PHOTO: Award-winning author Linda Rettstatt, celebrated for her emotionally compelling storytelling, marking the milestone of over 50 published books.
The Journey Behind 50 Books and Counting
Linda Rettstatt discusses her award-winning novels, writing journey, and emotionally charged characters, revealing insights into her creative process, themes of love and reinvention, and her passion for storytelling.
Linda Rettstatt stands as a luminous force in contemporary literature, weaving together tales that resonate deeply with readers’ hearts and souls. As an award-winning and bestselling author, she triumphantly bridges the genres of women’s fiction, romance—both contemporary and later-in-life—suspense, regional historical fiction, and light paranormal storytelling. Her accolades speak volumes, with outstanding novels such as Love, Sam and Ladies in Waiting earning prestigious recognition through the EPIC eBook Awards. Celebrating the remarkable milestone of her 50th published book in August 2024, Linda has firmly established herself as a gifted storyteller whose works explore the profound depth of human emotions, relationships, and reinvention.
What makes Linda’s writing truly exceptional is her ability to breathe life into her characters, crafting individuals with complexities, flaws, and redeeming qualities that mirror the intricacies of real life. Whether it’s the diverse group of women in Ladies in Waiting, each with their poignant secrets and powerful journeys, or the themes of forgiveness and unconditional love masterfully explored in Unconditional, Linda’s stories are a testament to her understanding of the human psyche. Her background in social work and psychotherapy adds a distinctive emotional richness to her narratives, enabling her to artfully delve into the motivations, vulnerabilities, and triumphs of her characters.
Linda Rettstatt masterfully creates unforgettable characters while crafting stories that deeply resonate, earning her a lasting place in literature.
It is a privilege to feature Linda Rettstatt in this issue of Reader’s House magazine, as we explore her creative journey, the inspirations behind her celebrated works, and her reflections on themes that continue to inspire readers around the world. Her talent, dedication, and ability to craft stories that linger long after the last page make her a true beacon in the literary world.
What inspired you to transition from reviewing community theater productions to writing novels, and how has that experience influenced your storytelling?
In my teen years, my dream was to become a writer. I took a job after high school as an ad clerk with my hometown newspaper. When the city editor asked people in the newsroom who wanted to cover the community theater productions and no one responded, I raised my hand and said, “I’ll do it. But I want a by line.” It was a taste for me of being an actual writer. I spent several years after that channeling my creativity into music and working with a folk group. Fast forward thirty years. I was working as a social worker for a non-profit in Mississippi. I had a day when clients either canceled or did not show for appointments. A co-worker suggested I go to my computer and, “write that book you keep talking about.” And, so, I did. I wrote my first book, And the Truth Will Set You Free, in three months, with two more books following in the same year. I started out with small independent publishers but made the move into self-publishing in 2014. When I was a child, my paternal grandparents lived with us until I was five years old. My grandfather loved to tell stories. I think he instilled in me that same love for storytelling that motivates my writing today.
“Every story begins with one question: What if…?” – Linda Rettstatt
How does your background as a psychotherapist shape the emotional depth and complexity of your characters in your novels?
I find it a challenge to not delve into the psyche of my characters. In my practice as a therapist, I had the privilege of working with both men and women, often couples, and gained much insight into what makes people tick. I particularly draw from the interactions I observed when writing romance. As a woman of a certain age (ahem), I now enjoy writing seasoned or later-in-life romance. What we once referred to as ‘baggage’ that people carry is now experience that I can draw upon to give my characters more depth and make their interactions more realistic. I love creating characters that have flaws but are redeemable, whether those characters are part of a women’s fiction story or a romance.
What inspired you to create such diverse characters in Ladies in Waiting, and how do their individual secrets contribute to the overall theme of sisterhood in the story?
I love the characters in Ladies in Waiting. I’ve published fifty-one books to date, and Ladies in Waiting remains the book of my heart. I believe every story begins with one question: What if…? What if five women from very diverse backgrounds and each bearing a secret that is holding her back come together for what each believes will be just time away from life. But life is what keeps happening for them as they navigate the differences among them and begin to learn one another’s secrets. Are they more alike than they are different? Each of these women—Liv, Andi, Cee Cee, Markie, and Julia—is strong, but imperfect. They are each at a place in life that offers opportunity if they find the courage to step beyond their comfort zones.
The biggest technical challenge in writing Ladies in Waiting was to create five distinct women and to weave in their back stories in a way that would allow the reader to connect with each woman. Back story can drag a book down if not carefully incorporated into the story. But with five main characters, each with her own story, it was essential to incorporate enough back story so that the reader understood what motivated each woman.
How do you think the retreat setting in Ladies in Waiting impacts the characters’ journeys toward self-acceptance and personal reinvention?
Having worked professionally with women who were navigating the waters of change that comes at mid-life, I wanted to bring my characters into a cocoon of sorts, a place where they had to listen to themselves and to each other. The idea of reinvention at midlife has been around for some time and continues to be a topic of interest to women. Just look at the work of author Claire Cook. She’s a master at writing about women’s reinvention. Removing the person who would typically lead the women through their retreat left them to their own devices to find what each is seeking. Their expectations have to be adjusted as they find themselves on their own together to get past the curiosities and annoyances and similarities that drive a the women to get to know and trust one another and to, ultimately, share their secrets.
What themes of forgiveness and love did you want to explore in Unconditional, especially in the context of Meg’s journey following her husband’s betrayal?
Again, the question of ‘what if’ led me into the story in Unconditional. What if one partner in a marriage had to betray the other in order to live an authentic life? And what if both partners in the relationship very much loved and cared for one another despite the sense of betrayal one feels? It seemed to me that this led to an intersection where unconditional love came into play. Thomas very much loves Meg. But he has to hurt her and leave the marriage in order to be true to himself. Meg is deeply hurt and angry, but when circumstances shift in Thomas’ life, Meg has to summons up the truth of her feelings for him. She forgives him and leans into the unconditional love she has for him.
How did your own experiences or observations influence the portrayal of Meg’s emotional struggles and decisions throughout Unconditional?
I think most of us can identify a circumstance in life where we felt betrayed by someone we loved. Having provided couples counseling for several years, I saw more than my share of two people who started out with love for one another, faced conflict and betrayal, and had to choose how to respond. Meg is put into an impossible situation—she can’t have a happy ever after life with Thomas, but she can’t walk away completely when he needs her the most. This is the very definition of unconditional love.
