Temi Sanusi
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
Hello from Nigeria, Ruta Sepetys! My name is Temi, and I am a big fan of your work, especially Between Shades of Gray. That was a beautiful novel. :) My question is, when did you start writing, and what did you write about? Has it always been historical fiction?
Ruta Sepetys
Hello Temi!
It's so wonderful to hear from a reader in Nigeria. Thank you!
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!
It's so wonderful to hear from a reader in Nigeria. Thank you!
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!
More Answered Questions
BetiSmarty Pants
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
Hello Ruta, I am thrilled that your new book is out and can't wait to read it. As an English teacher, when I read, I always wonder how authors put their stories together. Do you have any tips or methods that work well for you when you are developing your plot line that you wouldn't mind sharing?
Maya
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
Hi Ruta, I am a 7th grader and I had a question for you. It has always been an interest of mine to have a little back story to authors loves so what did you want to be before becoming a writer and what age did you write a book that was more than at least 100 pages? My teacher and all my favorite authors inspire me and I have written a story that at least 130 pages and those are my reasons behind my 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?
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