News / 27 Oct 2026
Creative Writing graduate to be published by Grand Central
BA (Hons) Creative Writing
BA (Hons) Creative Writing graduate, Ash Spencer, is set to have their debut novel ‘Fingers Under Ribs’ published by Grand Central, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.
‘Fingers Under Ribs’ is a lesbian gothic horror, which follows three girls sent as sacrifices to the house of a vampire, inspired by a weekend spent at a Tudor-style Airbnb, where “about half of the upper floor was derelict and out-of-bounds”. Ash started work on the novel in June 2025, and describes their writing as “an exploration of queerness and of wanting and of the body, specifically discomfort in and desecration of the body”, with ‘Fingers Under Ribs’ taking these themes and framing them through the lens of classic gothic literature.
“My work must be a vivisection onto the world and onto the people I have made. When I was in my third year at university here, we did a module on poetics, and I compared the relationship between me and my work to the relationship of Victor Frankenstein and the creature, specifically in the context of Victor as a neglectful father. ‘The creature is my work.’ I wrote. ‘I am actively aiming for the world’s worst parent award.’”
Ash Spencer, BA (Hons) Creative Writing graduate
The manuscript was finished in February 2026, with a series of edits with Ash’s literary agent following in August, before being sent out to publishers at the beginning of September. Despite being advised that they could expect to not hear anything back for anywhere up to six months, Ash received offers from three publishing houses in three weeks. 'Fingers Under Ribs' will be published by Grand Central, with the book set to hit shelves in 2028.
“It’s so surreal. I’m having trouble celebrating because I’m not quite convinced it’s real yet. I’m not quite convinced it’ll ever be real, even when I’m holding the thing in my hands. It’s like I’m in a fog – a good fog, but still a fog. I’m very proud of myself though. I have to keep reminding myself that I’m allowed to be proud of what I’ve done.”
Ash Spencer, BA (Hons) Creative Writing graduate
Speaking about what readers can expect when they get their hands on the book, Ash explains “It’s gothic and haunting and very visceral. It’s about the four worst women in the world trapped in a house together making each other’s lives a living hell, and also there’s a vampire that keeps taking bites out of them when they sleep. It’s very raw, and it deals in quite a lot of dark topics, and no one really gets a happy ending. I’ve been describing it as ‘Carmilla’ meets ‘Beauty and the Beast’. It’s a very precious story to me, and my hope is that it becomes just as precious to someone else”.
“I feel very lucky to have been supported by my girlfriend, Meg, and my best friends, Finn and Lex, during every step of this process. It’s important to have people you can bounce ideas off of, people who can read your work and discuss it with you and give you genuine advice, people who can get you away from your laptop for a little bit and play games with you and remind you that the outside world exists and that you’re not doing this alone. Writing can be very lonely. I’m glad it’s not for me. It’s a lovely thing to be able to experience.”
Ash Spencer, BA (Hons) Creative Writing graduate