Susan Vreeland, The Woman Who Made A Fortune Out Of Writing Books

According To Forbes Magazine, if we look at literature as a business, Susan Vreeland’s books are the equivalent of a “small business” success. Its niche – fiction inspired by famous paintings – brought her a worldwide known success. And almost three million dollars.

Books, like people, must find their place in the world. They do not fit anywhere. The appetite for Dan Brown’s novels, volumes of Harry Potter literature or the latest “light” literature books can easily meet the generous spaces of the big chain bookstores, where the a loudspeaker lets you known the special offers of the day. Susan Vreeland‘s work (64), in contrast, feels more “at home” in the library corner, with the harsh smell of yellowed paper, mixed with a pungent hint of glossy pages, where the only sound that you can here in the background is the noise of the book’s pages. Exactly the kind of place where the characters held hands for the first time in her book, “Girl in Hyacinth Blue” (Penguin Books). Then, when browsing the volumes on the shelves of bestsellers in America, Italy and France, among bewildered tourists, business rush or ladies who browse the latest Jamie Oliver recipes, the initial impression turns into certainty. Vreeland’s novels cannot be read in “fast-before”, you have to enjoy the reading, cherish every page and word, relish them with a cup of tea in the hand. Instead of the impulse to throw a keen eye on the last page and “steal” the end, you feel calm familiarity to want to come back from time to time to reexamine one passage in May. Also as a library corner where you browse your favorite novels, Susan’s books also have “corners” where you can always come back. “Thinking of all people in all the paintings they had seen that day auction. Not just picture my father, but all the paintings in the world. The eyes of people, the way they turn their heads, people’s loneliness, their suffering were all borrowed by one artist and brought to be seen by other people over the times. The people are so close, within walking distance, and look, look, look. And that, however, no will ever know.

This passage should be one of “my corners” of Susan’s work. The character that people will never know it is none other than Magdalena, daughter of painter Johannes Vermeer, whose story we write Vreeland in “Girl in Hyacinth Blue. The author invents the 36th of Vermeer’s painting (the artist painted 35), moving through the world for centuries and change people’s lives that come into contact. From a former officer of the Third Reich, who stole it during the war can only admire secretly in cellars, to Vermeer’s daughter, in the last rows of books, assisting as a liability, overwhelmed the difficulties of life, the tender panel for the picture years ago. The character suffers from the thought that no people around him will never admit the woman crossed the wrinkles in the face to wear the hue in Hyacinth Blue “painting that a concern with such admiration. Each chapter of the novel is a separate story, with characters different ages, the only common point being imaginary Vermeer’s painting.

There are two kinds of truth. Some critics might consider writing stories rather than jokes, but Vreeland – and those who buy her books in 39 countries – have chosen an unusual sense of truth. “History is not described in detail the accuracy of the literature. My fiction picks truths relevant to the inner world of characters and turn them into a story that could have been fit, “explains Vreeland.

American author who won far more than $ 2.5 million of her books, says a true “individual truth and the truth about the person.” Thus, Vreeland rebuilt, piece by piece, the life of the artists Artemisia Gentileschi and Emily Carr, from elements which have most influenced them in their creations. “I need me for months to document in detail: the years and hard facts, but once things are clear, cannot get in mind the character, to I imagine his feelings, “says Vreeland, hot air and long unsuspected modesty for a writer that Italians flooded with emails like” Rome and Florence seem to us more beautiful after you’ve read the books “.

Both Vreeland’s modesty and the fact that he could imagine the stories of people who are in remote centuries not only from a talent come alive, but also a place of death and fear. Maybe a “light path” would be helped to fulfill a promise made to himself in his youth. “In 1971, after the Louvre for the first time I visited, I sat on the Pont Neuf and I promised myself that I somehow make this wonderful art to be my next life, “she recalls. Birth of “Girl in Hyacinth Blue” was produced 30 years after the Pont Neuf and freshly retired a few months after returned to life after the victory in front of lymphatic cancer.

Because being forced to attend drug treatment with a strong reading tired, Susan began instead to browse album art, becoming more interested in people’s real lives of those paintings. “It sounds pompous, but my books and paintings are inspired by my way of thanking the artists who, in a sense, saved my life,” explains former teacher of English literature from San Diego, with a smile. “As painting that depicts Vreeland’s book is great but to remain in your mind, “wrote New York Times about” Girl in Hyacinth Blue “in 1999. Dozens of letters of rejection from publishers turned, after chronic daily renowned in contracts with Penguin and Random House and a powerful marketing machine. I was impressed by accuracy and patience with which the author, who does not like the idea of having assistants to document the place, he replied to a question on the Team it. Not more than 117 named and listed, the list of those who make it work brand “Susan Vreeland, the tournament organizers to its agents abroad.” There are many people who must be grateful, so I could not someone forget, “I explained serene, as would be the most natural thing in the world.

HALF niche. Contentment comes from the awareness that success is an exception, not the rule, the publishing industry. In 1999, when her “Girl in Hyacinth Blue” bestseller first appeared, the volume saw the light of print in the United States in more than 50,000 annually copies. A decade later occur each year, about 500,000 new titles. Competition is drastic. “Publishers, as movie studios, will intrigue, action, sex, violence, situations or at least limit some celebrities to sell more and faster. It’s hard to begin in such times, “said Vreeland, who is currently working on a novel inspired by American artist Winslow Homer. The mission is even harder when books rely on the nuances and emotions, not cinematic dynamism. According to marketing laws, but the author has already created a class editorial and knows how to market and exploit it successfully. His books have sold over one million copies in the United States and have been translated into 27 languages.

Chosen niche and fit and most importantly, it belongs. At least a half. The other half is owned by Tracy Chevalier, whose novel – “Girl with Pearl Earring”, all inspired by Vermeer – was published, coincidentally! The same year with “Girl in Hyacinth Blue. “We want one to the other, we kind of solidarity”, recognizes Vreeland. This is seen especially when they confuse readers and ask him to sign one other book. “Often signs” To Mary Smith from Tracy Chevalier by Susan Vreeland, ‘”Susan smiles. For readers that do not feel embarrassed when he realizes the mistake, Vreeland assured him that that signature would make the book once in a piece of the collection. Like Vermeer’s paintings.

Stories ARTS

Bestselling novels published by Susan Vreeland has been translated into 27 languages and sold in 39 countries. After the United States, Italy – a favorite destination for art lovers – was the most successful market.

Girl in Hyacinth Blue – 1999. Vermeer’s daughter story – chapter looking Magdalene “the novel” Girl in Hyacinth Blue “- is studying in the tenth grade textbooks in the U.S. The book was among the bestsellers of “New York Times”, and was awarded by the American literary journals and was screened in a film having Glenn Close and Ellen Burstyn in the lead roles. Adapting the book for the film was made by Richard Russo Pulitzer-winning writer.

Life Studies – 2005. These series of stories depict the Impressionists and Post-Impressionist painters, written from the perspective of people who have known them. Novel goal is to show how even individuals with the most mundane lives can be fundamentally changed by a meeting with art.

The Forest Lover – 2004

The Forest Lover is Susan Vreeland’s fictionalized account of Emily Carr’s life, or at least that part of her life that was most productive, from her early thirties through her fifties. Vreeland does a good job of describing Carr’s frustrations and obstacles, which were legion: not enough money, a lack of emotional support from her family, personal loneliness, the barriers against travel for women, and the oppression and denigration of the indigenous cultures that she found so interesting.

Luncheon of the Boating Party – 2007

Susan Vreeland weaves a story around Renoir’s painting, “Dinner in Celebration boat” (1881), examining “the modern life in Paris that the artist captured on canvas.
Clara and Mr. Tiffany – 2011

Vreeland’s latest novel will be published in January 2011 and the story of Clara Driscoll, a woman who has made bottle design famous Tiffany lamps. Until recently, it was thought that the design belongs entirely lamps of Louis Comfort Tiffany, the famous glass artist in the Art Nouveau period. American author aims to explore the inner world of Clara Driscoll and her struggle the artist in a world of men.

The artist was also named by Publishers Weekly:

“Vreeland paints her canvas with the sure strokes of a talented artist.”