The Fantasy Grimoire Presents: Ruth Cantu

When Ruth’s publishing plans didn’t go as expected, she decided to bet on herself—and it changed everything. Instead of querying, she pivoted to self-publishing, proving that sometimes the indie route isn’t a fallback, it’s creative freedom. It gave her the chance to tell her story her way, without fitting into traditional molds.

Ruth gives us a peek into her intricate world and magic system, and we talk about her friends genius idea of using book clubs as beta readers—petition to make that a thing! We also chat about the constant tug-of-war with perfectionism as indie authors and learning when to finally hit “publish.”

She shares her thoughts on what makes an unforgettable enemies-to-lovers story, the double standards that still exist in publishing, and how she’s layered her Latina heritage and complex relationship with religion into her work. Through it all, Ruth’s journey is a reminder that trusting yourself as an author can be the most powerful decision you make.

You can find Ruth's Instagram here.