Author Spotlight: Ruth Waring
By Ruth Waring

Ruth Waring is a wife, mother of three adult children, and nana to three grandchildren. The world of writing entered Ruth’s in her primary years, spent in the hub of Toronto. At the age of nine, she won a Canadian National Exhibition contest for a letter she wrote called “Why I Want a Dog.” After her letter was selected the winner from fifteen thousand submission, a cocker spaniel puppy became part of her young life. In 1965, Ruth married Doug, her high school sweetheart, and relocated to London, Ontario.
In the early 1980s, Ruth worked for evangelist Barry Moore, and then in the late 1980s she became the office coordinator for three years for the London Area Right to Life Association. Ruth spent the next twelve years working with the Navigators of Canada, whose one-on-one ministry exemplified her desire to share the love of Christ with other women.

For over a decade, Ruth has held seminars entitled “Yes, There Is a Story in You!” and “Writing Our Yesterdays.” In 2004, she established Women Writing for Christ (WWC) in London, Ontario, and a second chapter in 2008 in Lindsay, Ontario, where she and her husband now live. Beyond her passion for writing, Ruth has a speaking ministry, called Sharing/Caring, that helps people address their life issues from a biblical perspective. She also teaches a women’s Bible study and enjoys mentoring young moms whenever the opportunity arises.

Ruth has authored three novels: Come Find Me, which was shortlisted in Word Alive Press’s fiction-writing contest and a finalist in the Canadian Christian Writing Awards (The Word Guild) in 2010, and followed it with the sequel Then Came a Hush in 2011. Her current novel, Harvest of Lies, is the award-winning novel for 2016 from Word Alive Press. She also has a short story in Hot Apple Cider with Cinnamon entitled “Here, Mommy, This Is for You.”

Upcoming Events

• Book Launch, February 18, in London, Ontario.
• Guest Speaker at the Christian Women’s Meeting, June 6, in Havelock, Ontario.
  

Past Events

• Ruth previously had a book launch on January 21 in Lindsay, Ontario.
• Ruth was interviewed in This Week, a Lindsay newspaper, which was printed on January 12.
  

Contact Information

Ruth Waring has a personal website you can visit: ruthwaring.com

Question and Answer

Q: What inspired you to write your first novel?

A: In the late 1990s, I established a biblically based speaking ministry and incorporated a short piece of my memoir as a prelude to the topics I shared about. On one occasion, I was approached by a woman who asked if I was part of a writers group and when I said no, she suggested I form one. She indicated that if I did, she would come. Two years later, five of us met in my home and we dubbed ourselves Women Writing for Christ. Each of us had our own interests. For me, it was writing my memoir. In a group exercise, I was handed a picture of a mother and child for the purpose of stimulating a memory on which to write a short story. It didn’t work. But it did stimulate the beginnings of Come Find Me, resulting in a spreadsheet of details that shocked me—and scared me to death. That was in 2004, and I played at writing a novel for the next five years. I didn’t believe it would ever go beyond my writers group.

Q: How did you come to have your first novel published?

A: A friend informed me of an annual publishing contest sponsored by Word Alive Press and suggested I submit my then-completed novel. I filled out the application, sent in my manuscript, and never gave it another thought. To say I was dumbfounded when I learned that Come Find Me was a finalist in the writing contest doesn’t do it justice. WAP offered me a partnership publishing contract that I gladly accepted!

Q: Did you plan on writing a sequel or another novel?

A: I never intended to write a sequel. However, the remarks of a judge in the 2010 Word Guild contest prompted me to rethink my decision. She felt that one of my characters was left hanging, and so the journey of writing Then Came a Hush began. Twelve months later it was completed, but not before a God-planted idea for a third novel began to grow. After five years, and a health setback, Harvest of Lies turned out to be an award-winning novel.

Q: Why do you write?

A: Several years ago, my artist son penned, “Words are letters often shaped in quiet thought that recall a memory, express a conviction, paint a picture.” I wish I could take credit for this statement because it describes how I feel. As a writer, I love to put my thoughts into words. I love the challenge, the creativity, and the end result. I read recently that through writing, a writer finds joy and personal fulfillment in the power of words that inspire change. I’d like to think that my words evoke positive change or, if nothing else, cause one to pause, to think, and maybe even to feel challenged.

Ernest Hemingway once said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” I suppose in some respects that’s true. Despite the agony, pain, and frustration that come with putting words on paper, I believe most writers write for the deliverance of a pent-up passion. We write to communicate whether it’s through a letter, a speaking engagement, a blog post, or a newly published book or novel. It’s what we must do!

Q: Do you have a particular writing style?

A: My writing is best described as realistic fiction because it resembles real life, and the characters within these stories react similarly to real people. I love reading romance, mystery, and historical novels, but I tend to centre my writing on the emotional and spiritual struggles we face in life.

Q: Do you have any advice you would offer to new writers?

A: There are many suggestions that can be given to a new writer: become part of a writers group for encouragement and accountability, be open to well-grounded advice even though critiquing can be painful, attend conferences and workshops when possible, and invest in a library of books and articles that support your genre. All these point to one thing: never stop learning!

To new writers, they must first acknowledge that they are writers. I say, step outside and fly. Begin the journey of writing, or continue the journey if you’re already on the path. Of course it’s safer to stay on the ground, but why do that when there is so much to learn?

Q: Do you have any final thoughts to inspire others?

A: In 2004, I had the privilege of sharing the outline of my first novel with Jeanette Oke. This was her advice: “Ruth, don’t get caught up with how many books you will publish. Remember where your story came from. It’s your responsibility to write it the best that you can. It’s His responsibility to find the readers. And if only one person reads your book and a life changes because of it, then that’s why you wrote your book.” I’ve taken her advice to heart.

In each of my novels, I believe God knew I had something to say, and I will be forever thankful that He, by His grace and wisdom, allowed me to say it through the characters I developed and lived with over these years. They have become my “friends”—a reality that some might find strange to anyone except another writer.

Our 2016 Free Publishing Contest Fiction Winner, Harvest of Lies is now available for sale! Click on the image below to order today!

About this Contributor:

Ruth Waring authored Come Find Me, a finalist in the Canadian Christian Writing Awards (The Word Guild) in 2010, and followed it with the sequel, Then Came a Hush, in 2011. Her current novel, Harvest of Lies, is Word Alive Press’s 2016 award-winning novel.
Learn more at ruthwaring.com.