Interview with Cynthia Ruchti, the author of Song of Silence:
Song of Silence is a book close to my heart for many reasons. It explores themes of:
- Broken dreams
- Failed plans
- Retooling life
- Early days of marriage
- Marriage for the long haul
- Retirement
- Parenting adult children
- Special needs children
- The deaf community
- The importance of supportive friends during crises
- Music education
- Music as a passion
- What does love look like after decades together?
- When healing and hope come in unexpected ways
- Where faith and disappointment meet
So, you can imagine there are “pockets” of reading audiences for this book, as well as the person who just plain appreciates contemporary Christian fiction with deep emotional tugs.
My tagline is “I can’t unravel. I’m hemmed in hope.” That concept is reflected in every book I write, and is deeply embedded in this story—Song of Silence—although Lucy is pretty sure she’s completely unraveling when she loses her position as a music educator, the passion of her life.
Back cover copy of Song of Silence:
Music taught Lucy love and beauty. Could silence teach her hope?
Lucy and Charlie Tuttle agree on one thing: they’re committed to each other for life. Trouble is, neither of them expected life to look like this. Charlie retired early, but Lucy is devoted to a long-term career…until the day she has no choice.
Forced to retire from her position as music educator in a small Midwestern K-8 school, Lucy can only watch helplessly as the program her father started years ago disintegrates before her eyes. As the music fades and a chasm separates her from the passion of her heart, Lucy wonders if her faith’s song has gone silent, too. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes.
When a single misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees—and hears—everything.
Endorsements and reviews of Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti:
“Sometimes God shatters a dream because what He will create out of the broken pieces will be far more beautiful and useful than the original.Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti is the glorious telling of one family’s broken dreams transformed by hope.” –Becky Melby, The Lost Sanctuary Series
“From music education to special needs, from heartache to the reality of relationships, Cynthia Ruchti nails every note in Song of Silence with crafted precision.” –Richard Pickrell, music education specialist, parent of a special needs child
“Cynthia Ruchti deftly depicts the feelings of unreality, depression, and the uncanny ability of life to follow up one knockout punch with a string of other shattering blows. Yet as despair hovers menacingly close in the story Song of Silence, Ruchti injects her trademark perspective of a life ‘hemmed in hope.’’ –Kathy Kexel, on-air host, 88.5 The Family Radio
“In Song of Silence, readers will ask themselves, ‘What would I do if the thing that makes me feel like I matter in life was taken away and I had to start over? Where would I find my significance?’ The scenes balance funny, fear, and futility, resulting in renewed faith.” –Kathy Carlton Willis, author of Grin with Grace and Speaker to Speaker
