An Interview with Valerie Wade

Valerie D. Wade is the author of the debut novel, Ivy Lee’s Rue, and the upcoming novella, Leaving Jacksonville. A lifelong resident of Michigan, Valerie currently lives in Detroit but was raised in Highland Park. She is an alum of Wayne State University and currently works as a Research Administrator.

Valerie has published poetry, is a volunteer literacy tutor, and currently tutors an ESL student. She has volunteered as a dog walker at the local humane society, and cherished her late beagle, Buttercup, for twelve years. She loves spending time with her adult children and grandchildren, and plans to pursue learning to play drums.

Ivy Lee’s Rue began as an assignment in an Imaginative Writing class while enrolled in her last semester at Wayne State University. The initial assignment was to create an essay based on a random photograph. The journey has taken many turns, shifts, and title changes. It began as a story entitled Leaving Jacksonville, where Ivy Lee was a minor character, but soon emerged as the protagonist with inspiration from an ancestor’s real-life circumstance. From that, the simple story of Ivy Lee’s Rue was born; a heartwarming coming-of-age narrative of a Christian woman navigating mental health challenges while depicting deep love and sacrifice within a strained sister’s bond.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I was an avid reader growing up, and I always had a vivid imagination. During a long, boring summer as a teen, I wrote a short story about a young girl my age. My best friend at the time anxiously waited for each page to come off of the typewriter. Many years went by before I wrote anything, and then in my thirties, I started writing poetry, had a few poems published, and forayed into another short story. When I returned to school to finish my degree in my late forties, I took an Imaginative writing class, and that is where my writing took off. My second self-published fiction story Leaving Jacksonville began as an assignment in that class.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

For the last thirty-plus years, I have been a Research Administrator and a University. In this capacity, I assisted faculty with the submission of grant applications to secure funding for research projects. It is a deadline-driven job, I enjoyed the excitement when the faculty were notified of funding. One thing about me that my readers wouldn’t know is that I have a dream of one day learning to play the drums.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

I did ponder on what to name the story, but I knew it had to encompass the main character’s name, but some people get the rue in my title meaning, regret, confused with roux, the sauce. Ivy Lee was a great cook, but “rue” in this case is regret.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

The feeling was exciting to have the book come to life. I worked off and on on this story for twelve years, so the culmination of all the work felt wonderful.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

I think my book’s soundtrack would have some big band songs and songs by Billie Holiday and other artists from that time.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

I hope my readers take away the feeling of hope, love, and the connection of family. Ivy Lee had challenges but was surrounded by love and support. I envision my perfect reader to be someone who is empathetic. I think many readers will be able to identify with Ivy Lee’s character and her challenges.

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

In addition to Ivy Lee’s Rue published in 2022, I published Leaving Jacksonville in 2023, as well as an anthology entitled A Writer’s Cover: The Night Owls Collective – Vol. 1. This is a family collaboration of poetry and short stories with two of my sisters and two of my nieces. This work was published in June 2024. I have started a story that centers on the academic world that I have worked in for many years, and I am also going to resume those drum lessons.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.