Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with VP Morris

What inspired you to write “Dead Ringer”?

Morris: There were two main things that inspired this novel. This first was an article in The Atlantic several years ago that discussed a few cases of adults faking their documents so they could go back to high school to relive their glory days. The second is the myth of the doppelganger. Many cultures have lore regarding meeting a spirit or another person who looks just like you and that it is an omen of bad luck or impending death. I wanted to write about this with a sense of realism to it in the modern day.

How did you come up with the names of your main characters?

Morris: Since Taylor and Jamie are each other’s doppelganger, I wanted their names to reflect that duality. Both the names “Taylor” and “Jamie” are unisex names that could be used for either sex and their last names both have Irish origins, implying there might be long lost familial or cultural link between the two.

The main antagonist, Joan, is named after Joan of Arc to hint at the character’s religious fervor.

Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?

Morris: This book is a bit more unconventional than other thrillers you might have read. I really hope you stick with it and go on this wild journey with Taylor. It also contains a lot of commentary on our justice system and how society views people (especially juvenile offenders) of different socioeconomic levels who have committed a crime. Some are let off easy, others are deemed “damaged goods” for life. I recommend keeping some of that in mind as you read the book and ask yourself how things might be different for the characters if they had more or less status.