Bethany Thompson asked Cynthia Ruchti:

I loved reading Song of Silence! It was an absolute joy. Do you know ASL, or do you have deaf friends? I was wondering who or what was the inspiration for Sasha's character. I am currently working at a deaf school in El Salvador, so I really connected with that part of the book. Thanks for sharing your stories!

Cynthia Ruchti I don't know ASL, which made Lucy's stumbling through it more realistic! But I have a dear friend who is fluent in ASL, whose parents are both deaf, and whose father-in-law is as well. I tapped into her knowledge from all sides of the issue to help bring those sections alive. Thank you for asking. And thanks for your words of kindness about the story.

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