PUTNEY, VT — Next Stage Arts presents an evening of literary conversation with acclaimed author Victoria Redel, joined by award-winning writer Robin MacArthur, on Friday, May 8 at 7:30 PM at Next Stage Arts in Putney.
The event will center on Redel’s highly anticipated new novel, I Am You, a sweeping and intimate story set in 1600s Amsterdam. Drawing on historical inspiration, the novel follows the intertwined lives of Gerta Pieters, a young girl raised as a boy in service to a Dutch household, and Maria van Oosterwijck, a painter forging her path in the Dutch Golden Age. Through their stories, Redel explores questions of love, identity, gender, and the constraints placed on women throughout history.
I Am You has garnered significant early acclaim, including recognition as a Bustle and Zibby Books Most Anticipated Book of Fall 2025, a Book Riot LGBTQ historical fiction pick, and a Publisher’s Weekly starred review. The novel has also been named an Amazon Editors’ Best Book in Literature and Fiction and a People Best New Book, with foreign rights sold in multiple international markets.
Redel will be joined in conversation by MacArthur, whose debut collection Half Wild received the PEN New England Award. MacArthur’s work has appeared in publications including Orion, LitHub, The Washington Post, and on NPR, and she brings a thoughtful and engaging perspective to discussions of craft, storytelling, and the creative process.
This event offers audiences an opportunity to delve into the making of a richly imagined historical novel while engaging broader themes of art, identity, and human connection.
ByWay Books will be on site with copies of I Am You and select titles by both authors available for purchase.
Tickets are $10 general admission and can be purchased at nextstagearts.org. The event takes place at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT.
