[Interview] Anne Boyd Rioux, founder of 'Audacious Women, Creative Lives'

Amazing Women In History

In this episode I’m chatting with Anne Boyd Rioux, a writer and expert on American women writers.

We talk about her book on American novelist Constance Fenimore Woolson and how so many women writers found freedom as expats, inspiring Anne to do the same. We also touch on how women writers have been stifled and limited in the past and still today.

Summary

In this conversation, Keri Lynn Engel interviews Anne about her work as an English professor and her transition to full-time writing and traveling. They discuss the life and works of Constance Fenimore Wilson, a successful novelist in the 19th century, and the challenges faced by women writers of that time. Anne shares her experience of writing Wilson's biography and the impact it had on bringing her work back into the spotlight. They also discuss Anne's own adventures as an expat and her encounters with other inspiring women writers during her travels. In this conversation, Anne Boyd Rioux discusses her passion for uncovering the stories of women writers and artists from the past. She talks about the challenges women face in the literary world and the importance of amplifying their voices. Anne also shares her own experiences as a writer and the inspiration she finds in the lives of audacious women. She mentions her newsletter, Audacious Women Creative Lives, and her upcoming projects, including a memoir and a novel. The conversation touches on themes of identity, creativity, and the need for greater recognition of women's contributions to the arts.

Highlights

• Constance Fenimore Wilson was a commercially successful novelist in the 19th century, a time when women writers were not taken seriously.
• Anne's biography of Wilson helped bring her work back into the spotlight and led to her inclusion in the Library of America, ensuring her books will never go out of print.
• Anne's own experiences as an expat and encounters with other inspiring women writers during her travels have influenced her writing and led her to explore their stories in her work.
• The challenges faced by women writers in the past, such as societal expectations and limited opportunities for publication, continue to resonate with Anne and shape her perspective as a writer. Women writers and artists have faced challenges and obstacles throughout history, and their stories deserve to be told and celebrated.
• The literary world still has a long way to go in terms of gender equality and recognizing the contributions of women writers.
• Women often define themselves through their relationships, while men define themselves through their work, and this societal expectation can stifle women's creativity and sense of self.
• Exploring the lives of audacious women from the past can provide inspiration and guidance for women today.
• There is a need for greater awareness and appreciation of women's contributions to the arts, both in the past and in the present.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Constance Fenimore Woolson, Successful American Novelist
• Anne Boyd Rioux official website
• Audacious Women, Creative Lives
• How to Suppress Women's Writing by Joanna Russ
• Simone de Beauvoir: Her Life and Significance