Meet Cynthia Ruchti

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cynthia Ruchti. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Cynthia with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I can point to three important sources that influenced my work ethic–my father, my mother, and the teachings of Jesus. My father was both a pastor and educator (who taught middle school music for more than 30 years). My mother was a wholly devoted registered nurse who eventually was the Director of Nurses at the hospital in our hometown. Both gave themselves fully to the work. But what impressed me was that they did not consider the “work” their paychecks or ambition. It was the serving the people they were assigned. Good enough doesn’t work when the person on the other end of your efforts is in need. Excellence rather than perfection steered both of my parents. At times, that made hardships for the family (Mom working nights and trying to sleep in the daytime with five children just seven years apart), or extra hours for Dad when a band event kept him working late. But we knew we were well loved, and told so often, and we watched them never stop short of doing not just all that was in their power, but all God could empower them to do for their students, coworkers, patients, or their children.

I saw that modeled before I saw it spelled out clearly in the life Jesus lived and the life-principles expressed in God’s Word. “If someone asks for your cloak, give them your tunic too. If someone compels you (or even forces you) to go one mile with them, go two.” (See Matthew 5:40-41.)

That philosophy linked arms with what I was learning about excellence in Colossians 3:23 and Philippians 4:8. Those factors all shaped me to not settle for halfway or a half-hearted effort. And I also (as a life-long learner, which I no doubt inherited from my father) had to learn how contentment could also exist in an “excellence in all things” environment and to be conscious of the absolute necessity of rest and pondering, of grace for others and for myself.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

For more than three decades, I wrote a scripted radio program called The Heartbeat of the Home that aired on 48 stations across the country and internationally. What a wonderful, challenging experience! I never imagined an endeavor that required me to speak into a microphone, much less voice-act the scripts I’d written for a broadcast that became daily before it was retired in 2012. I really did think that my training to work in a chemistry lab would be in my back pocket to revisit after my kids were all in school. But the radio broadcast eventually led to considering whether I could write longer works–novels and nonfiction books. That’s what I’ve been doing since my first book released in 2010. I’m now working on traditionally published book #50, unless I’ve lost count along the way. I couldn’t imagine anything more rewording that using story to inspire and encourage people and stir hearts. Then I was given the opportunity to serve as a literary agent with Books & Such Literary Management and help other authors do the same. My time is mostly devoted to that endeavor now, with more than 50 clients in my care, but I’m still able to continuing writing my own projects and have an advent book releasing in fall of 2025 (The Spirit of Christmas: Discovering His Presence Throughout the Advent Season) with a yet-to-be-named novel due to release in early 2027. My tagline has long been, “I can’t unravel. I’m hemmed in Hope.” That overarches everything I write and the way I live.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three high-impact skills I use every day: noticing, listening, storytelling. I’m not sure there is a career or pursuit that can’t benefit from honing those skills. When we’re early in our journey, we might think that speaking up and being heard is more important than listening. But our words are better formed and reach their target best if we’ve been noticing and listening first. Story shows up everywhere. And it is so effective in helping our customers or readers or listeners or any other audience not only grasp but remember and take to heart (or take action). Painting tells a story. Ads tell a story. Animal footprints tell a story. A garden tells a story. Good teachers tell stories. No doubt part of noticing, listening, and storytelling also involves dialing back from pushing, promoting, or wanting to be noticed. Visibility and discoverability are important for many businesses and careers. But noticing, listening, and storytelling form firm foundations for connections with whomever it is we serve.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

I have always had older women (not necessarily old, but a generation above me) who spoke into my life with great wisdom and direction. For decades, my best friends were always 20 or more years farther along in life than me. I don’t know how long into those relationships it was before I realized my friends were also mentors. Now, my primary mentor is closer to my own age, but much farther along in the particular career of literary agenting than I am, and she’s perhaps the most skilled mentor I’ve ever met. Janet Grant, president and founder or Books & Such Literary Management, has a breadth of knowledge into which I’m able to tap at will. She’s kind and gracious, but also firm and convincing. She’s a skilled negotiator complemented with a deeply caring heart. I’ve learned much from all the other agents in the agency, from my own interactions in the publishing world, and from books and courses. But by far, I owe the largest debt of gratitude to having a boss who is an exceptional mentor.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cynthiaruchti.com
• Instagram: @cynthiaruchtiauthor
• Facebook: @cynthiaruchtireaderpage
• Linkedin: @cynthiaruchti
• Twitter: @cynthiaruchti