I wrote most of Beneath the Same Heaven on the bus. I have a full time job, two children, a husband, and at the time we had a little urban homestead in Los Angeles. So my 20 minute commute to the office downtown became a protected time during which I could write. I wrote at least 250 words a day.
Anne Marie Ruff
I have traveled to 26 countries outside of the United States. Attending the university of the world, I learned that normal is relative, that most people are friendly and generous, and that you don’t need to speak the language if you can smile, eat the local food, and dance to the local beats.
I have been a guest in a refugee camp on the Thai/Burmese border.
I have been a guest in the home of a princess in Kuwait.
I crashed a wedding in a village in Turkmenistan after following the sound of music on a night breeze through pomegranate orchards.
I spent my own wedding night in a village in Punjab sleeping on the floor of my in-laws’ house with 20 of my closest new in-laws who had traveled across India to be with us. I finally fell asleep about 3am exhausted from dancing bhangra and laughing at the antics of my brother-in-law.
In India I learned to love steel cups. My family and I bring our own steel cups to parties…we know we will be drinking something…and can avoid disposable plastic cups that way.
I have learned to love snow and ice. I grew up in Minnesota, but left two weeks after high school. I moved to ever hotter places: first Los Angeles, then Bangkok, then Abu Dhabi, and back to Los Angeles. Last year I moved back to Minnesota after 27 years, with my family, and fell in love with winter.
I am addicted to dark chocolate. 86% cacao is about the perfect blend.
Two of my greatest teachers are Dr. Seuss and Burning Man. I highly recommend both to students of any age.
Take a sneak peek inside Anne Marie Ruff’s second novel, Beneath the Same Heaven and read more about the ideas behind the novel.