Menu
Ruta Sepetys

Photo by Rachel Kinney Studios

Click image to download.

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. Sepetys is considered a “crossover” novelist as her books are read by both students and adults worldwide. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Ruta is renowned for giving voice to underrepresented history and those who experienced it.  Her books have won or been shortlisted for over forty book prizes, are included on over thirty state reading lists, and are currently in development for film and television.

Ruta is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee. Born in Michigan, she was raised in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. Ruta is passionate about the power of history and story to foster global dialogue and connectivity. She has been invited to present at NATO, European Parliament, the U.S. Capitol, the Library of Congress, and Embassies worldwide. She was awarded The Rockefeller Foundation’s prestigious Bellagio Fellowship for her studies on human resilience. The New York Times Book Review declared, “Ruta Sepetys acts as champion of the interstitial people so often ignored—whole populations lost in the cracks of history.”

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 recently honored with a postage stamp containing her image. She is extremely proud to be of Baltic heritage, even if that means she has a name no one can pronounce.

Ruta lives with her family in the hills of Tennessee.

FAQs

Q: How do you pronounce your name?
A: Ready? Here ya go – Roota  Suh-PET-tees
You can hear me pronounce it HERE
Q: I'm working on a project, where can I find more information on you?

A: You can find more information at these links:
I have answered over 400 questions on Goodreads and you can find them here.

Wikipedia

Favorite Books

Inspirations

Video Interviews, Explanations, and Book Trailers

Q: Will you write another story about Lina and Andrius?
A: Right now I’m hard at work on several different novels. So for the moment, I’ll leave it up to YOU to write their story.
But I would love to return to Lina and Andrius one day in the future. 🙂
Q: Why do you write historical fiction?
A: Writing historical fiction is like being a detective. I enjoy uncovering secrets, hidden facts, 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 can give voice those who will never have a chance to tell their story. That inspires me!
Q: What inspired you to write “Between Shades of Gray?”
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: When I was researching Salt to the Sea I was reminded that many different regions/countries were affected and suffered during the evacuation and expulsion. When I interviewed people from those different countries, I realized that every human being views history through their own cultural lens. So I created four separate characters to give voice to a particular regional experience and allow the reader to look through their “lens.”
Q: What sort of research did you do in writing “Between Shades of Gray?”
A: I took two research trips to Lithuania while writing the novel. I interviewed family members, survivors of the deportations, survivors of the gulags, psychologists, historians and government officials. The experience was transformative.
Q: How much of “Between Shades of Gray” is real?
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.
Q: Why did you write I Must Betray You?
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.
I wanted to create a story that would give context to the historical events and honor those who experienced them. 
Q: Why is the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff an unknown story 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.
Q: Are the characters in “Out of the Easy” real people?
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?
A: The Fountains of Silence. I worked so incredibly hard researching that novel and it probably best reflects my spirit as a writer.
Q: How do you create your characters?
A: The inspiration for characters generally arrives during research. I’ll come upon a story, or even a small detail, that will inspire a character and bring them to life for me. Many of the characters also come to life while I’m interviewing people who experienced the event. I try to interview as many people as possible while researching a book. I then weave their stories together into one character. That way, I’m representing a larger human experience.
Q: What is your writing process like?
A: I wouldn’t call it a “process.” It’s more stream of consciousness. Unfortunately, I don’t always have large blocks of time to sit and write. I grab bits and pieces when I can, which often means in traffic, on planes, or very early in the morning. I always carry paper and pen with me. I often write dialogue longhand. I’ll envision a scene (as if I’m watching a movie) and I notate as the characters are talking. Sometimes, while on long drives, I’ll write by recording myself speaking the narrative and dialogue into a recorder or my cell phone. So essentially, I just let it flow. I’m a big reviser. In fact, maybe I’m more of a reviser than a writer!
Q: What sort of advice do you have for young writers?
A:
1. If you’re writing for kids or young adults, join SCBWI and attend some of their conferences. www.scbwi.org
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.
Q: How do you overcome "writer's block?"
A: When I feel a bit “stuck” I leave my computer and take a walk or listen to music. Engaging another part of my brain for a few minutes seems to work the knots loose. Any form of exercise or physical activity also helps.
Q: Can I see a picture of your treehouse?
A: Here’s a snapshot.

IMG_8052