1) When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, and what has your path looked like to get here?
Answer – I wrote my first novel at the age of 11 and edited my high school and university literary magazines – but I think I have always been writing. The path to a published author after college, though was long and circuitous, stopped for decades by thinking that I had nothing to write about and being afraid to write about the things I did. But one day, I realized that I could no longer no write. The path from there to publishing again took a long time, and had a lot of starts and stops while life kept lifing, but through it all, I never stopped writing.
2) What sparked the idea for this particular book?
Answer – In college, we were told in class that no woman had contributed meaningfully to the arts. While it was decades before I stumbled across 130 women artists of the French Ancient Regime and Revolution, once I found them, I knew I had to set that old record straight. And Adélaïde Labille Guiard, whose works had been ordered destroyed by fire, cried out for me to tell her story.
3) If you could go back and tell yourself one thing at the beginning of this journey, what would it be?
Answer – If I could go back and start life over, I would say to myself, don’t wait, keep writing, have faith in yourself. Now, maybe I would say to that younger self – have faith. Your writing is good writing and it will find its home. Don’t be discouraged and don’t believe that what you have to write is not what people want to read.
4) Where can readers connect with you? (This is a good place to share website, socials, a book ordering link, and any upcoming events!)
How to find me:
@janellstrube on Instagram
Janell Strube on Facebook
I will next be on the panel, Based on a True Story, at 4:00 p.m. at the San Diego Writer’s Festival. My books will also be available for sale at the Festival.
Saturday, April 4th, I will be at Copperfield Books in Petaluma, CA from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 13th, I will be signing books in the lobby of the Inn at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, April 18th and 19th, I will be selling books at the New York Book Con. Find me at the Acorn Author’s Book!
