Mundie Moms

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Interview with author Ruta Sepetys & Between the Shades of Gray Giveaway!


I'm honored and very excited to have Between The Shades of Gray author, Ruta Sepetys on our blog today. Here's a little bit about her book-

Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously-and at great risk-documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart. (quoted from Penguin's site).

Recently I was able to ask Ruta a few questions about her debut book, which will be released TOMORROW!

Your book covers something that is so terrible and yet is something that hasn't been taught enough in history classes. What inspired you to give a voice to a part of history not everyone has learned about?

Well, history holds secrets. But secrets can be painful and secrets can be destructive. So many people in the Baltics had experienced the terror of Stalin but had never spoken of it for fear of the consequences. Stories of the Soviet occupation and Stalin are rarely discussed. And it occurred to me, there are so many heroes that we’ve never had the chance to meet or hear about. We’ve never been able to celebrate their bravery or console their regret. They’re nameless and faceless. So I was inspired to write the book to honor the many people who were deported to Siberia by Stalin.

Between Shades of Gray is riveting, thought provoking book that will stay with readers long after they've read it. How do you handle writing some of the more emotionally challenged scenes?

First, thank you so much for the kind words! In terms of the emotional challenge, it definitely pulled me through the wringer. Every day I was left pondering questions such as, “How can people be so cruel?” and “Who survives this kind of thing?” I cried buckets of tears while writing the book. I thought about the innocent people who actually experienced the events, as well as how we often take freedom for granted.

Lina is a brilliantly written character who I have come to not only admire, but really look up, as she's made an impact on me as a reader and as a person. What inspired you to write this story from a 15 yr old's point of view?

Oh, I’m so happy that you connected with Lina! Many of the survivors I met with were teenagers when they were in Siberia. Their stories were incredibly compelling and they were all so full of fire and bravery. I thought it might add an interesting dimension to the story if it were told from the point of view of a teenage girl. Also, since this is such a little known piece of history, I was hoping that it might be discovered by teachers and librarians. The YA market is well suited for that.

I can't watch the video with out getting choked up over the unfathomable things the people had to deal with. I admire the strength and hope that both the people and survivors had/have (which left me wondering if I could be as strong as they were) and I was most fascinated that they documented their story through art and music and hid it so that one day their voices would be heard. What was the most important part of this story/ part of history that you wanted Lina to reflect?

I wanted Lina to reflect the strength and fortitude that the deportees exhibited on a daily basis. In the lottery that was life or death in Siberia, many Baltic people were displaying kindness amidst the cruelty. They retained their pride and dignity as if saying, “You may have taken our country, but you will not take our spirit.”

There are so many things I have personally taken away from this book. Really, I feel Between Shades of Gray will change people. What is one thing you hope readers take away from this story?

Thank you! It’s difficult to describe the joy I feel in knowing that people may read the book and become aware of the crimes of Stalin. I hope readers feel that through examining these tragic parts of history, and learning from mistakes of the past, we create hope for a more just future. These three small countries have taught us a large lesson about the miracles that are hope and courage and how to speak when your voice has been extinguished.

It's hard to believe that Between Shades of Gray is your first book? Are you working another book at the moment?

Yes, it’s my first book and I hope to write many more! I’m currently working on another historical fiction novel for my publisher, Philomel.

Who are some authors that you admire or have inspired you as an author?

There are so many! I am an enormous fan of Meg Rosoff and I am in awe of writers like Laurie Halse Anderson, Deborah Heiligman, Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Richard Peck, Howard Shirley, and Jennifer Donnelly.

Thank you so much Ruta for bringing this story to life! It's so moving and so touching and one that I'm grateful you told.

Thank YOU so much for having me as a guest here at Mundie Moms. I’m so grateful for the invitation! Below are my links for your readers.

Sincerely,
Ruta

Ruta Sepetys
www.rutasepetys.com
www.betweenshadesofgray.com
www.facebook.com/rutasepetys

_________________________________

You can watch a video of Ruta talking about Between The Shades of Gray here-



Thank you to Penguin, we have 1 copy of Between the Shades of Gray to giveaway! Please fill out this forum below to enter-

10 comments:

  1. Thanks for the giveaway and great interview. I have never heard of this "situation", for lack of a better term, before. I cannot wait to read this book!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for hosting the giveaway! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great interview and thanks for the interview.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great interview and thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for stopping by and reading our interview with Ruta! I wish you all the best of luck with the giveaway!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, this sounds like a heartbreaking/touching book. Great interview and thanks for the contest!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for the giveaway, this sounds like a book that will stay with you for awhile.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mallary- You're welcome!!

    Lulilut- It is one that will definitely stay with you.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for the chance to win!!

    I love interviews!!

    ReplyDelete

Labels