Ruta Sepetys

Ruta Sepetys (Rūta Šepetys) is an internationally acclaimed, 1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over sixty countries and forty languages. Considered a “crossover” novelist, her books are read by both students and adults worldwide. Winner of the Carnegie Medal and honored by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Ruta is renowned for giving voice to underrepresented history and those who experienced it. Her books have won or been shortlisted for more than fifty book prizes, appear on over forty state reading lists, and are currently in development for film and television. Ruta was bestowed the Cross of the Knight of the Order by the President of Lithuania for her contributions to education and memory preservation and was honored with a postage stamp containing her image. She is deeply grateful for her Baltic heritage— even if it means she has a name that no one can pronounce. A: You can find more information at these links: I have answered over 400 questions on Goodreads and you can find them here . A: I enjoy uncovering unknown facts, historical secrets, and hidden heroes. Through characters and story, historical statistics become human and suddenly we care for people we’ve never met, we can find their country on a map, and then—the history matters. Through historical fiction we give voice to those who will never have a chance to tell their story. That inspires me! A: During a trip to Lithuania I visited my father’s cousin and learned that after my father fled from Lithuania, some of our extended family members were deported to Siberia. I was shocked, but learned that my family’s history was not unique. There are millions of people whose lives were taken or affected during the Soviet occupation. Yet very few people know the story. I wanted to write a novel to honor the people of the Baltics and also to illustrate the power of love and patriotism. Q: Why did you choose alternating POV’s in writing “Salt to the Sea?” A: The characters are fictional, but their circumstances and many experiences described in the novel were based on actual stories told to me by survivors. A: The dictatorship leading up to the Romanian Revolution in 1989 impacted more than twenty million Romanian people but the history remains unfamiliar to many. A: I think there could be several contributing factors: When the ship sank, the Nazis tried to conceal the story (and the fact that they were losing the war.) The Soviet submarine commander who torpedoed the Gustloff was dishonorably discharged shortly after, so the Russians weren’t drawing attention to the story. And after the war, Germany didn’t publicize the sinking as they felt it was inappropriate to speak of their losses during the war considering the atrocities committed by the Nazis. A: All of the main characters are fictional, but the character of Willie was inspired by New Orleans madam, Norma Wallace. Q: If you had to choose a favorite among your books, which one would you choose? 2. Consider joining a critique group. Having several people read your work and give you feedback can be very helpful. It’s also fun to share your creative journey with other writers. 3. Get your heart broken, thrown on the ground and stomped on a few times. Take a whirl at being an outcast, a total loser, or being publicly humiliated. Although painful at the time, it will provide great material for future books. For writers who are struggling to find inspiration, I suggest they think back on their own experiences of love, loss, joy and humiliation. Those triumphs and scars are part of our individual emotional truth and if we write about them—and through them—the work will have a feeling of authenticity. 4. Pay attention to the rhythm and melody of your writing. Read your manuscript aloud. If you stumble, revise. 5. Read. Good writers are great readers. Read hundreds of books. Seriously. Through limited notes, receive exclusive updates on Ruta’s events, giveaways, new re