A Goodreads user
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
Hi Ms Sepetys! I'm not sure if this was asked already but I wanted to know if Lina and Joana will ever meet again? I really enjoyed reading both ww 2 books, especially Between shades of gray. Elena is one of my favorite characters of all time! How did you feel writing her death scene? It was so sad and so vivid that it really affected me emotionally. Thank you for writing such beautiful stories!
Ruta Sepetys
Hi Jessi! Thank you for your kind words! If Lina and Joana are to meet again in the future, it would happen in a sequel. One day I hope to write a story or sequel to show readers what's happens to the characters we have all grown to love! I am hard at work on several other novels, but I hope one day to be able to write that one. You may or may not be aware that Elena's character was inspired by my own mother. I am not sure I could articulate the emotions that went into writing her death scene. I feel so connected to each of these characters, like I know them, that I also am deeply affected by their struggles and losses. Thank you for asking!
More Answered Questions
Mandy Chilcote
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
As a middle school English teacher, Between Shades of Gray is one of my top recommendations for students who think they know WWII books. When I saw Salt to the Sea in the library, I snatched it immediately and am finding it hard to put down. I was surprised, though, to see another World War II book from you. Did the research for one lead to the idea for the other?
Mandy Perret
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
As a teacher, I find the history of the Holocaust and important topic to cover. I have used your book Between Shades of Gray. I am wondering if you could please share some resources about Latvian Jews affected by the Holocaust that I could use with my high school students? Through my personal studies, I have learned the more questions you answer about the Holocaust, the more questions arise.
Adrienne
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
In Salt to the Sea, you have four different narrators; what was the writing process like to write four distinct voices? How did you stay true to the characters' voices and not mix up whose voice was whose? Also, you have three really lovable characters and one creepy one--was it harder to write Alfred than the other three? Thanks for writing such powerful, meaningful books.
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