Vincent Russo – Author Spotlight
An indie author making his literary debut in late 2025 with 15-Love, a heartfelt coming-of-age novel that serves up first crushes, fierce friendships, and one unforgettable tennis season. Originally from upstate New York, Vincent studied Fashion Management in Boston—where he spent over a decade working in corporate retail, e-commerce, and later, creative advertising as a freelance stylist.
Though he once considered himself a “slow reader” growing up, Vincent fell hard for stories that transported him—epic fantasies, angsty teen dramas, and the kind of LGBTQ+ romances he wished he’d seen on shelves as a kid.
Vincent can usually be found on the tennis court, a lifelong love that inspired his debut novel, rewatching his favorite YA dramas (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill), or chasing after his two mischievous pets. He now lives in Palm Springs with his husband, a strong coffee habit, and a head full of future stories.
You can learn more from his website, Vincent Russo Writes.
I’m so happy to help you learn more about Vincent from our interview below:
Author Interview
What do you love most about writing?
Honestly? I love getting completely lost in it. Like, the kind of writing session where I look up and realize I forgot to eat, my coffee’s cold. I’ve accidentally written a full-blown emotional page meltdown for a character who was supposed to say something witty to help re-ground the scene.
There’s something about slipping into a scene and forgetting where I am, just following the characters, reacting with them, feeling everything like it’s happening in real time. I don’t outline every detail. More than half the time, I’m writing in the moment, allowing the natural narrative to take me.
Writing, for me, is where I work through stuff, sure, I have outlines to follow and story arcs to make sure are in place, but I really do love getting lost in the moment, it’s magic.
What do you think readers will love about your books?
I think readers will feel like they’re right there in the moment, because my writing leans into the everyday stuff. The awkward silences, weird crushes, and random small wins that somehow feel huge. It’s very slice-of-life: real, messy, and emotionally honest.
My characters aren’t perfect. They overthink, screw up, say the wrong thing, and try again. But that’s what makes them feel real. I want readers to see pieces of themselves in the story. Not just in the big emotions, but in the quiet, in-between moments too.
Are you currently working on any new books or writing projects?
Yes! I’m currently drafting my second book. It’s a contemporary story set in modern-day NYC about a freshman fashion student with big dreams and a very complicated love life. Think, student loans stress, secondhand sewing machines, dorm room mishaps, and found family vibes. Stay tuned!
Where can people follow you online to learn more?
You can find me at www.VincentRussoWrites.com, where I share book updates, blog posts about my behind-the-scenes chaos, and the occasional heartfelt ramble. I’m also on Instagram @vincentrussodesigns, where I post about my life, and you can definitely expect book updates.
Do you have a favorite book or author?
Short answer? Not really.
I’m more of a “fall in love with the story” kind of reader. It’s never about the author’s name. It’s about the vibe.
Give me the eerie, glitter-soaked magic of A.R. Kahler’s The Immortal Circus. Faeries, secrets, and big-top drama (Yes, please). Or the lush, witchy world-building in Luanne G. Smith’s The Vine Witch series (you can practically smell the vineyard and spellwork). And I love the adorable chaos of Kristy Boyce’s Dungeons and Drama, high school theater, fake dating, and D&D? Total comfort read.
Basically, I’m drawn to stories that make you feel like you’ve stepped right into someone else’s life, whether it’s messy, magical, or just wildly relatable. That’s the kind of storytelling I try to bring to 15-Love, too.