Ruth J. Hartman is a published author/licensed dental hygienist living in rural Indiana with her husband and two very spoiled cats.

Muse: Ruth, first of all, Whispers of the Muse welcomes you to the site. Tell us a little about yourself. What part of the world do you live in? Tell us about your background?
Ruth: I’ve lived in Indiana all my life. I’m the youngest of four children, all of whom work in the medical/dental fields. Our mom is a homemaker and our dad is a retired minister.

Muse: Who are your favorite authors?
Ruth: Mary Higgins Clark, Susan Wiggs, David Baldacci, and John Grisham

Muse: Why did you write a memoir?
Ruth: I started out to write a children’s story about a teenage girl who suffers from severe OCD. When I submitted the idea to Pipers’ Ash publishers, they rejected the idea, but instead asked me to submit my memoir to their true-life story section.

Muse: What is your writing regimen? How often do you work on a novel? Do you set daily time or word goals? What keeps you meeting your deadlines?
Ruth: Because of my day job as a hygienist, my writing times are varied. It works out to be mostly in the evenings and weekends. I go in spurts, but once I’ve decided what direction my characters will go and how their story will end, I can hardly wait to get to my computer to write.

Muse: Does the way you personally look at life reflect in your writing style?
Ruth: Yes. I’m very easy going and laid back. I think that’s reflected in the way my characters speak to each other and interact. Usually their conversations are goofy and entertaining, which is exactly how my husband and I are when we’re talking to each other.

Muse: What are the creative jumping off points for you? Are you inspired by dreams? Music? Nature? The occasional black nightmare? What triggers your imagination?
Ruth: All three of my books are centered around dental themes. It’s the old “write what you know” thing. And also, both of my novels, a published short story, and my latest work in progress all have cat themes. Hmmm. Sounds like a trend…

Muse: Tell us about My Life in Mental Chains. What was your inspiration?
Ruth: When I decided to go ahead and write my memoir, I had to reach back into my dark memories for all the things I’d tried so hard to forget. But it was my hope that someday it would help someone else when they read it. I’m happy to say, several people have told me they now better understand themselves or a loved one who suffers from this illness. That makes it all worth it.

Muse: What is your favorite scene from the book and why?
Ruth: Near the end of the book, I receive a miracle when I witness a “rainbow of feathers” in my backyard. Several birds descend in the same bush at the same time, just as I look out my window. That scene lightened my depression for that day, that moment. It gave me hope for the future.

Muse: Have you written other books?
Ruth: “Pillow Talk” from Class Act Books is due out this September. “Flossophy of Grace” will be available February 2011 from Midnight Showcase Fiction.

Muse: Tell us more about your other books?
Ruth: “Pillow Talk” is about a tooth fairy who falls in love with her dentist. And “Flossophy of Grace” is the story of a dental hygienist who falls in love with her patient.

Muse: How do you feel about the current publishing marketplace?
Ruth: I’ve heard writers say before that if your book isn’t published with a large publisher, it’s not worth much. But my experience with small publishers has been wonderful. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.