Emily Rose
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
How do you find inspiration for your books and their characters? Does the research you complete have any effect on a characters behavior? I loved "Salt to the Sea", and love and appreciate how you can still understand and enjoy your novels, even if you have no prior knowledge on the history they were inspired by. Thank you for making them just as enjoyable as educational!
Ruta Sepetys
Hi Em!
Thank you, that's a huge compliment! I work very hard to present the stories and characters in a way that is engaging and informative, without feeling too instructive.
Yes, the inspiration for characters generally arises while I'm researching. I'll come upon a story or even just 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. And yes, the research definitely influences a character's behavior.
Thanks for asking!
Thank you, that's a huge compliment! I work very hard to present the stories and characters in a way that is engaging and informative, without feeling too instructive.
Yes, the inspiration for characters generally arises while I'm researching. I'll come upon a story or even just 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. And yes, the research definitely influences a character's behavior.
Thanks for asking!
More Answered Questions
Mindi
asked
Ruta Sepetys:
One of my favorite lines from Salt to the Sea is when Alfred thinks that there is so much ugliness in the world, and we should not be forced to face it. The novel itself forces the reader to face the ugliness of the world, but to embrace the love and beauty that exists despite--or in spite--of it. How does this theme reflect your view of the function of art, especially YA literature, if at all?
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