write with Katya Balen called Hex and Hilda.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
In Young Adult fiction, I’m really looking forward to reading, Our Wicked Gifts by Kathryn Foxfield, Sweet Hunger by Katie Webber, and Killing Sadie by Rachel Peterson. In adult, Timeless by A F Steadman and Mars One by Charlotte Robinson. Books that I’ve enjoyed recently in YA are Paint Me like your Dead Girls by Cynthia Murphy and The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé. In adult fiction, The Safe Keep by Yael van der Wouden, Atmosphere by Taylor-Jenkins Reid and A Family Matter by Claire Lynch.
