Have you ever wondered what actually goes on in the mind of a novelist trying to resurrect a historical figure? (Spoiler: It involves a lot of dusty archives, arguing with ghosts, and drinking far too much coffee.) It’s hard enough to craft a compelling story from scratch, but when you are writing about real, audacious women from the past—especially women who fought to make their mark on the visual arts—the bar is set sky-high.
How do we make stories from hundreds of years ago feel vibrant, urgent, and deeply relevant to you, a modern reader?
To answer that, I joined with three other real, audacious novelists to explore this very topic. Our conversation is the brainchild of N.J. Mastro who regularly dives deep into what makes art history novels sing in her Substack Herstory Revisited.
And so today—Bastille Day ((with its recognition of independence and its healthy appreciation for storming the gates of the establishment) I am thrilled to share a special, behind-the-scenes video conversation between the four of us:
Jude Berman author of The Vow (uncovering the lost legacy of 18th-century art prodigy Angelica Kauffman)
Herstory Revisited N.J. (Nancy) Mastro, who wrote, Solitary Walker, which traces the revolutionary life of Mary Wollstonecraft.
Lisa Groen, author of The Cassatt Sisters (capturing Mary Cassatt’s fierce ambition and sisterly bond in Belle Époque Paris)
And me, Joan Fernandez, author of Saving Vincent (revealing how Jo van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent’s sister-in-law, single-handedly built his artistic legacy)
In this lively, unscripted-feeling chat, we pull back the curtain on the triumphs and tightropes of writing historical fiction. We dive into the great “headless woman”(because apparently, historical women weren't allowed to have faces on book covers) cover art debate, discuss how we write strong women without falling into the trap of “presentism” (judging the past by today’s standards), and share exactly how we used actual paintings, letters and yes, historical gossip—to bring our books to life.
Grab a cup of tea (or a glass of wine—absinthe is optional, though Edgar Degas and Vincent van Gogh would probably recommend it), and join us for a masterclass in art, ambition, and the women who refused to be painted over by history.
PLUS: If you’d like to continue the conversation after watching the video, you are invited to a live Q&A on July 23, and the opportunity to win our “Elegance and Defiance” book bundle (the perfect prized for your inner rebel). Check out the details on this link.
We promise no real artists were harmed in the making of this historical fiction conversation.
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