I am delighted to welcome Drema Drudge, author of Victorine, a fictionalised account of the life of Edouard Manet’s favorite model, Victorine Meurent
Alex: Tell me a bit about yourself, Drema. How did you come to start writing?
Drema: I began writing when I was a little girl, after learning my grandfather (who passed when I was too small to remember him) had written poetry. It was a way to connect with him. Once I started, I couldn’t stop, although I really don’t write much poetry. Novels seem to be my favorite thing to write.
Alex: How would you describe your writing, and are there particular themes that you like to explore?
Drema: I write primarily literary fiction, so my novels focus on the characters and ideas more so than plot, though they do have plot! I call them “thinky” books.
In particular, I enjoy writing about the arts, especially painting.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Drema: I am trying to become an outliner, but alas, I’m afraid I’m just about a confirmed pantser. I’m trying to compromise for speed’s sake and write a partial outline and take it from there. So far it’s kind of working.
Alex: Tell me a bit about yourself, Drema. How did you come to start writing?
Drema: I began writing when I was a little girl, after learning my grandfather (who passed when I was too small to remember him) had written poetry. It was a way to connect with him. Once I started, I couldn’t stop, although I really don’t write much poetry. Novels seem to be my favorite thing to write.
Alex: How would you describe your writing, and are there particular themes that you like to explore?
Drema: I write primarily literary fiction, so my novels focus on the characters and ideas more so than plot, though they do have plot! I call them “thinky” books.
In particular, I enjoy writing about the arts, especially painting.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Drema: I am trying to become an outliner, but alas, I’m afraid I’m just about a confirmed pantser. I’m trying to compromise for speed’s sake and write a partial outline and take it from there. So far it’s kind of working.
Alex: Tell us about your latest novel.
Drema: My debut novel, Victorine, came out in March of 2020. (I know, the timing! Yikes!) It’s about artist Edouard Manet’s favorite model, Victorine Meurent, who was also an accomplished painter herself. History has forgotten that, so my novel seeks to bring her back to history. (Or herstory, you could say.)
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Drema: Wow, I don’t know that I remember what the first book I read was. An early one I remember my mother reading to me is My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes. I don’t have the original, but my husband bought me one a few years ago, and I cherish it.
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Drema: I read pretty much every book on the topic I’m writing about that I can find, scour the web for information, and then have to tell myself to stop reading and start writing.
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Drema: My novel is based on historical fiction, so for sure. That made it easier, although we don’t know much about Victorine, so I had to make much of her story up.
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Drema: Beloved by Toni Morrison is sublime!
Alex: How do you market your books?
Drema: I share a bit of my book’s story on social media and my website, and I have been privileged to be on many podcasts, in newspapers, and have even been on our local PBS station.
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing? And what do you do to unwind?
Drema: I enjoy watching musicals and listening to music, especially my husband’s. I like taking walks and reading, of course. Always reading. I can’t sleep unless I read first!
Alex: Which authors do you particularly admire and why?
Drema: I’m a bit of an old school reader. I love classic authors: W. Somerset Maugham, the Brontes, Dickens… on and on. Their books are classics for a reason: because their work is timeless and addresses the human condition. I equally admire more modern authors such as Toni Morrison and Zadie Smith for the same reasons.
Alex: Thank you so much for sharing this, Drema. I look forward to reading Victorine.
Drema: Well, thank you for inviting me.
Drema: My debut novel, Victorine, came out in March of 2020. (I know, the timing! Yikes!) It’s about artist Edouard Manet’s favorite model, Victorine Meurent, who was also an accomplished painter herself. History has forgotten that, so my novel seeks to bring her back to history. (Or herstory, you could say.)
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Drema: Wow, I don’t know that I remember what the first book I read was. An early one I remember my mother reading to me is My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes. I don’t have the original, but my husband bought me one a few years ago, and I cherish it.
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Drema: I read pretty much every book on the topic I’m writing about that I can find, scour the web for information, and then have to tell myself to stop reading and start writing.
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Drema: My novel is based on historical fiction, so for sure. That made it easier, although we don’t know much about Victorine, so I had to make much of her story up.
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Drema: Beloved by Toni Morrison is sublime!
Alex: How do you market your books?
Drema: I share a bit of my book’s story on social media and my website, and I have been privileged to be on many podcasts, in newspapers, and have even been on our local PBS station.
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing? And what do you do to unwind?
Drema: I enjoy watching musicals and listening to music, especially my husband’s. I like taking walks and reading, of course. Always reading. I can’t sleep unless I read first!
Alex: Which authors do you particularly admire and why?
Drema: I’m a bit of an old school reader. I love classic authors: W. Somerset Maugham, the Brontes, Dickens… on and on. Their books are classics for a reason: because their work is timeless and addresses the human condition. I equally admire more modern authors such as Toni Morrison and Zadie Smith for the same reasons.
Alex: Thank you so much for sharing this, Drema. I look forward to reading Victorine.
Drema: Well, thank you for inviting me.
