A Journey Through Art, Memory, and Secrets, an Exclusive Author Q&A with Susan Knecht

In 1962 Venice, seventeen-year-old Isabel is skipping school and shoplifting until she uncovers a family secret that changes everything. Her grandmother Lila, a Holocaust survivor, has hidden a collection of Renaissance art. From the glittering canals of Venice to the catacombs of Paris, The Art Collector’s Wife takes readers on an unforgettable journey into memory, survival, and the power of truth.

Cover of The Art Collector's Wife

Exclusive Author Q&A

We caught up with author Susan Knecht, who shared the inspiration, research, and heart behind the novel. From weaving together family secrets to exploring the legacy of art after war, this conversation sheds light on the deeper themes that make The Art Collector’s Wife so compelling.

Author Susan Knecht

What first sparked the idea for this novel?

The novel was loosely inspired by my mother's Holocaust experience. I wanted to write a story about a girl who didn't know her origin story and set out to find it: a story about not having a story. Paradoxically there was a lot of story there to find along the way.

Do you remember the very first scene you wrote?

I wrote a very quiet scene in the rough draft with Isabel in her bedroom in their tidy apartment in the campo. It's raining outside as she stares out the window while tracing her name in the condensation on the glass. This is the beginning of who she is as a character, someone who lives in the shadow of family secrets and that terrifying war without any clue about who she really is.

Which character was the most fun to write—and which was the hardest?

Lila's voice came easily and her larger-than-life personality, the force of her sprang boldly to the page. She is a woman who couldn't take up too much room in her marriage and now, post-War, has learned to come into her own.

Isabel was more of a challenging character because she doesn't know her story and, as an adolescent, doesn't really know herself just yet but desperately wants to figure things out. She tries to find agency through her at times thoughtless actions and reactions and the consequences are something she must learn to bear.

How much research did you do, and did anything surprising come up along the way? 

I did some research on the time period after the rough draft was completely written. I wanted more historic context for Venice in the early 1960s to give the story a realistic texture and tone. I can't say it really surprises me but it's always startling to learn how few Jewish Europeans, those that survived the atrocities, returned to their home countries. Italy was no exception of course.

What does your writing routine look like—early mornings, late nights, or stolen moments in between?

For the rough draft, I wrote in a very methodical scheduled way in a writing studio where we all sat together in silence writing our respective stories. It was one of the most helpful things that I've discovered to counter the isolation of writing and benefit from the creative support of a writing community. For the seven subsequent revisions of the book, I worked alone on a daily basis in as scheduled a way as I could but there were lots of stolen moments too, especially when editing. For my next novel, I am also using the writing community approach to get the rough draft out. 

Do you listen to music while you write, or do you prefer silence?

I do prefer silence but there were moments especially when my son was younger where having some headphones on helped me find my way.

Which books or authors inspire your own writing style?

I love Leila Slimani's "The Perfect Nanny," Donna Tartt's "The Goldfinch" and anything by Charles Dickens but especially "Great Expectations" and "A Tale of Two Cities." Also Virginia Woolf and her novel "Mrs. Dalloway" have had a huge influence on my work.

If readers take away just one feeling or idea from your novel, what do you hope it is? 

The idea that the path from girlhood to adolescence and then womanhood is one that can be fraught with potholes and peril but that the closeness of a strong female figure like Lila and the found family of friends around them like Antonia and Miriam offer the possibility of salvation and of belonging even when the dominant culture of a place may say you don't belong.

What's the best piece of writing advice you've ever received?

All writing is re-writing. The rough draft may have a sketch of the plot, perhaps even a suggestion of the themes but mostly it's just an exoskeleton that eventually must fall away in the final draft to reveal the true story.

Can you give us a hint about what you're working on next?

A novel of magical realism about four reincarnated characters and their interconnected lives across four continents: North America, Asia, Europe and Africa.

What Reviewers Are Saying

'“A richly atmospheric debut that confronts how art, memory, and silence shape families in the long shadow of the Holocaust.” —Kirkus Review

“Highly Recommended” —Midwest Book Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ '“The Art Collector's Wife is both a gripping crime thriller and a moving family drama.” —IndieReader

Why You’ll Love This Book

• A richly atmospheric portrayal of 1960s Venice and Paris

• A multi-generational saga about survival, secrets, and belonging

• A heroine whose coming-of-age story bridges rebellion and resilience

• Perfect for readers of historical fiction, art lovers, and fans of family dramas

  
  

Take the Journey Today

Step into a world where art holds memory and the past refuses to stay hidden. The Art Collector’s Wife is available now.

👉 Buy your copy today and discover the truth hidden within the canals of Venice and the shadows of history.