Diane Byington built story on alternate view of van Gogh’s death ...Middle East

Diane Byington has written novels about marathon runners, time travelers, astronauts, and artists. In addition to writing her own novels, Byington is a developmental editor who helps other writers reach their dreams of publication. She also enjoys painting, kayaking, and photographing sunsets. She lives in Longmont, Colorado. 

SunLit: Tell us this book’s backstory. What inspired you to write it? Where did the story/theme originate?  

Diane Byington: “Louise and Vincent” is the story of Vincent van Gogh’s last days, told from the point of view of his landlady. I wrote it because I read a biography of van Gogh by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith in which they theorize that van Gogh was murdered, instead of committing suicide. They even think they know who did it, but not why. I decided to write a novel talking about the “why.” 

UNDERWRITTEN BY

Each week, The Colorado Sun and Colorado Humanities & Center For The Book feature an excerpt from a Colorado book and an interview with the author. Explore the SunLit archives at coloradosun.com/sunlit.

SunLit: Place this excerpt in context. How does it fit into the book as a whole? Why did you select it?

Byington: The excerpt is the beginning of the book. It’s from the perspective of Louise, the landlady and lover of van Gogh, near the end of her life, when she finally reveals the story of her time with Vincent. I selected it because I think it pulls readers into the story and shows them that this is a personal tale of love and loss, even though one of the characters is one of the most famous people in history. 

SunLit: Tell us about creating this book. What influences and/or experiences informed the project before you sat down to write? 

Byington: I was intrigued with the idea that van Gogh might have been murdered instead of committing suicide. It would change everything I’d ever known about the man. So I sat down and read everything I could find about him before I ever started writing. It took me about a year and a half before the story came to me. 

“Louise and Vincent”

>> Read an excerpt

Where to find it:

SunLit present new excerpts from some of the best Colorado authors that not only spin engaging narratives but also illuminate who we are as a community. Read more.

SunLit: What did the process of writing this book add to your knowledge and understanding of your craft and/or the subject matter?

Byington: I’m an amateur painter, and people have told me that my style is similar to van Gogh’s (although in a distinctly amateur way). I learned far more about painting than I ever dreamed I would, and I learned much, much more about van Gogh’s life. It was a fascinating experience to include van Gogh as a more secondary character in a story that wouldn’t have been told without his influence. 

SunLit: What were the biggest challenges you faced in writing this book?

Byington: The absolute biggest challenge was in trying to find the character of van Gogh. It seems that everyone in the world thinks they are experts on the artist, and I tried to approach him without any expectations. The more I read about him, the less I liked him, frankly. 

But I had to find a part of him that would attract Louise to him. It was hard, but I finally found it. My Vincent is surely eccentric and had a lot of difficult personality quirks, but he’s also loyal, sensitive, passionate, and of course, a genius. 

SunLit: What’s the most important thing — a theme, lesson, emotion or realization — that readers should take from this book? 

Byington: I want readers to see Vincent as a man, someone who actually lived and had a difficult life, but who also did the best he could. I want readers to see Louise as a survivor of domestic violence who brought out the best in Vincent and used his strength to find her own. These were real people, not icons. 

SunLit: After all of your research and writing, do you really think Vincent was killed by someone else? 

? Listen here!

Go deeper into this story in this episode of The Daily Sun-Up podcast.

Subscribe: Apple | Spotify | RSS

Byington: After reading everything I could find about the man and going as much as possible into the real history instead of the myth, I still don’t know what I believe. He could have been shot. That would make sense, especially as his biographers, Naifeh and Smith, present the evidence. 

But it would also make sense that he would shoot himself. He was in a bad place at that time, with his brother threatening to cut off his financial support. It could have happened either way. But I choose to hope that he wasn’t so desperate as to kill himself. Writing the book was, for me, an opportunity to give him a few days or weeks of happiness before the world fatally bore down on him, however it happened. 

SunLit: Tell us about your next project.

Byington: My next novel is called “Mia’s Journey.” It’s about an astronaut who has a terrible accident and gets fired from NASA. But she’s determined to go to space any way she can, and that becomes a problem as she takes more risks than she should. She has to find a new life, and as an adventurer, the quest leads her to a life-or-death adventure. 

 A few more quick questions

SunLit: Which do you enjoy more as you work on a book – writing or editing? 

Byington: Writing. I love that first draft, when anything is possible. 

SunLit: What’s the first piece of writing – at any age – that you remember being proud of?

Byington: In the fifth grade, I rewrote “Great Expectations” in modern language. I felt the power of writing right then. 

SunLit: What three writers, from any era, would you invite over for a great discussion about literature and writing? 

Byington: Maggie O’Farrell (she wrote “Hamnet”), Ann Patchett, and Anne Lamott. 

SunLit: Do you have a favorite quote about writing?

Byington: “How to write: Butt in chair. Start each day anywhere. Let yourself do it badly. Just take one passage at a time. Get butt back in chair” – From Anne Lamott on Twitter in 2012

SunLit: What does the current collection of books on your home shelves tell visitors about you?

Byington: That I read a huge number of books and do immense research before I start writing a book. 

SunLit: Soundtrack or silence? What’s the audio background that helps you write?

Byington: Silence. 

SunLit: What music do you listen to for sheer enjoyment?

Byington: John Prine, usually. He’s the most amazing writer of lyrics I’ve heard. 

SunLit: What event convinced you that you wanted to be a writer?

Byington: Reading John Steinbeck. He was amazing. 

SunLit: Greatest writing fear?

Byington: Plot holes. 

SunLit: Greatest writing satisfaction?

Byington: Holding the finished book in my hand. There’s nothing like it. 

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Diane Byington built story on alternate view of van Gogh’s death )

Also on site :

• Watch Live: American Cardinal Robert Provost chosen as new pope
• White smoke appears over Sistine Chapel as Conclave elects new Pope
• New Pope elected