Annie
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
Hi Ruta Sepetys first of all I would like to say your books are amazing, I love all of them! I was wondering what age did you begin to write and what led you to write historical fiction? Also do you have any books in progress, if so what historical time period?
Ruta Sepetys
Hi Annie! Great questions!
I wanted to be an author when I was very young. I wrote my first book in 3rd grade. But after a while, I lost my courage to write and feared I didn't really have a talent for it. When I picked up writing again I did not start with historical fiction. I wrote a mystery for young readers and shortly after wrote the first chapter of "Between Shades of Gray." An agent read both the mystery and the first chapter and told me that my authentic voice was in historical fiction. I'm so grateful for his advice!
I am currently working on a novel set in Spain in the 1950s. It reveals bits of unknown history during the reign of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco and I can't wait to share it!
Thank you for asking!
I wanted to be an author when I was very young. I wrote my first book in 3rd grade. But after a while, I lost my courage to write and feared I didn't really have a talent for it. When I picked up writing again I did not start with historical fiction. I wrote a mystery for young readers and shortly after wrote the first chapter of "Between Shades of Gray." An agent read both the mystery and the first chapter and told me that my authentic voice was in historical fiction. I'm so grateful for his advice!
I am currently working on a novel set in Spain in the 1950s. It reveals bits of unknown history during the reign of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco and I can't wait to share it!
Thank you for asking!
More Answered Questions
Mary
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
I've read and love all your books and Salt to the Sea is my favorite. One of the reasons I liked it so much was because I loved all the characters. I also loved the way it grasped you because you knew people were eventually going to die but didn't want it to happen. Who's death was the hardest to write and was there anyone you thought, "no I love them too much to kill them?"
Leslie
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
Good morning! History and historical fiction are two of my favorite genres. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Between Shades of Gray". This was actually new information to me. I am looking forward to reading your other books. How did you become interested in World War II? Do you have a personal connection to it? I enjoy reading about WWII as my Dad and his 3 brothers served overseas at the same time.
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