Author and playwright Ruth F. Stevens is “a big believer in the power of laughter to ease our pain and anxiety,” and much of what she writes (even blog posts) falls into the category of humorous. Humor is a perfect way to connect with readers, and based on reviews of Ruth’s work, she’s managed to connect with many readers across the globe. One reader even wrote, “Thank you, Ruth Stevens, for articulating my experience.” Reviewers have also been kind. Ruth’s work has been recognized by Reader’s Favorite, Literary Titan, Indie’s Today, BookLife, Sublime Book Review, and more. I personally appreciate that her novels feature relatable, independent, strong women of “a certain age” who actively make things happen—and I think you will too.

Welcome, Ruth!

Christina: The Unexpected Guests is the second book in the South Bay series and features family relationships. Why write about a family? Which family inspired the characters and relationships for the novel?

Ruth: Margaret Meyer’s family, which spans four generations, is at the core of both books in the South Bay Series. But I wouldn’t describe it as a family saga. There are other important characters, especially in The Unexpected Guests, who are not related to Margaret or to each other; but as their paths intertwine, they become part of the family nucleus. That’s what I wanted to explore in this series—the notion that “family” is not always defined in the traditional way. To quote from the novel: “Sometimes . . . you find your true family with the people who start out as unexpected guests and end up changing your life.”

Christina: Speaking of series, did you set out to write a series, or did that arise organically? What challenges, if any, did you encounter with writing a series?

Ruth: It did NOT start out as a series. Funny story: I was in a critique group, and when I was writing the first book, one of my critique partners said, “You could eliminate the character of Margaret’s mother. She only appears in a few phone conversations.” I responded: “No, I can’t eliminate her. She’s going to play a big part in the sequel.” It wasn’t until the words came out of my mouth that I even knew there would be a sequel. It felt as if the character made the decision for me. “Bloody hell! You’ve not getting rid of me that easily!” Margaret’s mother (who is English) seemed to say.

When I was writing Book 2, I had to go back and make some changes to Book 1 for purposes of plot consistency and character development. Also, with the second book, it was tricky figuring out how to include enough backstory so that the sequel could stand on its own, without it being repetitive for readers who were familiar with Book 1. That’s a challenge every series writer faces.

Christina: The first novel in the series, My Year of Casual Acquaintances, is an “episodic” novel. For those who might not know what that means, can you explain? Why did you choose to write the book that way?

Ruth: Long ago, episodic novels were published in installments or individual “episodes.” These serial works originally appeared in newspapers or magazines. Obviously this isn’t true of my book, but it’s still episodic because each section of the novel is a distinct unit that tells a story on its own while still contributing to the overall plot. This book takes place over the course of a calendar year, and every month is structured as an individual episode in which the FMC, Margaret, interacts with a different acquaintance. Each month has its own story arc, but there’s also the overriding arc of what happens to her during her first year as a divorced woman.

Christina: You’re a playwright. How does playwriting influence your novel writing process? Do you feel that plays or novels are easier to write? Do you enjoy one over the other?

Ruth: I’ve always loved theater and felt comfortable writing dialogue, so I started out with theatrical plays. My first effort, titled Stage Seven, had a successful community theater production, but it was hard to get it produced anywhere else, even before the pandemic hit and theaters closed down for a couple of years. The story really seemed to resonate with audiences, so I decided to expand it into a novel where I could cast a wider net and reach more people. I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to write a novel: Narrative prose was, and is, more difficult for me than dialogue.

Christina: Along with playwriting, you’ve been a writer in some capacity for your entire professional career, so what drew you to novel writing? What makes you stick with it?

Ruth: During my career in PR and advertising, I wrote hundreds of articles, ads, newsletters, all sorts of copy. It was very different from the type of writing I do now, but it was excellent training: I learned how to outline and plan, how to remain focused, and how to self-edit. As mentioned above, my foray into fiction writing was more or less a practical decision. If I’d been successful at landing theatrical productions for my plays, maybe I never would have written a novel. I decided to stay with fiction vs. playwriting because the writer has more options. You can always self-publish if you can’t get an agent or publisher. Though I’m lucky to have a great publisher now with Black Rose Writing.

Christina: On your website you say that you write about topics that “worry” you, which means “there is never a shortage of material.” How do you sift through the vast amount of material and decide on a novel idea?

Ruth: One consistent thread in my work is the exploration of aging and the challenges it presents. My first play and novel were loosely based on my own experience with my mother’s Alzheimer’s disease, so that was the most personal story I’ve written.  And I’ve long been fascinated by the casual (and not so casual) relationships people form at the gym, so that sparked the idea for my second novel. As for the third—well, that followed naturally as a sequel. I wasn’t finished with those characters yet and wanted to find out what would happen to them next.

Christina: As you mentioned, your first novel, Stage Seven, features dementia, and we “met” via AlzAuthors, which is “a community of authors sharing Alzheimer’s and dementia stories to light the way for others.” How did you become involved in this organization, and what does it mean to you?

Ruth: After learning about AlzAuthors through a writing colleague, I submitted Stage Seven and was admitted to the group. Alzauthors.com is a consortium of authors with published books, blogs, videos, etc. and it’s a wonderful resource to anyone seeking information about dementia. I currently serve as volunteer acquisitions editor in charge of fiction. We are always looking for high-quality, realistic fictional depictions of families dealing with dementia. There are several children’s books too. The bulk of the books in the collection, however, are non-fiction: memoirs, caregiver guides, and so forth.

Christina: Reviews of your books often mention two words—humor and heartbreaking. How do you find the proper balance between the two?

Ruth: The topics themselves supply the heartbreaking part: aging, dementia, loneliness, loss. But I’ve always liked stories that make me laugh, even while I’m tearing up, and that’s the tone I go for in my own writing. So I try to interject comical dialogue, funny inner thoughts, or humorous situations that will make the reader chuckle. I don’t want my books to be downers.

This isn’t a unique concept. When you think of the late great playwright, Neil Simon, he was known for being a comic genius and master of the one-liner. But he wrote about very serious subjects: cancer, death, divorce, infidelity, financial ruin. And yet his plays are comedies, and that’s how he is remembered.

Christina: What’s next for you?

Ruth: I have copious notes for a third novel in the South Bay Series. I hope to get started on that in 2025. I’ve found it difficult to write anything while publishing and marketing two new books in the same year.

Ruth can be found in multiple places!
Website: https://ruthfstevens.com/
Goodreads: @Ruth_F_Stevens
Instagram: @ruthfstevensauthor
Facebook: @rfsauthor

Thanks to Ruth for agreeing to this interview! Feel to leave a comment!