What does a real-life backstory matter in a fictional context? In an interview published by The Creative Independent earlier this year, Emmalea Russo discussed her novel Vivienne with Brittany Menjivar. Menjivar’s first question was about how Vivienne’s (fictional) title character was, in the novel’s universe, married to the real-world artist Hans Bellmer. Russo also noted the influence of the late writer Unica Zurn on the novel.