What is the title of your latest release?
ONE OF US MUST DIE
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
She married for love. He married for trust. Specifically, her trust fund—the one with the ironclad “no divorce, no matter the circumstances” clause. To free herself from her greedy, gaslighting husband, Sterling must outwit him and the legal ties meant to trap her—before it’s too late. Because in this family, there’s only one way out: One of them must die.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
Because I grew up in Westchester County, just north of NYC, I didn’t have to invent the setting. I already knew it. I could picture the winding roads, the neighborhoods, and the sense of community. Both the Richardsons and Sterling’s parents fit there from the moment I imagined them. Having Manhattan just a train ride away also expanded the world of the novel without losing that sense of home.
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
I would absolutely love to hang out and get a drink (or three) with Sterling. She's smart, funny, and the kind of friend who'd have you laughing one minute and offering hard-earned wisdom the next.
What are three words that describe your hero?
Intelligent, Loyal, Determined
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
Writing this book taught me that people and relationships are almost never as simple as they appear. It's dangerous to assume we know what's happening inside someone else's private life. The more I wrote, the more I realized that everyone carries secrets, blind spots, and the capacity for choices we'd rather not think about.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I edit as I draft. Every time I sit down to write, I end up rereading what I wrote the day before to get back into the characters' mindset. Inevitably, I start polishing instead of moving forward. It slows me down, and I don't recommend it.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Chocolate….it’s a vegetable so it’s legal.
Describe your writing space/office!
Wherever I can sit in my sweats with my laptop is my writing space. My favorite cozy chair is great for creative moods, but I usually end up at the dining room table, where I have room to spread out my notes and previous drafts while I work.
Who is an author you admire?
It’s hard to choose just one author because I admire different authors for different reasons. I looked up to Mary Higgins Clark, whose books taught me the art of keeping readers turning pages. I respected Faye Kellerman, whose suspense novels thoughtfully explored difficult, emotionally complex issues. Another author I truly admire is Lisa Scottoline. I met her recently, and she was witty, genuine, and warm. It’s always inspiring when an author you admire turns out to be just as wonderful in person.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Picking one book that changed my life seems impossible. I’ve always been an insatiable reader. Early on, I understood the humor of Amelia Bedelia and Pippi Longstocking. Their stories taught me compassion for and acceptance of differences. I wept for Heidi’s plight and carried her with me like a protective friend. Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew, and I investigated many a case together. THE SECRET GARDEN touched my heart and tattooed beautiful imagery in my mind. JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH showed me the far reaches of the imagination, and Elie Wiesel’s NIGHT broke me and any lingering sense of naivety about the goodness in the world. Classic English literature taught me to read between the lines and discover deeper meaning. So, is there a book that changed my life? No, there is a library full.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published). Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
There was no call, per se, as I’m hybrid published with She Writes Press. It mattered to me that the publisher vets authors and manuscripts, and when I submitted and they said my book wasn’t ready, I appreciated their honesty. I completely agreed. But they didn’t shut the door. They saw potential, connected me to a book coach, and invited me to resubmit when the book was finally at its best. That opportunity changed my life. And yes, I cried when I was finally on the publishing track.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Psychological Suspense
What’s your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is Gigi. In hindsight, I realize it shaped how I thought about romance and probably even influenced the kinds of relationships I chose.
What is your favorite season?
I love spring. It’s my Goldilocks season- not too hot, not too cold, just right.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Birthday celebrations are best with family, friends, music, spontaneous and uncoordinated dancing, and a giant chocolate cake.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
Few things can make me ignore new episodes of my favorite shows, but Wendy Walker’s Blade gave me no choice. From the first chapter, I was hooked and completely invested in the characters. I couldn’t stop reading until the breathtaking ending. It’s exactly the type of psychological suspense I love to recommend.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I love Italian food.
What do you do when you have free time?
What free time? When I actually find some, I spend it with family and friends, reading a great book or taking long walks through the city.
What can readers expect from you next?
The launch of ONE OF US MUST DIE is in full swing. It’s super fun, and I love meeting readers at author talks, conferences, and book club visits. Beyond that, I’m working on my next psychological suspense, which seems to lean a little creepier than my first two novels, so stay tuned.
For fans of Kimberly Belle and Apple TV+’s Bad Sisters, a domestic suspense explores the lengths a woman trapped in an unhappy marriage by an ironclad trust fund clause will go to in order to escape her greedy, gaslighting husband.
She married for love. He married for trust. Specifically, her trust fund—the one with the iron‑clad “no divorce, no matter the circumstances” clause her mother insisted on.
Sterling (not as good as gold) has always come second to her family’s wealth—but unlike her mother, she’ll do anything to protect her three children. For years, she’s kept up the perfect family illusion to shield them from their manipulative, gaslighting father. But now her husband is becoming more reckless, and her children more exposed. And when her daughter’s fiancé says he wants a marriage just like hers, Sterling knows her charade has gone too far.
To free herself, she must outwit her husband and the legal ties meant to trap her—before it’s too late. Because in this family, there’s only one way out: One of them must die.
Thriller Domestic [ She Writes Press, On Sale: October 20, 2026, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9798896361800 / eISBN: 9798896361817 ]
Zelly Ruskin is a social worker who worked in adoption and foster care. She loves traveling, hiking with her (now adult) children, and, as a survivor, is passionate about and volunteers for Brain Aneurysm Awareness. Zelly and her ridiculous doodle, Strudel, currently live in New York City.
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