BLOG TOUR: Our Uncle’s Promise by Ruta Levu (Excerpt & Q&A with Author)

BLOG TOUR

Book Title: Our Uncle’s Promise

Author and Cover Artist: Ruta Levu

Publisher: Book Writing Maestros

Release Date: July 31, 2025

Genre: LGBT Non-fiction

Themes: Family love, loss, two straight older people, two gay men, coming out and learning to smile again

Heat Rating: No sexual content

Length: 367 pages

It is a standalone book

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Buy Links – Hardback, Paperback, and ebook

Barnes & Noble | Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

Pierre was the turkey demon from hell.

Sina was demoted from she-demon status to rabid squirrel with active rabies status.

Ruta was the unicorn that farts rainbows and saw the evilness of Sina, the rabid squirrel with active rabies.

 

Blurb

This is a story about two grandparents, two gay uncles and four little girls growing up in the 1970s and 1980s. The girls’ mother had passed away and their father was transferred by the military so the maternal grandparents and uncle raised the girls. The book is about learning to smile and laugh after loss. Also, this story includes a mean turkey named Pierre and a sassy adorable diva.

This story is about loss but also about unconditional love and the adventures with fun loving uncles around the San Francisco Bay Area.

The story goes through the heart break that the little girls should not have had to face so young, but they were rescued by their grandparents and their loving uncles. The four little girls learned that there is a rainbow after the rain and that you can laugh and smile after loss. In our lifetime a door may have closed but a window opened for unconditional love and an occasional disco dance with the uncles.

 

Excerpt

Chapter 10

It was Halloween of 1974, and I have to admit, my costume was awesome. Sina, though, looked like a boring farmer’s wife or whatever lives on a farm.

“You girls look so adorable! Aww…” Uncle Rueben praised, reaching out to hug us close.

“No, Uncle Rueben, don’t hug us yet,” I warned. “I don’t want my red cape to get all wrinkled and smashed.” I held up my hands to ward off the hug coming our way.

On Halloween night in 1974, Sina was dressed like Dorothy from the movie The Wizard of Oz. I was dressed as Red Riding Hood with a kick-butt red cape. Oli wore a Casper the Friendly Ghost costume and mask.

I have to admit, I was A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E with a capital A, but I knew I had to stay humble. Sina looked like a boring farmer’s wife in a blue checkered dress and red shoes. My red cape, on the other hand, made me feel like I could save the world—or at least that’s how I felt wearing it.

Rueben drove us to a swanky part of San Francisco, known for giving out full-size candy bars.

“All you girls stay by my side. No running ahead, and always hold each other’s hands when going up to a door. Never leave my side unless I give you permission, okay?” With the safety instructions given, Rueben led the way with a nod of his head.

Back in the 1970s, everyone seemed to give out candy, and all the kids dressed up for Halloween.

As we made our way from house to house, Uncle Rueben could be heard shouting, “Oli, don’t let go of my hand yet!” or “Sina, Ruta, don’t run too far ahead of me!”

“Hold Oli’s hand now and go up to the door. Be nice and say thank you when they give you candy,” Uncle Rueben called as we hurried toward a house with its porch light on.

Ring. Ring. Sina usually pressed the doorbell. We waited in excitement. A few moments passed. No one answered. We were the only kids at that door. Ring. Ring.

“I don’t think anyone’s giving out candy at this house,” Sina said with a sigh.

We had almost turned around when the door creaked open, and a strange fog rolled out from within. Suddenly, a lady in ragged white clothes appeared, arms raised, screaming in our faces!

“Aah! Aah! Aah!” The three of us screamed right back at the scary ghost lady! I dropped Oli’s hand like a hot rock and bolted from the porch. I thought we had all run, but apparently, that wasn’t the case. In that moment, I didn’t care if Sina or Oli made it out—I was in danger of being killed!

I figured I just needed to be faster than Oli, and I’d be safe. “You only have to outrun the slowest person,” was something Grandma and Pop used to say when watching TV shows. Plus, I wasn’t that attached to Oli. She could always flash her dimpled smile, and maybe the killer scary ghost lady would spare her. Honestly, I didn’t care if either of them was left behind—all I knew was it was every girl for herself. And I should add: not only did I save myself, but I also made sure to save my candy bag. Apparently, danger didn’t mean leaving behind my hard-earned candy stash.

“Run, Uncle Rueben! Let’s go!” I screamed, racing toward where the car was parked. We were going to make it! I didn’t care who else survived.

Uncle Rueben, however, didn’t seem to grasp the gravity of our situation. He was doubled over, laughing hysterically. Fine—let the killer scary ghost lady get him. Then I stopped in my tracks. NO! Uncle Rueben had to survive—he was our ride home!

Little did I know that Sina was right behind me until I turned to look for Uncle Rueben. Of course, she hadn’t warned him to run like I had. She only cared about herself. Big question—who was going to drive us home? I couldn’t drive. Sina couldn’t drive. Uncle Rueben had to survive. Unlike me, Sina had no long-term vision.

Uncle Rueben was still bent over, laughing. Oli was hugging his legs. How could he laugh? Did he not realize we were all in mortal danger?

Uncle Rueben walked confidently towards the danger, and I saw him pick up Oli’s shoe that she lost trying to run or whatever she did, away from the killer scary ghost lady.

“Run, Uncle Rueben! Come on, you’re in danger!” I shouted.

Sina and myself were breathing like we had just ran a few miles when we had only run a half block. I started noticing other kids staring at us, and parents chuckling. Did I mention that adults sometimes have no sense of urgency? What was wrong with them? Did they not realize there was a killer scary ghost lady in that house?

Finally, Uncle Rueben reached us and the car. It took him forever, but at least he was still alive.

 

Q&A with Ruta Levu

Q: Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.

I have survivor’s guilt. My sister, Carolyn, had passed away due to cancer, and I had wished that I could have taken her place. This makes me feel guilty, because I had a child after she passed away,

 

Q: What’s your favorite scene in your latest book and what makes it a favorite?

Chapter 11, page 59 & page 60.

Pierre knew he was not as cuddly as he was showing to the cousins.  He chased and bit Sina and I all the time.  Pierre would act all innocent and that he was a good pet, but he was bluffing.  Pierre was a good pet to Uncle Rueben, but not to me or Sina.

 

Would you care to share an excerpt from the scene with us?

Pierre was a turkey demon from hell, and nothing Uncle Rueben said would change my mind. If Pierre was sweet, then I could fly and fart rainbows. Oh—and did I mention we weren’t allowed to say fart? What we were allowed to say was fluff. Whether it was a fluff or a fart, rainbows might have come out of my butt—but definitely not out of she-demon Sina’s.

Anyway, in the mornings, Rueben or Pop would feed Pierre and spend a bit of time with him before starting their day. In the evenings, it was up to Sina, Pop, or me to handle it.

The next day, our Thanksgiving family meal consisted of roast beef and ham. A few family members seemed to glare at Uncle Rueben, and I overheard some whispers questioning what kind of person would befriend a turkey.

“This is Pierre, family!” Uncle Rueben announced proudly.

The various aunts and uncles grunted, and the younger cousins squealed with excitement at the reveal.

“Now, don’t be too loud or you’ll scare him,” Rueben warned. “Also, be gentle. He won’t bite you if you’re calm, okay kids?”

One or two cousins slowly approached and tried petting Pierre. To everyone’s amazement, he let them—and didn’t bite once. I could have sworn he gave me a side glance full of sweet, smug evil. Just more proof that he was the turkey demon from hell.

That turkey demon from hell was a traitor and a faker. He clung to Uncle Rueben’s leg and cooed like a content kitten. Total fake! When I fed the turkey demon from hell, he’d chase me and occasionally bite me. I still had a mark on my forearm from Tuesday. Rueben always said Pierre was just playing chase. Yeah, sure. And if that’s true, I really can fly and fart rainbows.

 

Q: If you could spend some real-life time with one of the characters in the book, who would you choose and why? 

A hard choice, as I would like to spend time with my grandparents and uncles, but I would choose to spend time with Carolyn again.  Our sister Carolyn passed away when she was twenty-seven years old.  I would like to spend time with her, talk and laugh with her.

 

Q: On the flipside, which character would you probably least get along with? Why?

 I get along with everyone, but I did not know my two cousins very well.  So, I pick my two cousins, Teri and Sherrie.

                                                                 

Q: Let’s take off your author cap and put on your reader cap for a moment: what do you look for in a book, what sort of protagonists do you love, and do you have a favorite genre?

I prefer protagonists who stand up for themselves and pursue their needs and desires.  I prefer romcom romance and light hearted mysteries.  Life is stressful enough, so I like to read something humorous.

 

Q: What books and authors would you say influenced you to become a writer?

There weren’t any books that really inspired me to write, but a movie did, which was ‘League of Her Own’.  The movie reinforced that I had a story to tell, too.

 

Q: What’s the best piece of writing/author advice you’ve ever received that you’d pass on to someone just getting started in the business?

Don’t wait for inspiration, but just keep writing, even if you think it is bad. If you wait for inspiration then you could end up waiting a lifetime.

 

Q: Have you ever written a line, paragraph, or passage, and thought, “Darn, that’s pretty amazing, even if I do say so myself”? What was it? 

Yes, after several edits it was Chapter 2.  I danced around my grief, but after several edits I realized I needed to really put my grief out there.  So, I just rewrote the chapter with my heart on my sleeve for everyone to see.

 

Q: What’s the one genre/sub-genre you haven’t written yet, but would love to? What’s kept you from it so far? 

I have not written any other genre but nonfiction for now.  I would love to write light hearted mysteries.  I understand it can be hard to write mysteries, but I would like to try someday.

 

Q: If you could choose one of your books to be adapted for the silver screen, which would you choose? Why do you think it would translate well to film?

I have only written one book so far.  I think my current book, Our Uncle’s Promise, would make a great series on a streaming service.  I think it would make a better series, since the audience would have to grow with the characters as they age.

 

Q: What’s the one book you’ve read in your lifetime that you wish you’d written? Why did this particular book leave such a lasting impact on you?

Persuasion, by Jane Austin. I read that very young, and what I got from the book was that you have to follow your own heart, even though everyone in your life disagrees with you.

 

Q: If I were to interview your main characters, what would they say about you?

In the case of Uncle Rueben, Uncle Dana, and the grandparents, they would say that they are proud of me for persevering and putting their story in writing.  They would be proud of all the nieces for carving out lives that we would be proud of, and would love to get to know our great grandchildren.

In terms of Sina the rabid squirrel, Oliana, and Carolyn, they would remark that Ruta is not a unicorn that farts rainbows. Rather, she just farts and no rainbows comes out.  Ruta is funny and quirky, but we love her anyway.  I am glad Ruta wrote our story.

Q: Let’s pretend you’re taking a road trip, and you can choose any three of your characters to go with you. Who would you want on the ride-along, and why them?

Sina, the rabid squirrel, Oliana and Carolyn.  I would love to have sisterly time with my sisters and just talk about anything and spend time with them. 

My sister Carolyn was in remission in March of 2000 and we took a road trip to visit our other sister, Oliana.  We went from Portland Oregon to Sacramento California.  We talked and laughed the whole way it is a very cherished memory of mine.

 

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island, what are three things you’d absolutely have to have?

A MacGyver type of person, a pocket knife and a permanent match lighter.  The 1980s Macgyver type of person would figure out how to get us back to civilization.  Second a pocket knife for cutting and fileting fish.  Lastly, the permanent match lighter so we can light fires for warmth and for signal fires for as long as we need.

 

Q: If you had to choose between becoming a superhero or supervillain, which would you choose and why? What would your superpower be?

Superhero.  I think everyone wants to be the savior but it is also it gives you joy when you help someone or an animal. 

My power to move things with my mind regardless how big or how small. 

 

Q: If James Corden invited you to Carpool Karaoke, what song(s) would you sing with him?

I cannot sing, and when I do, it is really off key.  But, to be a good sport I would sing, ‘So very Hard to Go’ by Tower of Power.

 

Q: If you could be any animal in the world, what would you choose? Why?

I would be a lioness.  Lions live and hunt in groups.  I would like to go out on the hunt with my sisters and nieces and not to face the dangers alone.

 

Q: If you could travel back in time, with all your years of experience and wisdom intact, what advice would you give to your teenage self?

Buy stock in several companies.  Ensure I make the days count with my family members because you will lose more people and not have much time with them.  Also, force Carolyn go to the doctor a lot earlier than she did when she found out about her cancer.

 

Q: If you were to sit down and write your autobiography today, what would the title be?

Laughing through the tears.

 

Q: Star Trek or Star Wars – both or neither? Explain.

Both.  They are both about going beyond our known galaxy and it is ok to be afraid but not to allow that fear to stop us.  Don’t ever let doubt stop you from trying or creating and inventing.

 

Q: If you could be any fictional character who would you like to be and why?

I would like to be Dr. Charles Xavier.  I think if Dr. Xsvier wasn’t so afraid of being too powerful he could have helped made it a safe world for mutants and non-mutants.  Dr, Xavier was so afraid of being too much for this world he did little to help the world become better.  Instead, Dr. Xavier did nothing and most of the mutants got killed and evil abounded to kill humans and mutants.

 

About the Author

Ruta Levu, the unicorn that farts rainbows., is currently married and lives in the Pacific Northwest. Ruta has a daughter and five fur babies. I am the crazy cat lady on the block and proud of it. I speak with and see my sisters often. I still bring my glittery joy and happiness to my sisters’ lives to this day.

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