Ruta Sepetys

In 2011, author Ruta Sepetys published her debut novel, Between Shades of Gray, a poignant account of Joseph Stalin’s ethnic cleansing in the Baltic countries during WWII as seen through the eyes of a 15-year-old Lithuanian girl.  Between Shades of Gray went on to become an international bestseller and one of the most acclaimed novels of the year, landing on numerous Best Book of the Year lists, including those from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Publishers Weekly. With prose “restrained and powerful” (The Washington Post), Ruta Sepetys’s “heart-wrenching” (The Los Angeles Times), “engrossing and poignant” (The Associated Press) novel went on to garner the Indies Choice Best Young Adult Book of the Year.

Her next novel, Out of the Easy, was named one of Bookspan’s top thirteen new books of 2013. It is a rich and poignant historical coming-of-age novel that firmly establishes Sepetys as one of today’s most talented writers. Sepetys continued to explore little-known stories from history in her bestselling book, Salt to the Sea, which unearths a shockingly little-known casualty of a WWII—the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff that claimed 9,400 lives—and was the recipient of the Carnegie Medal.

Sepetys’ most recent novel, The Fountains of Silence, explores the hidden truths of surviving in Franco-era Spain and was an instant New York Times bestseller. The Fountains of Silence was selected as the 2019 Goodreads Choice Award Finalist and named one of the best books 0f 2019 by Wall Street Journal and Entertainment Weekly, among others.

Ruta Sepetys is a truly gifted speaker who knows how to connect to – and reel in – her audience. She has been described as “a spectacular speaker. As in mind blowing, jaw dropping, side splitting, hands down one-of-the-best-visiting-authors-in-the-world good” by the Young Adult Library Services Association. Sepetys has visited schools in over twenty countries and has done several community reads programs. She has presented dozens of lectures and keynotes ranging from events at European Parliament, International Embassies, educational conferences, professional development events, and writing conferences.

Born and raised in Michigan, Sepetys grew up in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. As the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee, Sepetys was bestowed the Cross of the Knight of the Order by the President of Lithuania for her contributions to education and memory preservation. She currently lives with her husband in Tennessee.

Contact us for more information about booking Ruta Sepetys for your next event.