Vincent Russo is 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. Blending sports, identity, and vulnerability, the story captures the messy beauty of growing up—and growing into yourself.
Originally from a small town in upstate New York, Vincent studied Fashion Management in Boston, where he spent over a decade building a multifaceted creative career across corporate retail, e-commerce, and freelance styling. His background in visual storytelling and brand development continues to shape his writing style, with a keen eye for emotional detail and aesthetic atmosphere.
Though he once considered himself a “slow reader” growing up, Vincent eventually fell in love with stories that offered escape, connection, and clarity, especially the kinds of LGBTQ+ romances he wished he’d seen on shelves when he was younger. From epic fantasy to teen drama, the stories that stuck with him most were always the ones rooted in character.
When he’s not writing, Vincent can usually be found on the tennis court (a lifelong love that inspired 15-Love), rewatching his favorite nostalgic YA series (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 waiting to be told. You can visit his website for more details.
We had the privilege of interviewing Vincent Russo. Here are excerpts from the interview.
Hi Vincent, it’s great to have you with us today! Please share about your book with our readers.
Hi, 15-Love is my debut YA novel, and honestly, it means the world to me. It’s heartfelt, a little messy, sometimes funny, and deeply personal.
The story follows Rion Miller, a smart, sarcastic high school sophomore with big tennis dreams and way too much on his plate. He’s doing his best to balance school, a job, money stress, family stuff, and a complicated crush on his best friend’s older brother. All while trying to keep his head above water in a town that doesn’t always make space for someone like him.
Told entirely from Rion’s perspective, the book has a voice that’s sharp, emotional, and unapologetically real. This isn’t a coming-out story; it’s about finding your footing when life keeps throwing curveballs (or, in Rion’s case, high-speed serves).
There’s tennis, of course, but also first love, tough conversations, awkward cafeteria run-ins, and those small, quiet moments that sneak up on you. It’s small-town vibes, late-night diner shifts, thrifted flannels, beat-up Converse, and a lot of heart.
More than anything, 15-Love is about figuring out who you are and holding on tight—even when the world makes you feel like you shouldn’t.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
I don’t know if I’d call myself “successful” just yet, in progress feels more accurate. But getting this far has taken a mix of showing up, figuring it out as I go, and learning not to let the self-doubt win (at least not every time).
One thing that helped me early on was treating the book like it was real, even when it was just a messy Google Doc and a dream. I made a mood board. I talked about it out loud. I gave it a title, a fake cover, a playlist. That mindset shift, believing it mattered, kept me coming back to it, especially on the days when writing felt impossible.
I also stopped waiting to “feel inspired” and started focusing on just showing up. Some days, the words flowed. Other days, I stared at the screen for an hour and maybe managed a paragraph. But I kept coming back. Progress is still progress, even if it’s slow and a little scrappy.
Another big thing for me was finding a few people I trusted to cheer me on and to call me out. Writing can be isolating, so having friends, beta readers, and collaborators who genuinely care (and aren’t afraid to give real feedback) made all the difference.
And maybe the most important thing? Letting myself write the book I needed. I spent a long time thinking I had to write something “marketable” or “safe,” but 15-Love came to life when I let go of all that and just told the story that felt honest.
So yeah, there wasn’t one magic strategy. It was a lot of small, imperfect steps. A lot of late nights. A lot of starting over. But I kept showing up. And that’s what got me here.
Any message for our readers?
First off, thank you. Whether you’ve read 15-Love, are thinking about reading it, or just stumbled across this interview by chance, I appreciate you more than you know.
Writing this book was deeply personal for me. It came from a place of wanting to tell the kind of story I wish I’d had growing up, something honest, heartfelt, a little messy, and hopefully a reminder that it’s okay to feel lost sometimes. That you’re not alone in figuring things out.
If there’s one thing I hope readers take away from 15-Love, it’s this: you are allowed to take up space exactly as you are. You don’t have to shrink to make other people comfortable. You don’t have to have it all figured out. And it’s okay if your dreams feel too big sometimes chase them anyway.
And if you’re someone who’s always felt a little different or out of place? Same. Welcome. You’ve got a seat at my table.
Thanks for being here. I’m really glad you are.
Thank you so much, Vincent, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!