“what can you expect from me? historical novels with death and kissing.” ~ruta sepetys

have i told you to read i must betray you by ruta sepetys yet?

actually, i have. if you haven’t heard me say it, i’m saying it again.

read i must betray you!

i must betray you was my first entry into the writings of the inimitable ruta sepetys. who, lo & behold: came for an author visit to my local independent bookstore (mjudson!) last month. eep!

*still trying to learn how not to smile TOO big when i meet authors…. it usually takes over my entire face and i look like a total goober. but authors make me just SO happy!!*

ruta was on tour for her latest book, you: the story: a writer’s guide to craft through memory. it’s her first non-fiction book. (she couldn’t travel for research in the past few years. you know, for reasons…) and based on the title of her new book, i actually thought it was going to be about writing memoir. but even better: it’s about fiction writing! (or writing any genre, i suppose.) with snippets of her own writing and career adventures along the way. hurray!

*link to purchase on* *bookshop.org right here! (all book links in this post shall take you to bookshop.org—supporting independent bookstores across the country for your online book-buying needs.)*

ruta is known for her historical ya fiction titles. (i’m gonna say it again in case you missed it above: go read i must betray you!)* all inspired by true, underrepresented histories. her process begins with reading and research for at least a year. then traveling to interview witnesses before she weaves together those narratives to create composite characters to tell these (true) compelling tales.

she spoke of what kept her from writing for 20 years, her first career as a musician’s agent in LA, the power of looking back on memories when a fresh perspective later in life, how we can go back and change those misperceptions of memory, taking story cues from musicians (rhythm, language, melody), the importance of a writing community, and more and more and more!

as usual, i could transcribe her entire visit for you.

but all i ought to tell you is this:

how impressed i was with her poise.

i’m sure that comes with experience. she’s probably done hundreds if not thousands of school visits, and while some author visits require a moderator to interview them to get a conversation out of them, ruta just took the microphone and went for it.

*no moderator required: ruta was amazing all on her own! we laughed, we cried. we laughed some more and walked away inspired and in awe.*

she was engaging. she was wise. and when she read from her book, she didn’t rush the reading. (something i’m always tempted to do: speed up my speech when i’m afraid of losing people’s attention.)

*ruta reading us an essay from her new book + pre-published author comfort: the funny expressions i make when reading or talking (see also: my* *weekly reading book review videos!) are all a part of the process, too. yay emotions! ;D*

i got in the back of the signing line (not because i’m patient, but because i feel bad making people wait on me and i wanted to talk to her. also, i’d emailed the venue ahead of time to ask if i could bring some of my already-owned ruta books for her to sign, too.)

probably along with my nerves, ruta DID notice the pin i’d intentionally worn on my blazer because it felt like her vibe. although all i stumbled through saying to her when she asked about it was that it was one of my first etsy purchases.

oops.

i did manage to ask the strangers behind me in line to take our picture. and i guess because of the question i’d asked during Q&A, ruta picked up on the fact i’m also an (aspiring, pre-published) author. so when she signed my book she told me to keep going! *cue inspirational, aspirational happy tears!*)

did i mention you should read i must betray you? i meant to tell ruta this when i met her one-on-one, but not just did i loan it to every family member i have who also read and loved it, but it made me feel smart when i could talk about the romanian revolution (1989!) with my husband’s romanian art gallery owner when we went up for nathan’s solo show in nyc last spring! (he was there as a child at the time! and i never even knew about it until i read that book last year!)

hurray for bringing untold history to life!

one thing i will tell you about from ruta’s lovely talk was that the first book she wrote (while sorta-unhappily working in LA) was a middle grade mystery. she had agent interest, but she was asked: “what are you hiding?” the agent could feel its derivative-ness, and the five pages of the unfinished project she’d put in the mail with the middle grade manuscript? THAT was ruta’s authentic voice. and he knew it. he didn’t know how to sell it. didn’t really want to represent that. but told her that that historical fiction snippet (“totalitarianism for kids!” hurray!) was what she should be writing.

that debut, between shades of gray, which was once passed on by all major publishers at least two to three times each, won multiple awards. it’s been published in 60 countries. in 45 languages. and was made into a major motion picture.

the moral of {ruta’s & probably yours, too} story:

find your authentic voice.

and just keep going.

*look at my pretty new ruta books i still get to read for the very first time!*

*i’m sure ruta’s other books are great, too (see photo directly above for the rest of her backlist!); but i must betray you is the only one i’ve read so far and it was unbelievable!

storytelling cues from a rock star {author}: ruta sepetys!