Ruta Sepetys is an internationally acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction published in over 60 countries and 40 languages. Sepetys is considered a “crossover” novelist, as her books are read by both teens and adults worldwide. Her novels Between Shades of Gray, Out of the Easy, and Salt to the Sea have won or been shortlisted for more than 40 book prizes and are included on more than 60 state award lists. Between Shades of Gray was adapted into the film Ashes in the Snow, and her other novels are currently in development for TV and film.
Winner of the Carnegie Medal, Ruta is passionate about the power of history and literature to foster global awareness and connectivity. She has presented to NATO, to the European Parliament, in the United States Capitol, and at embassies worldwide. Ruta was born and raised in Michigan and now lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee. Find her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads, as well as her website RutaSepetys.com.
Photo by Rachel Kinney Studios
In this post, Ruta discusses the importance of mining from our own experiences to tell stories with her new how-to book, You: The Story, her hope for readers, and more!
Name: Ruta Sepetys
Book title: You: The Story: A Writer’s Guide to Craft Through Memory
Publisher: Viking Books
Release date: May 16, 2023
Genre/category: Nonfiction/How-To
Previous titles: Between Shades of Gray, Out of the Easy, and Salt to the Sea
Elevator pitch for the book: You: The Story is a powerful how-to book for aspiring writers that encourages you to look inward and excavate your own memories in order to discover the authentic voices and compelling details that are waiting to be put on the page.
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What prompted you to write this book?
I’m often asked about my writing process and when replying, I explain that to infuse depth of feeling into my fiction, I draw upon my own experience and compost of memories. Along the way, I’ve learned that every life journey has winding plots, unique characters, and vivid settings. Weaving in elements of lived experience can add dimension to our writing. So, I wrote You: The Story to encourage others to reflect upon their own experiences when contemplating story concepts and projects.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
The idea had been percolating for years. When the pandemic arrived, I finally sat down and wrote some sample chapters. I’ve been part of the same writing group for nearly 20 years, so my pages went to the group first for discussion. I then sent the pages to my agent, and we had a conversation about the scope of the project.
But it was when my editor, Tamar Brazis, came on board that the book really began to take shape. I’m a crossover author, so my readers are not only adults, but also students and teens. Tamar had fantastic ideas of ways to change the structure and presentation of the material to appeal to both audiences. She suggested the research and writing prompt sections.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
Well, a learning moment for me was the discovery that discussing failure can be freeing. Although some readers know that I’m passionate about hidden history and giving voice to those who never had a chance to tell their story, I don’t often discuss my own story.
Some readers are surprised to learn that prior to becoming a novelist, I spent 22 years in the music industry, working with songwriters and recording artists. During that time, I experienced many fiascos and failures. And I wove some of those details into the book, not only to illustrate the building blocks of story, but to provide encouragement for others and assure them that for many, failure is a prerequisite to success. Sharing some of my own hurdles felt liberating.
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
As I was writing, I was opening the door to my own memories, and I was surprised by how many things came flooding back to me. Sights, smells, and sounds—they were all in there, just waiting to be let out. And with the passage of time, I found that I had a different altitude on some of the experiences.
Things that had once seemed so serious or terrible were now making me laugh. And that laughter revealed that I was not only writing about a deeply lived experience, but a healed experience. That was a lovely surprise.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
I hope readers realize that sharing stories deepens human connection. When we share our experiences—and read about the journeys of others—we might find commonalities that bridge the widths between us. Not everyone wants to write a book, but every human being has a story, and I’d love to help them reflect upon that story.
Since I’m a novelist, the book is also geared for fiction writers and provides loads of ideas on perspective and ways to deepen character development.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
I’d share the reminder that writing well is less about what we’ve seen, where we’ve traveled, or our education. It’s more about our emotions and feelings and how we express and infuse them into our work. I want to assure everyone that if they’ve felt deeply, they’ve lived deeply—they have the tools to be a writer!
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