Author Interview: Rebekah Ruth

When did you know writing was for you?

I’ve always been a lover of stories. One of my favorite childhood memories is when my mom would tuck me in at night and make up a story on the spot. Sometimes, she asked me to fill in the details and we always ended up with a grand adventure. That love of story stayed with me and caused me to be a voracious fiction reader. But I love fiction so much that I was actually afraid to try my hand at it, in case I bombed. It took pushing past that fear to write my first book. I honestly wasn’t sure if writing was for me until I finished that first book. Now, I’m hooked!

How would you describe your books?

Currently, my favorite thing to write is a love story with chops. A story that speaks to people in some way, that helps us understand ourselves, those around us or God a little better. But it’s tied up in a really pretty package (the love story) that keeps us interested. That’s what my first book, Where the Pink Houses, is. And the second in that series is the same kind of story but with different themes and characters. In this one, they travel to Africa, which is a place that’s very close to my heart. I’m excited to tell some of the story of the people there.

Why was Where the Pink Houses Are, a book you wanted to write?

I wanted to tell a story about people who are flawed and make mistakes (because we all are and do) but who learn to be more real about who they are. Shame thrives in secrecy and I think so many people are walking around wounded because they are afraid to open up to anyone about what their struggles are. Where the Pink Houses Are is a story about taking the messiness of life and turning it into something beautiful.

What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?

Finding time! I’m convinced if I could lock myself into a cabin somewhere I could write a book start to finish. I don’t usually struggle with writers block. It’s more like a struggle with life getting in the way of writing. “Really? You want dinner again? I just fed you yesterday!”

I have four kids and a husband who works from 1pm-12am. So, I am the sole getter-upper, lunch-maker, taxi-driver, sports-attender, dinner-maker, most of the time. But as my kids are a little older now (the youngest is 9) I’m finding it easier to schedule solid blocks of time for writing each week. But they still insist on being fed several times a day. The nerve.

What are your favorite genres to read?

I love Fantasy (Tolkien, CS Lewis, etc.). Getting lost in a different world is a wonderful way to spend a rainy afternoon. I also love Historical Fiction/Romance and Modern Romance/ChickLit. What can I say…I’m a sucker for a good romance.

What do you want readers to take away from your story?

I want people to know that no one has made too many mistakes or is too far gone that they can’t find forgiveness, healing and a new way of life. So much of our personal stories are unwritten yet and regardless of what the written chapters look like, we can decide what each chapter holds from this day forward.

How important do you think social media is for authors these days?

I think social media is not only important but I think it’s a wonderful asset to authors. Have you ever finished a book and thought, “I wonder why the author wrote it that way.” Or, “I wish I could ask the author about ____.”

Well, years ago, there was no real way for readers and authors to connect. But with social media, the world is a much smaller place and connections happen every day. Technology, in general, has made my job better. I attend a number of book clubs every year as a guest author, but I can only travel so far and still be mom and wife. So, I have been able to Skype book clubs around the world. I would never have had the opportunity to chat with readers in Great Britain or Nebraska or anywhere else outside my area, without the advances in technology.

Most importantly, I love it that my readers can contact me on Facebook or on my blog and I can answer their questions or even get their feedback for future stories.

What would be your advice to aspiring writers?

It probably sounds cliché, but write, write, write! The more you do it the better you will become. And don’t just write in your journal. Join a writer’s group and get other people reading and critiquing your work. It’s scary, and sometimes painful, to have someone else edit what you’ve labored over, but there is extreme value in collaboration…seeing things through someone else’s eyes.

Also, read, read, read. I do not have a degree in literature. I am not a trained writer. But I have been reading fiction for so long that I believe that was my most important writing teacher. I know what works and what doesn’t because I’ve been immersed in fiction for as long as I can remember.

So the fact that I could write a novel that ended up being listed on Kirkus Indie’s Best of 2012 List as one of the top five in the Romance/Chick Lit category, without having any official training as a writer…I can only attribute to some good instincts and lots of reading.

(A couple other questions that you can use if you wish…)

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

By far, my favorite thing and the thing that surprised me most, is when the characters take on a life of their own. I am not an outline kind of girl. I just don’t think that way. I liken my writing process to getting driving directions online. I can put in my destination and a couple stops along the way, but I still have multiple options of which routes to take. When I write a story, I know some of the points I want to stop at along the way. And I hopefully have a good idea of the end point. But so many times, I’ve sat down to write a scene one way and the characters say or do things that I don’t expect and I end up adjusting my “course” as a result. I love that.

What is the best advice you’ve received on writing fiction?

I had the idea for my story for years but never knew how to start. Then I heard a successful writer say that she always writes her favorite scene first. That unlocked it for me. I started with a scene where my two lead characters meet and went backward and forward from there…finishing the first draft in just a few months.

What is your favorite thing that you’ve heard from readers?

Truly, all feedback is appreciated. But my favorite thing to hear is, “I couldn’t put it down.” My favorite stories are ones that keep me saying, “Just one more chapter…” so to hear that my book has that effect on someone is the ultimate compliment. (And when they say that in an Amazon review, it’s that much sweeter!)

A few links that I’d love to have available to your readers:

My blog- Rebekah Ruth Rambles www.rebekahruthbooks.com

Kirkus’ Starred Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/rebekah-ruth/where-pink-houses-are/

Amazon Kindle Edition of Where the Pink Houses Are (many reviews are available there): http://www.amazon.com/Where-Pink-Houses-Are-ebook/dp/B006K8XPYO/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=