We chat with author Sarah Grunder Ruiz about her new release Last Call at the Local, which sees opposites attract when a free-spirited American singer-songwriter with ADHD teams up with a charming Irishman to revitalise his family’s pub.
Hi, Sarah! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Howdy! I don’t want to bore ya’ll with the old job, hometown, family rundown, so let’s get to the juicy stuff, yeah?
Other than being the author of a few novels—Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships (November 2021), Luck and Last Resorts (August 2022), and Last Call at the Local (January 2024)—I’m an ADHD babe and karaoke enthusiast with far too many hobbies. My current hyperfixation is tarot cards—check out the tarot readings for writers series in my newsletter. For my fellow astrology nerds, I’m a Taurus sun, Gemini moon, and Aquarius rising. That should pretty much tell you all you need to know. 😉
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I have loved writing and stories for as long as I can remember! I have a horrible autobiographical memory, so my origin story is lost to the sands of time, but I do remember writing silly stories in elementary school when I should’ve been paying attention in class. Oops.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Cat in the Hat.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Harry Potter. I’m a cliché millennial, I know.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Whichever one I’m on a deadline for. Ha!
Your latest novel, Last Call at the Local, is out January 2nd! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Cozy, Irish, emotional, neurodivergent, soft.
What can readers expect?
This book is both soft and intense. Both of our main characters are grappling with what it means to be neurodivergent in a world built for neurotypical people. Raine (our heroine) has ADHD, while Jack (our hero) struggles with his OCD. While this is a soft and cozy romance, it’s also a personal journey to self-acceptance for both characters. Jack’s internal journey is particularly intense (his intrusive thoughts are quite heavy), so I advise readers to please take care of themselves while reading!
Where did the inspiration for Last Call at the Local come from?
Our hero, Jack, has a very minor appearance toward the end of my second novel, Luck and Last Resorts. He was supposed to just…get in and get out. But somehow he stole my heart in just a few pages and it was impossible to get him out of my head. I wanted to know more about him (and spend a little more time in the Love, Lists, and Fancy Ships universe). I’d already been tinkering with an idea about a singer with ADHD who works at a karaoke restaurant, and I didn’t know what to do. After discussing this dilemma with Beta Reader Dani (a friend who reads pretty much every draft of everything I write), she told me I ought to combine the two ideas, and thus Last Call at the Local was born!
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I went to Cobh, Ireland to do book research and that was SUCH an incredible experience. I also found it incredibly rewarding to write from Jack’s point-of-view. I had never written from the POV of a man, let alone an Irish man with OCD who used to be a tattoo artist and owns a pub. But Jack had such a strong personal story that he demanded his own POV. I did an intense amount of research in developing his character, but it was all worth it to hear from early readers who feel seen, understood, and accepted by Jack’s story.
This is your third novel! What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned since your first book publishing in 2021?
I have learned to SLOW DOWN! I used to barrel through drafts as quickly as possible, but with Last Call at the Local, I really had to sit with things as I was writing. The book was originally supposed to come out in July of 2023, but some life circumstances made writing a challenge. I was faced with the choice to either rush through the final few scenes and plot points I was stuck on, or push my publication date to give myself more time. I am so glad I pushed my deadline. I wanted to do the characters and the story justice, but I wasn’t in a place where I was capable of that. I only ever want to publish work I really believe in, and slowing down to take care of myself really allowed me to make this story something I am proud to share.
With it being the new year, have you set any resolutions or goals for 2024?
I started writing Last Call at the Local in September of 2021, so it has been a minute since I’ve really worked on something new. My one goal for 2024 is to settle on my next book idea and start writing it in earnest!
What’s next for you?
I would absolutely love to know the answer to that question.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale by Virginia Kantra. This brilliant Wizard of Oz retelling set in Ireland (!) was such a joy to read. Kantra really knows how to immerse her reader in a story. If you love sparkling dialogue, emotional complexity, and stunning settings, this one is for you!
Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle. As president of the Sarah Hogle fan club, I’d be shirking my duties if I didn’t tell you to pre-order this small-town second-chance romance about a woman who runs a magic shop with her sisters. I love how Hogle grounds the story with real emotional weight while letting her more fantastical elements flourish. Hogle is one of the most innovative writers in the genre, and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
If you follow me at all on social media, you know I am a HUGE hockey fan. (Go Canes!) What’s a girl to do when hockey isn’t on? Read a 750-page super-smutty why-choose hockey romance, of course! And that’s exactly what Pucking Around by Emily Rath delivered. I absolutely devoured this one. The characters are lovable, the steamy scenes will make you blush, and the hockey is top-notch.
