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

Deanna Milligan and Ramsey Fendall talk about turning theirown house into the set of an indie horror film, the mysterious talking chicken woman in their latest feature, and why collaboration is essential to filmmaking.

Deanna Milligan & Ramsey Fendall are the co-founders ofSublunar Films and the co-directors of Lucid (2025), a surreal,punk-infused psychological horror feature that world-premiered at Fantasia and screened at Sitges in October 2025. Milligan, a veteran Canadian actor with dozens of film and television credits, is also a Leo-nominated director knownfor her visceral, emotionally charged storytelling rooted in the “beautiful grotesque.” Fendall, a cinematographer and visual artist whose credits include Seymour and Skatopia: 88 Acres of Anarchy, brings gritty, tactile imagery to their work, often shooting on 35mm and 16mm. Expanding Lucid from anacclaimed short into a feature, the duo transformed their own home into a film studio, embodying the fearless, resourceful spirit of DIY indie filmmaking.

IMBD link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33306263/
Film screening:
·      Toronto, May 23rd, 2026 - The Paradise Theatre
·      Vancouver, May 29th & 31st, June 2nd & 4th - VIFF Centre
·      Victoria, May 30th at The Vic; June 10th & 11th at Cinecenta
·      Edmonton, May 29th - Metro
·      Wolfville, Nova Scotia, May 29th - Al Whittle Theatre
·      Kamloops, June 5th - Kamloops Film Society

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

Amy Lorowitz shares her experience of living in Tokyo, reveals how real-life events inspired her latest novel SummerHusband, and explains why writing every day is essential to her process.

Amy Lorowitz is a lifelong New Yorker. She grew up in Brooklyn, attended University at SUNY Binghamton, and ultimately made her home in Manhattan with her husband and two daughters, only leaving New York for a three-year stint living in Tokyo, Japan, Summer Husband is her debut novel.

In this episode, Amy reads from Summer Husband.
Book link: https://summerhusband2026.ag-sites.net/works.htm

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

Kathy Garver reflects on her long career spanning childacting, voice work, and writing, shares what inspired her feel-good book about Hollywood love stories, and discusses the unique experience of filming a microdrama in China.

Kathy Garver, best known worldwide as “Cissy” on the hit CBSseries Family Affair, has built a six-decade career that began as a child actor in The Ten Commandments and spans film, television, stage, and award-winning voiceover work. In addition to her iconic on-screen role, she became one of Hollywood’s most in-demand voice actors, voicing fan-favorites including Firestar in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends and characters in Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos, The New Yogi Bear Show, and more.

Garver has narrated more than 80 audiobooks, earning fourAudie Awards and now a GRAMMY® nomination for her narration of Elvis, Rocky and Me: The Carol Connors Story. She is also a successful author with multiple titles, including Surviving Cissy, X-Child Stars, and The Family Affair Cookbook.

Her latest book, 'Romancing With The Stars: Inspiring Hollywood Love Stories,' co-authored with Doug Hartline, highlights inspiring love stories that cast a different, positivelight on Hollywood relationships that have stood the test of time! 

Today, Kathy continues to act, write, and record, remainingone of the most beloved and enduring talents of classic television and voice-over entertainment.

In this episode, Kathy reads from Romancing With TheStars: Inspiring Hollywood Love Stories.
Visit Kathy Garver online at Kathy Garver

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

F.T. Lukens, a New York Times bestselling author of YAspeculative fiction, shares how they became a writer, the inspiration behind their latest book The Last Best Quest Ever, and offers advice for new writers.

F.T. Lukens is a New York Times bestselling author of YAspeculative fiction including the novels Love at Second Sight, Otherworldly, Spell Bound (2024 ALA Rainbow Booklist), So This Is Ever After (2023 ALA Rainbow Booklist; 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee), In Deeper Waters (2022 ALA Rainbow Booklist; Junior Library Guild Selection), and the forthcoming The Last Best Quest Ever as well as otherscience-fiction and fantasy works. F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats.

In this episode, they read from The Last Best Quest Ever.
Book link - https://simonteen.com/book/the-last-best-quest-ever/

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

Olga Sunden discusses why she curated a photographyexhibition featuring women soldiers, how art can connect people to the realities of the present moment, and why storytelling during an ongoing war matters.

Olga Sunden was born in Kryvyi Rih and studied journalism at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Through her work, she met Jed Sunden in Kyiv — an American journalist, founder of the Kyiv Post and KP Media publishing group. Together, they now live in the United States, actively supporting Ukrainian journalism, the military, and education. Olga is currently the curator of the photoexhibition Through Her Eyes and publisher of the accompanying album of the same name, featuring the work of six women soldiers. Co-founder of Ukrainian American Committee and a mother of 6.

Exhibition dates: May 13 to June 8
Official album presentation: May 14
Location: IS GALLERY, 39 Lispenard Street, NY 10013

Links 
https://www.amukr.org/news/through-her-eyes-new-york-spring-2026

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