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

JF Garrard
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  • Updated Semimonthly

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. 4d ago

    Ep159A Why Rainbow Boys Still Matters with Alex Sanchez

    Alex Sanchez discusses how his writing and the LGBTQ+landscape have evolved over the past 25 years, why he continues to take writing workshops, and the deliberate decision to keep death out of the Rainbow Boys series. Alex Sanchez spent almost fifteen years working with youth.He is the author of the teen novels Boyfriends with Girlfriends, Bait, The God Box, Getting It, Rainbow Boys, Rainbow High, and Rainbow Road, as well as the Lambda Award–winning middle-grade novel So Hard to Say.Lambda Literary honored Alex with a Jim Duggins, PhD Outstanding Mid-Career Novelists’ Prize. He lives in Thailand and Hollywood, Florida. Visit him at AlexSanchez.com. In this episode, he reads from Rainbow Boys. Author website: https://www.alexsanchez.com/rainbow-boys Rainbow Boys 25th anniversary special edition book link: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Rainbow-Boys/Alex-Sanchez/Rainbow-Boys/9798347101771 Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join our exclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: ⁠https://artsyraven.com/⁠ You can support the podcast by: 1) Liking us on Youtube or following on Spotify/Apple Podcasts 2) Wearing fan merchandise: ⁠https://darkhelix.threadless.com/designs/the-artsy-raven-logo-v2/⁠ 3) Sending a one-time digital tip: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard⁠ 4) Support as a Patreon and gain access to over 150+bonus episodes: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep159A Why Rainbow Boys Still Matters with Alex Sanchez

  2. 4d ago

    Ep159 Horror Through Women’s Eyes with Beck Kubrick

    Beck Kubrick shares their path to becoming a graphic novelist, the power of telling horror through women’s perspectives, and why aspiring writers should trust their instincts and embrace their authentic voices. Beck Kubrick is an award-winning writer and cartoonistliving in Manchester, UK. They like stories about terrible girls and thinking about the apocalypse. They have worked with Cartoon Network, Mad Cave Studios, Oni Press, and more. Dead Girls is their debut graphic novel as author-illustrator. You can visit them online at BeckKubrick.com or@BeckKubrick. There’s no reading in this episode, as it’s hard to do areading with a graphic novel. Book link: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Dead-Girls/Beck-Kubrick/9781665959810 Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join our exclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: ⁠https://artsyraven.com/⁠ You can support the podcast by: 1) Liking us on Youtube or following on Spotify/Apple Podcasts 2) Wearing fan merchandise: ⁠https://darkhelix.threadless.com/designs/the-artsy-raven-logo-v2/⁠ 3) Sending a one-time digital tip: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard⁠ 4) Support as a Patreon and gain access to over 150+bonus episodes: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep159 Horror Through Women’s Eyes with Beck Kubrick

  3. Sep 11

    Ep158A Bringing Racing Waters to Life with Luke Marston

    Luke Marston explores the origins of Indigenous war canoe racing, the differences between war canoe and outriggerracing, and the challenges of bringing powerful stories to life through a documentary series.   Luke Marston is a Stz'uminus First Nation artist, contemporary Coast Salish master carver, filmmaker, and producer. He is the co-founder of Racing Waters Productions and producer ofthe documentary series Racing Waters, which explores Indigenous war canoe and outrigger racing and the communities connected to the sport.   Racing Waters takes viewers into the exhilarating worldof Indigenous war canoe and outrigger racing through the eyes of the paddlers of the Pacific Northwest and the Island Brave Canoe Club from the Snuneymuxw First Nation. More than a sports series, it is an intimate portrait of a community where every stroke carries generations of history, responsibility, and pride. The series follows paddlers as they compete in the fiercely competitive Pacific Northwest war canoe circuit while simultaneously pursuing opportunities in outrigger racing on the international stage.    Season one of Racing Waters was shot across British Columbia, with locations including Agassiz, Cultus Lake, Comox, Musqueam, Saanich, North Vancouver, Cowichan Bay,Nanaimo and Cumberland featured. Other shooting locations include Rio De Janeiro & Niteroi Brazil, Calgary, Alberta and Lummi, Washington.    Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/racing_waters/   Racing Waters will officially premiere Sunday, September 13, 2026, on APTN. Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join our exclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: ⁠https://artsyraven.com/⁠ You can support the podcast by: 1) Liking us on Youtube or following on Spotify/Apple Podcasts 2) Wearing fan merchandise: ⁠https://darkhelix.threadless.com/designs/the-artsy-raven-logo-v2/⁠ 3) Sending a one-time digital tip: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard⁠ 4) Support as a Patreon and gain access toover 150+bonus episodes: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep158A Bringing Racing Waters to Life with Luke Marston

  4. Sep 11

    Ep158 Reporter Turned Thriller Novelist with Rick Mofina

    Rick Mofina reflects on his journey from journalist to bestselling thriller novelist, explains why reviewing a publishing contract is the quickest cure for writer's block, and shares how the publishing industry has evolved throughouthis career. RICK MOFINA is a USA TODAY, Globe and Mail, and Toronto Star bestselling author of more than thirty crime fiction thrillers that have been published in nearly thirty countries. A former journalist, he has interviewed murderers on death row, flown over Los Angeles with the LAPD and patrolled with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near the Arctic. He has also reported from the Caribbean, Africa, Kuwait and Qatar. Heis a two-time winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Award of Excellence, a Barry Award winner, and a multiple finalist for the International Thriller Writers Awards and the Shamus Award, presented by the Private Eye Writers of America. Library Journal calls him "one of the best thriller writers in the business. In this episode, we feature Chapter 2 from the One Second Away audiobook. Book link:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/788727/one-second-away-by-rick-mofina/9780385701983 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/⁠ You can support the podcast by: 1) Liking us on Youtube or following on Spotify/Apple Podcasts 2) Wearing fan merchandise: ⁠https://darkhelix.threadless.com/designs/the-artsy-raven-logo-v2/⁠ 3) Sending a one-time digital tip: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard⁠ 4) Support as a Patreon and gain access to over 150+ bonus episodes: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep158 Reporter Turned Thriller Novelist with Rick Mofina

  5. Sep 4

    Ep157 Guiding Readers Through Dante’s Inferno with Robert-Louis Abrahamson

    Robert-Louis Abrahamson reflects on his journey from American to English academic life, explores the enduring importance of Dante’s Inferno, and shares his concerns about the impact of AI on writing.   Robert-Louis Abrahamson grew up in Philadelphia, studied at Amherst College and the University of Edinburgh, and received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University. In 1980, he moved to England in 1980, where he has lived ever since. He taught for thirty years at the University of Maryland’s European Division, courses ranging from Homer to Dante to Shakespeare, Samuel Johnson, Wordsworth, Dickens, James Joyce, and African American poetry.   Besides many articles on his namesake Robert Louis Stevenson, he has prepared two scholarly volumes of Stevenson’s essays, as well as Aesop in the Fog, anedition of Stevenson’s Fables, with commentary. He has given talks and led seminars on Dante’s Inferno. His Evening under Lamplight Podcasts (on Substack) features 102 episodes on Dante’s Divine Comedy. His most recent book, Going through Hell: A Guide to Dante’s Inferno forthe Intrepid Traveller will be followed by companion volumes on Dante’s Purgatorio and Paradiso.   In this episode, Robert-Louis reads from Going through Hell: A Guide to Dante's Inferno for theIntrepid Traveller.   Author website: https://eveningunderlamplight.substack.com/   Booklink: https://www.lutterworth.com/product/going-through-hell-a-guide-to-dantes-inferno-for-the-intrepid-traveller/   Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy RavenPodcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books andother cool stuff, visit: ⁠https://artsyraven.com/⁠ You can support the podcast by: 1) Liking us on Youtube or followingon Spotify/Apple Podcasts 2) Wearing fan merchandise: ⁠https://darkhelix.threadless.com/designs/the-artsy-raven-logo-v2/⁠ 3) Sending a one-time digital tip: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard⁠ 4) Support as a Patreon and gain access toover 150+bonus episodes: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep157 Guiding Readers Through Dante’s Inferno with Robert-Louis Abrahamson

  6. Aug 28

    Ep156A Writing, Peacekeeping, and Staying Curious with Brent van Staalduinen

    Brent van Staalduinen explores his career as a writer and educator, the complex roles of Canadian peacekeepers, and why writers should refuse to sit still. Brent van Staalduinen is the award-winning and bestselling author of the novels Unthinkable, Nothing But Life, and Boy, and the forthcoming novels The Peace Thieves and Do Not Count the Days. His stories have appeared in journals on both sides of the Atlantic, and have won the Bristol Short Story Prize, the Fiddlehead Best Fiction Award, the Lush Triumphant Literary Award, and numerous other accolades. He lives, writes, and teaches in Hamilton. In this episode, Brent reads from The Peace Thieves. For more information about Brent and his writing, visit www.brentvans.com and follow him on social media (@brentvans). Book link: https://thistledownpress.com/product/the-peace-thieves/ Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join our exclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: ⁠https://artsyraven.com/⁠ You can support the podcast by: 1) Liking us on Youtube or following on Spotify/Apple Podcasts 2) Wearing fan merchandise: ⁠https://darkhelix.threadless.com/designs/the-artsy-raven-logo-v2/⁠ 3) Sending a one-time digital tip: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard⁠ 4) Support as a Patreon and gain access to over 150+bonus episodes: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep156A Writing, Peacekeeping, and Staying Curious with Brent van Staalduinen

  7. Aug 28

    Ep156 Stories Across Borders with Fartumo Kusow

    Fartumo Kusow discusses her journey from Somalia to Canada, the importance of giving women and children a voice through storytelling, and why writers should make writing a daily habit. Trigger warning: This episode contains discussionabout violence against women. Fartumo Kusow is a Somali Canadian novelist, educator,and public advocate on gender-based violence. She is the author of Tale of a Boon’s Wife and the forthcoming novel Winter of My Spring, a literary exploration of girls kidnapped and forced into child marriage and what happens after they return home. Through We Speak Media and the Sahra Bulle Foundation, Kusow leads public education initiatives on survivor justice and social silence. She also hosts two podcasts — Break the Silence, Build a Future and My Mother: The Person and the Patient — using storytelling as a tool for public accountability and repair. In this episode, Fartumo reads from Winter of My Spring. Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Winter-My-Spring-Fartumo-Kusow/dp/1684633508 Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join our exclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: ⁠https://artsyraven.com/⁠ You can support the podcast by: 1) Liking us on Youtube or following on Spotify/Apple Podcasts 2) Wearing fan merchandise: ⁠https://darkhelix.threadless.com/designs/the-artsy-raven-logo-v2/⁠ 3) Sending a one-time digital tip: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard⁠ 4) Support as a Patreon and gain access to over 150+bonus episodes: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep156 Stories Across Borders with Fartumo Kusow

  8. Aug 21

    Ep155 Following Your Creative Energy with Natalie Southworth

    Natalie Southworth explores her transition from journalism to literary fiction, explains why awards can be valuable stepping stones for emerging writers, and reveals why the best stories come from following creative energy. Natalie Southworth's short stories have appeared in literary journals in Canada, the US, and the UK. They have won The Brighton Prize, placed third in The Moth Short Story Prize, and were finalists for The Fish Prize, The New Quarterly's Peter Hinchcliffe Award, and Prairie Fire's McNally Robinson Booksellers Short Fiction Contest. Originally fromEngland, she lives in Montreal with her husband and children. Her debut short story collection, There's Always More to Say, was published by Linda Leith Publishing in March 2026. In this episode, Natalie reads from There's Always More to Say. Link to book page: https://www.lindaleith.com/en/Pages/bookDetail/Theres_Always_More_to_Say Author website: https://nataliesouthworth.ca/ 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/⁠ You can support the podcast by: 1) Liking us on Youtube or following on Spotify/Apple Podcasts 2) Wearing fan merchandise: ⁠https://darkhelix.threadless.com/designs/the-artsy-raven-logo-v2/⁠ 3) Sending a one-time digital tip: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard⁠ 4) Support as a Patreon and gain access to over 150+bonus episodes: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep155 Following Your Creative Energy with Natalie Southworth
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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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