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

JF Garrard

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. 1d ago

    Ep166A Creating Dark Worlds and Romance with Jacqueline White

    Jacqueline White discusses her love of writing darkromantasy, her journey to getting her debut novel published by a major publisher, and why creating a story bible is essential for writers. Jacqueline White is a dark romantasy author who writesemotionally driven stories about power, survival, and connection, shaped by the belief that life exists in the gray spaces. Her work blends mythic world-building with psychological depth, centered around morally complexcharacters whose choices are forged through trauma, desire, and resilience. She writes for readers who crave intensity and emotional honesty and find beauty not in easy answers but in endurance. When she isn’t being consumed by fictionalworlds, Jacqueline can usually be found curled up on the couch with Mr. White, baby White, and their rescue dog, or wandering New York City with an iced matcha in hand. In this episode, Jacqueline reads from Souls in Ruin. Book link: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Souls-in-Ruin/Jacqueline-White/The-Soulbound-Series/9798347120130 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 or following us: Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcntlRlmdW2nzFZnzq2dA_Q Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5Kgj96vRR9B6kczMhgjtkQ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-artsy-raven-podcast-about-writing-and-art-with/id1558358968   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

    Ep166A Creating Dark Worlds and Romance with Jacqueline White
  2. 1d ago

    Ep166 Between Places, Between People with Aga Maksimowska

    Aga Maksimowska explores the discipline shared byhigh-performance athletes and authors, her interest in stories of displacement and identity, and why relationships remain at the heart of her fiction. Aga Maksimowska is the author of GIANT, the 2013Toronto Book Award finalist coming-of-age novel about premature sexual development and the fall of Communism in Poland. Her stories and essays have been published in Brick, The New Quarterly, The Humber Literary Review, White Wall Review, The Lincoln Review, Room, The Globe and Mail, andelsewhere. Aga holds a degree in journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Guelph. She taught English in a high school for boys for sixteen years and presently works at a co-ed high school as a guidance and university counsellor. Her second novel, BECALMING, about the difficulty of nurturing long-term relationships, the conflicts inherent in family dynamics, and the challenge of forgiving others, is out now. Aga livesin Toronto with her family. In this episode, Aga reads from Becalming. Book link: https://www.dundurn.com/books_/t22117/a9781459756038-becalming 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 or following us: Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcntlRlmdW2nzFZnzq2dA_Q Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5Kgj96vRR9B6kczMhgjtkQ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-artsy-raven-podcast-about-writing-and-art-with/id1558358968   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

    Ep166 Between Places, Between People with Aga Maksimowska
  3. 6d ago

    Ep 165A How AI Is Changing Relationships Forever with Tyler Funk

    Tyler Funk discusses how his childhood sparked his filmmaking career, why his documentary BOT LOVE captures only a snapshot of the rapidly evolving world of AI, and how artificial intelligence can help fill the void of loneliness for some people. Tyler Funk is an award-winning documentary director withover a decade of experience creating impactful films and series. His feature-length documentary Anything For Fame, distributed by the Oscar-winning NFB, premiered in the USA on Paramount+ and Showtime in 2024, garnering critical acclaim. He has directed more than 40 commercials for majorbrands like Coca-Cola, Ford, LEGO, and Budweiser, but his primary focus is on documentary filmmaking, where he excels at managing complex shoots and bringing togetherexceptional teams to tell compelling, real-world stories. His documentary BOT LOVE, is premiering October 21st,2026, on CBC and CBC Gem, explores what happens to human relationships when artificial ones begin to fulfill the needs once met only by family, friends, and partners. BOT LOVE Link: https://gem.cbc.ca/bot-love 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 or following us: Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcntlRlmdW2nzFZnzq2dA_Q Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5Kgj96vRR9B6kczMhgjtkQ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-artsy-raven-podcast-about-writing-and-art-with/id1558358968   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

    Ep 165A How AI Is Changing Relationships Forever with Tyler Funk
  4. Oct 23

    Ep164A Writing Queer Heroes and Worlds with Sonido Reyes

    Sonido Reyes discusses their journey to becoming a writerand advocate for LGBTQ+ creators, how To Our Untamed Core was inspired by The Hunger Games, and the role real-life events play in their worldbuilding process. Sonido Reyes is the award-winning and bestsellingauthor of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, The LuisOrtega Survival Club, The Broposal, and The GoldenBoy's Guide to Bipolar. They also have contributed short stories to the anthologies Transmogrify! and For the Rest of Us. Sonido writes fiction celebrating queer and Mexican stories in a variety of genres and age categories. They serve as the vice-president of My Galvanized Friend, a nonprofit focused on providing access to and amplifying LGBTQ+ writing, art, and creators. Sonido also co-hosts the podcast Bidi Bidi Book Pod, which celebrates queer and trans BIPOC authors and stories. In this episode, Sonido reads from To Our Untamed Core. Links: https://www.sonidoreyes.com/ Book links: Amazon listing, Bookshop listing 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 or following us: Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcntlRlmdW2nzFZnzq2dA_Q Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5Kgj96vRR9B6kczMhgjtkQ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-artsy-raven-podcast-about-writing-and-art-with/id1558358968   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

    Ep164A Writing Queer Heroes and Worlds with Sonido Reyes
  5. Oct 23

    Ep164 Finding the Heart of a Character with Jane Hamilton

    Jane Hamilton talks about how an intern at Harper’sdiscovered her story and helped launch her writing career, how a novel evolves throughout the writing process, and what makes a character truly memorable.   Jane Hamilton’s novels have won literary prizes, have been made into films, and have been international bestsellers, andtwo of them, The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World, wereselections of Oprah’s Book Club. Her nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times; The Washington Post; Allure; O, The Oprah Magazine; Elle; and various anthologies. She lives on an apple farm in Wisconsin.   In this episode, Jane reads from The Phoebe Variations.   Book link: https://zibbymedia.com/products/the-phoebe-variations?srsltid=AfmBOore_k2viVKCaKUrHEnN05LZrhQhu_i9yWWhNuLMV8ilOJWIX9VC   Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join e⁠https://artsyraven.com/⁠   You can support the podcast by: 1) Liking or following us: Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcntlRlmdW2nzFZnzq2dA_Q Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5Kgj96vRR9B6kczMhgjtkQ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-artsy-raven-podcast-about-writing-and-art-with/id1558358968   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

    Ep164 Finding the Heart of a Character with Jane Hamilton
  6. Oct 16

    Ep163 The Friend and Enemy Within with Judith Kerman

    Judith Kerman discusses how writing workshops help authors grow, the inspiration behind A Hard Frost—a poetry collection exploring aging, disability, resilience, and spirituality—and why she compares the critical mind to a golden retriever that can become either your best friend oryour worst enemy. Judith Kerman is a poet and multi-artist (singer, performer,and crafter). She has published eleven books and chapbooks of poetry, most recently Definitions (Fomite Press, 2021), along with three books of translations. Committed to publishing and literary community building, she founded Earth’s Daughters magazine in 1971 and went on to establishMayapple Press in 1978, which she continues to run today. Kerman earned her Ph.D. in English from the University ofBuffalo. As a Fulbright Scholar to the Dominican Republic in 2000, she translated the poetry and fiction of Dominican women and designed a website for the Museo del Hombre Dominicano, expanding access to underrepresented voicesand histories. After a career in university teaching and administration, she retired to Woodstock, NY, where she remains an active force in the literary world by overseeing Mayapple Press, coordinating online poetry workshops, andleading annual writers’ retreats. In this episode, Judith reads from A Hard Frost. Author website: https://judithkerman.wordpress.com/ Book link: https://www.broadstonebooks.com/shop/p/a-hard-frost-poetry-by-judith-kerman 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 or following us: Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcntlRlmdW2nzFZnzq2dA_Q Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/5Kgj96vRR9B6kczMhgjtkQ Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-artsy-raven-podcast-about-writing-and-art-with/id1558358968 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

    Ep163 The Friend and Enemy Within with Judith Kerman

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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.