The Artsy Raven Podcast about Writing and Art with host JF Garrard

JF Garrard
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JF Garrard (writer, editor and publisher) has frank conversations with writers, editors, publishers, artists, actors, directors and other art professionals about what inspires them to create and what led to their success. Writers on the podcast will showcase their work by reading from their book. Main Artsy Raven website with access to 100+ episodes: https://artsyraven.com/ Artsy Raven merch: https://darkhelixpress.com/merchandise The Artsy Raven is on Feed Spot’s list of Top 60 Literature Podcasts & Top 10 Canadian Literature Podcasts on the web.

  1. Ep131 From Wild Places to Pages with S. J. Barratt

    8H AGO

    Ep131 From Wild Places to Pages with S. J. Barratt

    S. J. Barratt shares why she is passionate about writingchildren’s stories inspired by nature, explains why she chose the self-publishing path, and offers advice for aspiring writers. S. J. Barratt, is a writer and occasional poet who createschildren’s books inspired by the natural world. Suzanne lives in Lyon, France, with her partner and son, but feels equally at home hiking the French Alps or wandering the rugged cliffs of Shetland, Scotland. Much of her work begins outdoors—on long walks and in quiet moments of close observation—wherecuriosity and imagination spark inspiration. When she’s not writing, Suzanne is usually hiking towardsomewhere new or attempting to convince her garden that she’s in charge. Through her stories and poems, she explores connection, place, and wonder, hoping to spark young imaginations and encourage children to trade Wi-Fi for alittle more WildLife. Today, she’s here to talk about her authorself-publishing journey, her middle-grade eco-fiction series, and to share an excerpt from her audiobook, read by Gill Mills.  In this episode, SJ/Suzanne reads from Living at the Edgeof the World – Winter. Author Links: https://www.sjbstories.com/ Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ If you really like this show, please feel free to send us a digital tip https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard Patreon subscribers remember to access your bonus content for each episode: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    27 min
  2. Ep130 Researching Secrets in Paris with Marie-Josée Poisson

    MAR 6

    Ep130 Researching Secrets in Paris with Marie-Josée Poisson

    Marie-Josée Poisson reveals her real-life connection to Madame de Pompadour in her latest novel, reflects on her research adventures in France, and explains why she wants readers to discover a different side of Paris. Marie-Josée Poisson spent many years working as a senior-level communications professional for various Montreal organizations, including a stint as a magazine editor. She left the communications field to focus on her creative writing and has written three historical novels. In this episode, Marie-Josée reads from Blood Bound:Unlacing Secret Ties. Book link: https://guernicaeditions.com/products/blood-bound Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ If you really like this show, please feel free to send us a digital tip https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard Patreon subscribers remember to access your bonus content for each episode: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    40 min
  3. Ep129 Faith, Firearms, and American Identity with Jethro Waters

    FEB 27

    Ep129 Faith, Firearms, and American Identity with Jethro Waters

    Jethro Waters discusses the inspiration behind his EmmyAward–winning documentary F11 AND BE THERE, explores the cultural contrasts between the American South and North as portrayed in GUNFIGHTER PARADISE, and reflects on the creative and logistical challenges of independent filmmaking. Jethro Waters is a multi-award-winning writer, director,producer, and cinematographer whose work spans documentary, narrative film, music videos, and experimental cinema. His documentary feature debut, F11 AND BE THERE, was a New York Times Critic’s Pick, won an Emmy Award,screened internationally, and is available on platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Prime, PBS, and Kanopy. His music videos for artists such as John Cale and Angel Olsen have been featured in major publications including The NewYorker, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. Waters makeshis narrative feature debut with GUNFIGHTER PARADISE, for which he wrote, produced, and directed, with a poster hand-painted by legendary artist Renato Casaro. He has collaborated on acclaimed projects including DesperateSouls, Dark City, and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy and created films on architecture and design featuring figures like Tadao Ando. His experimental and short films have screened in museums and international exhibitions. Websites: www.jethrowaters.com, Gunfighter Paradise. GUNFIGHTER PARADISE Premieres in New York and Los Angeles in 2026: New York: February 27, AMC Lincoln Square 13 and Los Angeles: March 6, Laemmle Glendale. Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ If you really like this show, please feel free to send us a digital tip https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard Patreon subscribers remember to access your bonus content for each episode: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    26 min
  4. Ep128 From Hospitality to Storytelling with Jane Ward

    FEB 27

    Ep128 From Hospitality to Storytelling with Jane Ward

    Jane Ward traces her path from food and hospitality tofiction, unpacks the inspiration behind Should Have Told You Sooner, and shares lessons she’s learned for new authors. Jane Ward is the author of Hunger (Forge 2001), The Mosaic Artist (2011), and In the Aftermath (She Writes Press 2021). After graduating from Simmons College, she worked in thefood and hospitality industry; later, she became a contributing writer to an online food magazine and a blogger and occasional host of cooking videos for an internet recipe resource affiliated with several regional newspapers. Mostrecently, she has contributed book reviews to Story Circle and Mom Egg Review. She loves to travel, and to document her trips through travel photography. Jane lives in Ipswich, Massachusetts. In this episode, Jane reads from Should Have Told YouSooner. Author website: https://www.janeaward.com/ Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Should-Have-Told-You-Sooner/dp/B0FD8TR1R1 Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ If you really like this show, please feel free to send us a digital tip https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard Patreon subscribers remember to access your bonus content for each episode: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    27 min
  5. Ep127 Dark Thrills from Toxic Relationships with Jennifer van der Kleut

    FEB 20

    Ep127 Dark Thrills from Toxic Relationships with Jennifer van der Kleut

    Jennifer van der Kleut  discusses her background as a features journalist, the inspiration behind the toxic female relationships at the heart of The Better Mother, and how seeking professional guidance helped fast-track her journey to becoming a published author. Jennifer van der Kleut (née McBride) is an award-winning former journalist of both print and digital publications,including the DC affiliate of ABC7 News. A graduate of San Jose State University, she spent most of her life in the San Francisco Bay Area before moving to the Northern Virginia suburbs of DC, where she currently lives with her husband and two sons. For nearly a decade, she was the lead singer of theBay Area-based band Sweet Duration, and performed with artists like Jason Mraz, Big Country, Chantal Kreviazuk, and Stabbing Westward. When she’s not writing, she loves going to the beach with her family, going to concerts with hergirlfriends, and getting lost in the pages of a book.  In this episode, Jennifer reads from The Better Mother. Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Better-Mother-Jennifer-van-Kleut/dp/B0F88ZNHDR/ Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ If you really like this show, please feel free to send us a digital tip https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard Patreon subscribers remember to access your bonuscontent for each episode: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    37 min
  6. Ep126 Frontline Women Facing Climate Crisis with Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper

    FEB 13

    Ep126 Frontline Women Facing Climate Crisis with Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper

    Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper share the inspiration behindtheir latest documentary, EMERGENCE: WOMEN IN THE STORM, reflect on the challenges of filming in the midst of climate crisis, and explain why building deep trust with their subjects is essential to their storytelling. The documentary feature EMERGENCE: WOMEN IN THE STORM from award-winning directors Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper (Metamorphosis, Incandescence) is having a highly anticipated world premiere at the Victoria Film Festival on February 11th, 2026 at the Roxy Theatre and then havea Vancouver theatrical premiere at the VIFF Centre on February 25th. This unforgettable film follows female frontline responders,community leaders and disaster survivors as they demonstrate new ways to live and support one another in a time of climate disaster, facing heat domes, wildfire, and flooding in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. Their perspectives reflect a survival instinct triggered by harrowing encounters with nature’s power. EMERGENCE: WOMEN IN THE STORM was filmed in Yarrow, Lytton, Boston Bar/Spuzzum, Chilliwack, Abbottsford, Princeton, Osoyoos, Vancouver, New Westminster in British Columbia, and in Yellowknife, North West Territories.  In this episode, we will be speaking to directors Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper. Links: https://www.victoriafilmfestival.com/product/emergence-women-in-the-storm/ https://viff.org/whats-on/emergence-women-in-the-storm/   Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ If you really like this show, please feel free to send us a digital tip https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard Patreon subscribers remember to access your bonus content for each episode: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    23 min
  7. Ep125 From Fringe Stage to Fiction with Roxy Dunn

    FEB 13

    Ep125 From Fringe Stage to Fiction with Roxy Dunn

    Roxy shares how performing in the Edinburgh Fringe Festivalsparked her journey into scriptwriting and novel writing, discusses the non-judgmental approach to relationships at the heart of Wants and Needs, and explains why perseverance is essential for every writer. Roxy Dunn’s debut novel, As Young As This, was a Best Book of 2024 in the Independent, Harper’s Bazaar, Stylist, Cosmopolitan and Sunday Times Style. She is also a screenwriter and alumna of the BBC Comedy Room.Her scripts have been optioned by several production companies, and her pilot Useless Millennials was commissioned and broadcasted on BBC Radio 4. Wants and Needs is her second novel. In this episode, Roxy reads from Wants and Needs.  Author links: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/799790/wants-and-needs-by-roxy-dunn/9781039014305 https://www.roxydunn.com/ https://www.instagram.com/roxy.dunn/ https://x.com/roxanadunn Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ If you really like this show, please feel free to send us a digital tip https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard Patreon subscribers remember to access your bonus content for each episode: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    26 min
  8. Ep119B Journey from Accounts to Stage with Diana Tso

    FEB 6

    Ep119B Journey from Accounts to Stage with Diana Tso

    Diana Tso shares her journey from working in AccountsReceivable to becoming a storyteller, theatre artist, playwright, and artist in education, discusses why sharing stories about her culture and women matters, and reflects on the importance of finding joy in her work. NOTE: This episode is in North American Cantonese (ie Cantonese with English in between the Chinese words)! Diana Tso is a storyteller, theatre artist, playwright andartist in education. She’s a graduate of the University of Toronto in English Literature & of Ecole Internationale de Théâtre de Jacques Lecoq in France. She's performed internationally for over 25 years. As a playwright her storiesbring to light the resilience of women in war and re-imagine mythology from the female perspective. Her plays Red Snow, Comfort, Spring Moon, and Monkey Queen are available at the Canadian Play Outlet. Details about the English-language world premiere of PuSongling: Strange Tales at https://www.crowstheatre.com/ https://www.crowstheatre.com/shows-events/pu-songling-strange-tales Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ If you really like this show, please feel free to send us a digital tip https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard Patreon subscribers remember to access your bonus content for each episode: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    36 min
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About

JF Garrard (writer, editor and publisher) has frank conversations with writers, editors, publishers, artists, actors, directors and other art professionals about what inspires them to create and what led to their success. Writers on the podcast will showcase their work by reading from their book. Main Artsy Raven website with access to 100+ episodes: https://artsyraven.com/ Artsy Raven merch: https://darkhelixpress.com/merchandise The Artsy Raven is on Feed Spot’s list of Top 60 Literature Podcasts & Top 10 Canadian Literature Podcasts on the web.

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