Sally asked Ruta Sepetys:

I've been really inspired by many of the characters in your books and I know that each of the stories has some anchor in reality and real events/situations. There are millions of these stories in the world, how do you know when you've found something you want/can write about? where do you start with your research and development?

Ruta Sepetys Hi Sally!

What a great question!

You are correct, many of the characters and stories in my book have some anchor in reality. I interview many people while researching a book. I then weave stories from many people together into one character so that way I'm representing a larger human experience and not compromising any one particular person.

I am drawn to hidden history and stories of strength through struggle, so I look for these stories in my research. I become aware of ideas to research through news articles, journals, or readers who suggest an idea to me. While researching, I try to get as close to the source as I can. I try to interview survivors or those directly affected by the events I am researching, or to interview historians who have spent years researching the topic. I have a whole list of historical topics that I'm dying to write about! When I finish a novel, I revisit that list with my agent and discuss what I might work on next. Once I decide, I spend 2-3 years researching the history and then another two years writing. I spend a lot of time revising. I tell people I that I'm more of a reviser than a writer! :)

Thanks for the great question!

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