Ruth Mitchell was born and raised in Salt Lake City, where she grew up writing plays for the neighborhood kids and “exploring” the woods near her home. In high school, she founded a Dead Poets’ Society, as well as successfully campaigning to make the school’s all-male service club accept female students.

She met her husband on her first day of class at the University of Utah she met her husb where she graduated with a BA in journalism. Working for the Deseret News, she reported on wildfires, shootings and human interest stories. Her husband’s medical training took her to Dallas, Texas and then San Diego where they settled and raised their four mostly-grown children.

Currently writing a series of contemporary Jane Austen retellings, Ruth’s goal is to write “hospital waiting room” books. Books that cheer and distract readers when their world is crumbling, stories that make them laugh and sigh and end with little more hope. All of her books are love stories with plenty of banter, off-the-charts chemistry, but no open-door sex scenes.

In addition to dreaming up new stories, Ruth loves long rambling conversations, baking (she makes the best pie), hiking, party-planning and running (slowly) along the coasts and canyons of Southern California.

An Interview with Ruth

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Howl’s Moving Castle (If you haven’t read the book or seen the movie you are missing out.) My castle would roam the Wasatch range and I would have a door to San Diego, Dallas, London and New York.

What is your proudest accomplishment? My children.

Who is your favorite author? Jane Austen!!!! I celebrate her birthday every year. A few other favorites are: F. Scott Fitzgerald, George Eliot and Elizabeth Gaskell.

Have you ever had a nickname? Yes, a few select individuals get to call me Ruthie. When I was little some called me Ruthannatha, and as a teenager my brothers’ friends called me Ruthless.

Are you religious? Yes, I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

What are your superpowers? Gift giving, pie baking, and throwing last-minute parties.

What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could dance without embarrassing my children.

Do you like surprises? Yes, we didn’t find out the gender of three of our kids until they were born. I highly recommend it.

If you could eat one meal the rest of your life what would it be? A good French baguette and butter.

Who is your fictional crush? Gilbert Blythe forever! But a shout out to Han Alister (Demon King), Joe Willard (Betsy & Tacy series) and Mr. Thornton (North and South).

How many shoes do you own? I’ve never counted. But a high percentage of them are red. I have a weakness for red shoes.