Joanna asked Ruta Sepetys:

I recently read Out of the Easy after reading both Between Shades of Gray and Salt to the Sea and I loved all three books. You have such a way with historical fiction and making everything flow so smoothly. WW2 and New Orleans in the 50s are so extremely different, how did you come to write Out of the Easy? And are there other historical periods that interest you enough to possibly write about in the future?

Ruta Sepetys Hello Joanna!

Thank you so much for your kind words about my writing! "Out of the Easy" has parallels to my mother's personal history. I wanted to explore feminism in historical context through a girl in postwar America, a girl who dreams of being the author of her own destiny. Yes, there are many periods I'd love to write about! I'd love to write a novel set in the '20's and a novel set during the Depression.

Thank you for asking!

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