What is the title of your latest release?
DEAD FAKE
What is the elevator pitch for your new book?
A mysterious new website, Swipe to Die, allows people to view their own ‘death’ – an AI-generated version of their final slasher-movie moments. When some of the deepfakes are replicated in real life, Ava Wilson can either catch the killer…or be the next victim.
How did you decide where the book was going to take place?
As my first horror series, I wanted to ensure the setting was as important as the characters. When I came up with the cursed town of Bleak Haven, I knew it was the perfect place for these terrible things to happen.
Would you hang out with your main character in real life?
Definitely. Ava is the ideal champion to have in your corner.
What are three words that describe your main character?
Headstrong, determined, loyal.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I’ve learned that working to shorter word counts can focus the story and ensure stronger pacing throughout. It’s also been great creating the start of a series where I can world-build, having only previously written standalone novels.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit at various points during the first draft. Usually, I get to a point in the story where it feels right to go back to the beginning and start editing. That happens two or three times during the first draft so, by the time I’ve finished, plenty of the book has already been through a few rounds of edits.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I’m a sucker for sweet treats, especially doughnuts.
Describe your writing space?
I always write at my desk with the door closed. I work best with no distractions, so it’s just me and my laptop.
Who is an author you admire?
I love the work of John Irving. He creates sprawling, captivating stories full of heart and humor.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Many books have impacted me down the years, but A Prayer for Owen Meany and The Perks of Being a Wallflower both inspired me to become a writer.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published).
“The call” was actually an email, so I stared at it for a very long time, trying to work out if it was real. My agent and I spent the previous few weeks talking to publishers, but I’d never allowed myself to believe an offer would follow. When it did, it was a dream come true – surreal, life-changing, and a culmination of every word I’d written for the previous fifteen years.
I know how lucky I am, and what I’d say to anyone who wants to be a published writer is that you must keep going. In an industry that says ‘no’ a lot, it only takes one ‘yes.’
What’s your favorite genre to read?
I enjoy coming-of-age books. I also, unsurprisingly, love horrors and thrillers. But really, all I need is a great story, regardless of the genre.
What’s your favorite movie?
It’s a tie between 500 Days of Summer and Donnie Darko.
What is your favorite season?
While my stories are dark, I much prefer the warmer months. Spring probably wins out because you have months of sun ahead of you.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I like to spend it with my family. We have two young sons, so we’ll spend the day outside somewhere.
What’s a recent TV show or book that you highly recommend?
The TV show Department Q is a masterclass in screenwriting and the entire cast is phenomenal. The last great book I read was Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman and it is going to stay with me for a very long time.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I love all types of food. If I had to choose, I’d probably say Italian.
What do you do when you have free time?
I enjoy reading, gardening, building Lego, and spending time with my family.
What can readers expect from you next?Alongside DEAD FAKE, the second book in the Bleak Haven series is also released this month. It’s called NIGHT TERROR and jumps back to 1987. There are also two more Bleak Haven books arriving later this year. I’m putting the finishing touches to those, while taking tentative steps into a new story that I’m very excited about.
A Novel
Welcome to Bleak Haven: The town you won't (or can't!) leave... Deep fake murders have taken over the high school, but what happens when they start to become real?
Would you Swipe to Die?
When the new craze takes over Bleak Haven High, Ava Wilson refuses to join in. As the niece of an infamous murderer, it’s the last thing she needs.
The mysterious website allows people to view their own ‘death’ – an AI generated version of their final slasher-movie-moments. But, when some of her classmates’ deepfakes are replicated in real life, Ava can either catch the killer…or be the next victim.
Young Adult | Thriller | Horror [ Wednesday Books, On Sale: January 20, 2026, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781250372123 / eISBN: 9781250372130 ]
VINCENT RALPH is the bestselling author of YA thrillers 14 Ways to Die and Lock the Doors. Both novels are New York Times bestsellers and Lock the Doors is also a USA Today bestseller and the winner of the Southern Schools Book Award. Vincent owes his love of books to his mother, who encouraged his imagination from an early age and always made sure there were new stories to read. He lives in the UK with his wife, two sons, and two cats.
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