Interview with D.F. Pieper, Author of Day of the Ancestor
08 Mar 2023
What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Day of the Ancestor?
This book was inspired by a lot of readers who said “I’m looking forward to reading the next one in the series.” To which, I replied, “There’s a series?” But seriously, even from the very first reviews that rolled in for Day of the Devourer, readers said they wanted another one. I’m grateful and humbled by it and now here’s the sequel. Mostly it’s inspired by the same things as the first book. You’ll find a lot of nods to sci-fi movies from the eighties in these books… but as one of my beta readers said “but in the best way.”
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Day of the Ancestor, what would they be?
For Rej, it would be something with a driving beat, but that sounds like it’s written by some post-punk burnout. Something like Gamma Ray by Beck.
Astra would want you to see her saluting to a march by John Philip Sousa, but in her room with the lights off, she’d be glooming out to Dido.
Thaddeus would put on a rousing chamber music concerto by Vivaldi and lament how no one appreciates the counterpoint that the recorder provides to the bassoon anymore.
What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
No, it’s not necessarily the same. I do love a good sci-fi adventure, but I read in a lot of different unrelated genres. I read horror and paranormal fantasy. I love historical fiction, thrillers, and even mysteries sometimes.
The best songwriters don’t just listen to their own genre and great chefs don’t just eat one cuisine. I think that it’s important for creativity to be exposed to a lot of different sources.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
Well, the problem is the pile keeps piling up. I have a lot on my plate, so it takes me forever to finish reading a book. I’m switching between two books right now—Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House, and Stephen King’s Fairy Tale. After that I want to get back to Network Effect by Martha Wells.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
Any of the scenes on Arídu. It’s a planet where the galaxy throws its junk and the whole economy revolves around reusing and reselling the junk. From the trashkeepers who guard the junklords’ collections, to the scrapnabbers, and finally to an interesting character called the Junkman, that world was a lot of fun to create.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
I wake up at 5:00 AM to write. It’s the only way I get anything done. As soon as my kids wake up, they’ll want help with the homework they forgot to do the night before. I used to have grand ideas of putting on music that helped me picture the scene, but I keep opening Spotify and then realizing I finished an entire writing sprint and never clicked play. Also, please do not, under any circumstance, tell my cat that he’s part of the routine or I will never get anything done.
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
Yes. People who say “write what you know” don’t use their imaginations enough.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
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