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

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

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

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

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

Harper Ross discusses magical realism, finding magic in theordinary, and learning the art of patience in writing.

HARPER ROSS has enjoyed a lifelong love affair with the dramatic story worlds in books and movies. After leaving herlegal practice to raise her kids, she discovered her own creative side and began writing novels that explore friendship, family, and forgiveness. Because she also appreciates the magic in everyday life—from the spark of attraction to those serendipitous moments we all experience—you’ll find a dash of that in her work too. When she’s not at the keyboard, she’s likely to be singing badly in her car, dancing in her kitchen, or walking her adorable dog, Mo. She’s also a lucky wife and mother to a very patient and supportive family.

Website: https://harperrossbooks.com/
Book link: https://www.amazon.com/Unwritten-Rules-Magic-Harper-Ross/dp/1250394554/

In this episode, Harper reads from The Unwritten Rules ofMagic.

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