Vincent Ralph: Publishing Teams Are Vital

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 U.K. with his wife, two sons, and two cats. Follow him on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

In this interview, Vincent discusses finding inspiration in scary movies for his new horror novel, One House Left, his hope for readers, and more.

Name: Vincent Ralph
Literary Agent: Claire Wilson (RCW) and Pete Knapp (Park & Fine)
Book title: One House Left
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release date: August 27, 2024
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Previous titles: 14 Ways to Die, Lock the Doors, Secrets Never Die
Elevator pitch: Sixteen-year-old Nate Campbell grew up in the shadow of Murder Road—a street cursed by the vengeful spirit of the Hiding Boy. When he is pulled into his friends’ urban legend club, new ghost stories merge with old until there is nowhere left to run.

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What prompted you to write this book?

I have always loved scary movies, and after writing three thrillers, I wanted to try something a bit different. This isn’t a story I could have written as my debut—it’s broader and darker than anything I’ve done before, and I wanted to push myself.

How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

I wrote the opening page for this novel a few years ago and then sat on it for a while as I worked on other things. But the idea of a haunted street stayed with me, and when it was time to write my fourth book, I knew it had to be One House Left.

It took six months to write a first draft, and with two more drafts to get everything right, the process for this one was on the longer side for me. The idea didn’t change so much as expand, as I developed the characters, worked on the various urban legends in the story, and ensured the conclusion was as strong as possible.

Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

This isn’t a learning moment specific to this book, but it has been reinforced as I see how much people work behind the scenes. Publishing teams are vital—editorial, marketing, publicity, sales, rights. With each new book that I am lucky enough to release, I see that more and more.

Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

Some stories come easy; others feel like squeezing toothpaste from the end of the tube. You know it’s in there, but it takes a while for everything to come out. One House Left was the latter.

I knew exactly what I wanted to say, but given the nature of the story, there were times when I was too immersed in it to see what needed to change. Taking time away between each draft really helped, and when it finally all came together, I was incredibly proud.

What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

The most important thing for me is that people enjoy it. It’s a scary one, so of course I’m going to say that I hope it keeps you up at night. But my stories are also about family and friendship so, if you connect with one of the characters or relate to any of the situations, I’ve done my job.

If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

Perseverance is key. There is nothing unique about that insight but, in any creative endeavor, it’s 100 percent true. Imagination is a muscle that needs strengthening, and the more regularly I sit down and write, the easier things become.