EPISODE 744 - Luna Westish - Meet Me at the Ruins - The Story of Margo, a Student and Story Set In Scotland

In this episode, author Luna Westish shares the unexpected path that led her to writing and publishing her debut novel, Meet Me at the Ruins. From relocating her family to Mexico City during the pandemic to navigating the realities of self-publishing, Luna reflects on creativity, personal growth, and the lessons she learned along the way.

Luna begins by discussing the major life decision that reshaped her family’s world. After years of talking about living abroad, she and her partner chose the uncertainty of the pandemic as the moment to take the leap. Selling nearly all their belongings and leaving Tacoma, Washington behind, they moved to Mexico City with their children. What began as an experiment quickly turned into a new home as they found community in the vibrant, international city. While Luna still misses the nature and coastline of the Pacific Northwest, the move created space for new experiences and creative exploration.

That sense of experimentation carries into Luna’s approach to writing. Contrary to common advice that writers must produce words daily or follow strict routines, Luna discovered that creativity works best when she allows flexibility. Writing for her happens in bursts of inspiration, often in quiet coffee shops in the morning. Instead of focusing on word counts or rigid goals, she treats writing as a process of curiosity and self-discovery, allowing stories to emerge naturally rather than forcing them.

Her journey into fiction was equally unplanned. Luna spent years writing nonfiction, including academic work, policy reports on climate change, and articles related to small business. Eventually she began writing deeply personal essays about her childhood growing up in a restrictive religious environment. That vulnerable work opened the door to fiction. Inspired by weekly coffee shop writing sessions with her teenager, she started drafting a story that eventually became her novel.

Meet Me at the Ruins follows Margot, a college student studying abroad in Edinburgh in the early 2000s. The novel explores anxiety, identity, relationships, and the search for purpose during a formative stage of life. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Edinburgh, the story blends elements of coming-of-age, romance, and contemporary literary fiction while focusing on emotional growth rather than a traditional plot-driven arc.

Luna also offers candid insight into the publishing world. After partially releasing the story online, she queried agents and publishers but ultimately chose to self-publish when contracts lacked clarity around responsibilities and timelines. The experience revealed how complex book marketing can be, from building advance reader groups to securing reviews and interviews. Her biggest lesson for aspiring authors: allow far more time for marketing and outreach than you think you’ll need.

Despite the challenges, Luna views the entire process as a learning experience rather than a purely commercial pursuit. For her, writing is about exploration, connection, and sharing stories that resonate emotionally with readers. That same mindset shapes her parenting, encouraging her children to pursue creativity for joy rather than productivity.

https://lunawestish.wordpress.com/
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