We chat with author Veronica Bane about We’re All Going to Die Tonight!, which is a twisty, off-the-rails mystery about seven teens, forced to spend a stormy—and deadly—night together. Perfect for fans of There’s Someone Inside Your House and No Place Left to Hide.
Hi, Veronica! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hello and thank you for having me back on The Nerd Daily! I’m so excited to be chatting about my new Scream-inspired thriller We’re All Going to Die Tonight! with you all. For readers who are new to me, I’m a USA Today bestselling author and high school English teacher living in Los Angeles, California. In addition to my work under my own name, I also am a ghostwriter of over 12 books for New York Times bestselling authors and celebrities alike. When I’m not writing, I love watching movies, going to the beach, and exploring local indie bookstores.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember—whether or not my family wanted to hear them! My parents would read me a book like The Three Little Pigs and I would immediately start thinking of ways I could tell it differently or write a new ending. It was “baby’s first fanfic” in a way! From there, I was coming up with my own stories constantly. Once I could put them on the page, that was it. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (I know it wasn’t the very first, but it’s the one I remember having a visceral reaction to.)
- The one that made you want to become an author: Anne of Green Gables (Anne and Gilbert forever.)
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Hunger Games (A perfectly told story.)
Your latest novel, We’re All Going to Die Tonight!, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Isolated teens + dead body = nightmare
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a breakneck pace, dark humor, slasher vibes, and a heavy side of messy romance in a story told over the course of a single, explosive night.
Where did the inspiration for We’re All Going to Die Tonight! come from?
I love 90s horror films, especially Scream. I love the balance of teen relationships with the horrifying undertone of a killer on the loose. Scream keeps you on the edge of your seat but also never takes itself too seriously, yet somehow it also touches on the reality of things like grief, ambition, and more. I wanted something similar. Most importantly, I wanted readers to feel like they absolutely could not put the book down.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I love that We’re All Going to Die Tonight! It’s told through all of the teen characters’ perspectives because it allowed me to have so much fun playing with what they each know and what they each would naturally reveal to the reader. And, of course, the romances were a delight to write because there’s so much tension and yearning. I love in a book where we think characters hate each other and then we get to their point of view chapters and we see exactly how much they do—or don’t—actually hate the other character.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Writing seven point of view characters was definitely a challenge. I actually started it as just two characters telling the story, but it wasn’t working. I couldn’t see enough of the story. Once I switched to all seven, the story came alive in a new way. Even for the characters who are truly reprehensible (I apologize in advance), writing the story that way was a great exercise in voice and perspective. Plus, I got to play with humor that way, so it was a blast.
What’s next for you?
Right now, I’m working on a secret project that leans more horror than thriller than ever before. I can’t wait to say more!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I just finished reading Cursed and Crowned by I.V. Marie and A Death-Kissed Song by De Elizabeth and absolutely adored both books. Cursed and Crowned is a delicious fantasy that gave me major Ella Enchanted vibes in the best way, and A Death-Kissed Song legitimately had me racing to read it as quickly as possible because I had no idea what was going to happen next.
