For Ennis based author Rue Willow, the inspiration for her debut novella, Sands of Time, came to her in an unexpected way.
“It came to me in a dream,” Rue says, describing how the plot began to unfold. Set between 1742 and 2000, Sands of Time is a historical romance that builds mystery with each chapter, leading to an unexpected twist that keeps readers on their toes.
“The romance and love in this novel play a big part in the story,” Rue explains, highlighting the deep emotional core of the book. But Rue’s path to becoming a writer wasn’t always straightforward. Growing up with dyslexia, reading and writing were initially challenging for her, but the love of books came through her parents. “My parents would read to me, and it was this special time I got to have with them,” she says. “It was how I fell in love with stories”.
Eventually, Rue learned to read and write, and with that, she was able to express her vivid imagination in new ways. Her writing journey began in 2020 with her first fantasy novel, though it was never published. “That first book was more for myself,” she says. “It helped me learn about the kind of writer I wanted to be.” From that experience, Rue realized that she preferred writing novellas over full-length novels, as well as using a first-person perspective.
Work on Sands of Time started in 2022, and after a year of writing and another year in production, Rue’s novella was finally published on February 27. “It feels great to finally talk about it,” she says. “The publishing process was long, but seeing the book cover for the first time was surreal. I had only ever seen these characters in my head, and now they’re part of something real”.
Rue draws much of her inspiration from her dreams. “As soon as I think about a story, it starts playing out in my head like a movie,” she says. “It all comes together pretty quickly.” Writing about 1,000 words a day, Rue is able to work quickly, and the short format of a novella allows her to keep every sentence purposeful. “A novella is so small that every sentence makes an impact,” she explains. “It’s the type of story I like to read, so it’s natural for me to write that way”.
Looking ahead, Rue has three more novellas in production and is excited to explore the horror thriller genre with her next three books. However, the romance in Sands of Time will always hold a special place in her heart.
With her journey from dream to publication now complete, Rue is eager to hear what readers think of Sands of Time, especially from those who love mystery, romance, and unexpected twists.
