Interview: Author Mick Ridgewell

Mick Ridgewell's first novel, the thriller Nightcrawler, premiers in digital form at Barnes and Noble and Amazon's Kindle Store this Tuesday. Ridgewell was born in Fort Erie, Ontario, grew up in Windsor, and now lives in LaSalle. In addition to Nightcrawler, he has written numerous works of fiction including Black Chaos, which placed second in a short story competition at Spinetinglers in December 2010.

Increasingly, modern authors are embracing new tools available for the first time through digital publishing, and online workshop venues. Ridgewell refined the manuscript for Nightcrawler through Authonomy, publisher Harper Collins' platform and community for uncovering new writing talent. For Ridgewell, writing often comes down to questions:


Almost everything I write starts with a ‘What if.’ Getting that what if is like deciding to go out for dinner. What if we went out for dinner tonight? The rest is like getting in the car and figuring out the details on the way there. Usually fairly early in the process I envision the end. Once that happens, it’s just a matter of connecting the dots.

With The Nightcrawler, I was reading Stephen King’s On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft, and ‘What if you are driving across country, and you see the same person, over and over again,” popped into my head. The Nightcrawler was born out of that idea.


What are some of the authors, films, or books which inspire or influence you?

Some years back, Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles restarted my love for reading, so I guess the inspiration began there. However, as far as authors go, Stephen King is at the top of the list. It was actually his On Writing – A Memoir of the Craft that motivated me to begin The Nightcrawler. I have since read all but his two most recent published books in order of release. Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend and Orwells’s 1984 would also be on the list. Stepping away from horror, I have to say I am a big fan of the Harry Potter series and more recently, my daughter steered me toward The Hunger Games series which pleasantly surprised me. I do read more horror than any other genre, but if a book has well developed characters (characters that I can form an emotional bond with, whether the emotion is good or bad), then I will enjoy the story.

How would you characterise the type of horror in your work?

I describe The Nightcrawler as a paranormal thriller. Many of the situations in The Nightcrawler are things that could happen to anyone. Throw in some nightmares, nasty vagrants, creepy crawlies and a dead sister, and I hope it is a story that will have you looking over your shoulder when someone cheerfully says, “Okie Dokie.”

Describe your experience workshopping Nightcrawler at Authonomy; what was that like?

Authonomy is a community of writers and readers from all over the world. It is a website, administered by HarperCollins UK. After uploading your writing, other members can read, comment and support the work. The top five books each month are reviewed by HarperCollins. I had The Nightcrawler on the site for eleven months, achieving the end goal of a review from a HarperCollins editor. During that time The Nightcrawler received over 700 comments, many of which were very helpful in making me a better writer. 

Is there anything else that you would like to say to our readers?

Never give up your dreams. At 53 years old, I am anxiously awaiting the release of my first novel. If you have something you always wanted to do, then take the first step to achieving it. I am living proof that if you jump in with both feet, good things can happen.

Thank you for joining us, Mick!

Nightcrawler will be available in digital formats May 1st from Barnes and Noble, and Samhain Publishing.
The Nightcrawler paperback by Mick Ridgewell can be pre-ordered from Amazon.ca

Interview: Artist Yara El Safi

'Mary and Magdalene' by Yara El Safi

Emerging artist Yara El Safi joins us today. Yara was born in Tripoli, Lebanon and moved to Windsor at the age of nine. She is currently a student at Walkerville Collegiate Institute and its Walkerville Centre for the Creative Arts program (formerly the Windsor Centre for the Creative Arts, or WCCA).

El Safi's work draws inspiration from her Lebanese heritage, and currently focuses on fabric as a restrictive and oppressive. She's exploring the theme by using the materiality of textiles in conjunction with luxurious, sensual imagery, and design elements to denote liberation. Additionally, El Safi finds inspiration from other artists. She writes:

My work focuses on the female form, movement and beauty. These figures are usually wrapped or surrounded by patterns appropriated from multiple sources, such as wallpaper, cloth and textures. The visuals of repeated manufactured patterns versus the curvaceous figural brush strokes are very stimulating to me. A few artists that work with the idea of flat patterns versus three-dimensional figures inspire some of my work. Gustav Klimt has been a huge inspiration to a lot of my multimedia works and paintings. 
 

'The Kiss' by Gustav Klimt

I spoke with El Safi about being an emergent artist in Windsor, the themes of her work and what inspiration she draws from Klimt.


As an emerging artist, how could the arts community help you develop?

I feel that the arts community is a huge part of the city, and being a developing emerging artist and witnessing the well-adjusted arts community in Windsor it helps me feed and develop my own sense of style and see what people are doing in this post postmodern era.

What are some of the facets of your theme that you would like to explore in more depth?

At this point in my work and my development I've only currently began to see and develop certain themes. Currently I'm exploring the concepts of veiling with multiple mediums, such as fabric, paint, and patterns, and that specific theme is what I would like to continue to explore in more depth for the next little while and see where it takes me.

What are some of the ways Klimt's work inspires or influences your own?

Gustav Klimt has been a huge influence in my work because of the way he shows decadence, luxury and sexuality in his work. I attempt to emulate his way of using gold and patterns in his paintings, go beyond with that of luxury and sensuality concept by freezing a moments or feelings with a figure or two, and drape with tactile elements so the audience is seduced by the idea of touch.


Is there anything else that you would like to say to our readers?

Windsor may be one of those cities that eyes pass by because we are not spoken about worldwide, but we are a city of talent and great minds secretly hidden within the world. It's definitely is one of those cities that you must have enhanced sense to experiences its beauty.

Thank you for joining us, Yara!

Interview: Writer Brendan Houghton

Windsor has its own source for satire now that Brendan Houghton's The Windsor Naysayer is here. The Naysayer features fake news articles, weather, and book reviews. Satire itself, sometimes light and fun, sometimes harsh and bitter, is hardly new; for as long as people have observed their societies, there have been writers who poked fun at it. Political satire is the most common form today, seen in television programs such as The Daily Show, or This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and websites like The Onion.

Houghton was born in Windsor, in 1981. He studied Journalism at St.Clair College, left to work in sales, and is now studying Business at the University of Windsor. About his work on the Naysayer, he has this to say:

I have always written in my spare time, started writing for local blogs in 2008. Took a long hiatus from writing, and one day I decided to make my own website, rather than write for someone else's site. It started as a simple creative outlet, and a way to challenge myself to see if I could write regularly, because that was always something I had trouble doing. I look at the site as more of a collection of short stories than an actual “parody news” website. I think Windsor is a great city, and the people here have a very unique sense of humour and a unique outlook on the world. We are caught in the middle of the US and Canada, and to me, because of that, we need to laugh at ourselves, and everyone who doesn't live here and looks at us in an unflattering way.

I chatted with Brendan today about his influences, and what might be next for his work.

The Naysayer has been compared to The Onion. What are your thoughts on that?

Its useful when describing the website to someone just for association purposes, but they tackle nationwide issues, and we tackle local issues/culture/happenings. So, we are different from them in a lot of ways. They do satire, so do we.

Are there any writers who inspire or influence your work?

Certainly: Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams, Ambrose Bierce, Mark Twain. I'm also influenced by television, Monty Python, South Park, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, The Black Adder; those all come to mind. The movie Dr Strangelove is another influence on what I do.

 What are your hopes for the future of The Windsor Naysayer?

I'd like to take it to other cities. Start a Toronto Naysayer, a Montreal Naysayer, A Vancouver Naysayer, etc. Have it as a sort of sounding board for people who like to parody what goes on in their particular cities, because I know that every city has its own unique culture and sense of humour, and I'd like the Naysayer to reflect that.

Is there anything else you would like to say to our readers?

Yes. If you have an idea, don't think about it too much, just do it. Many times in my life I've had ideas about projects I'd like to start but I never started them because I'd over think everything and then I'd just end up not doing it. For the Naysayer it was different - I just did it.

A warm thank you to Brendan for joining us today.

Interview: Artist Suellen Evoy-Oozeer

Unidentified 1&2 by Suellen Evoy-Oozeer

Suellen Evoy-Oozeer, artist and co-founding member of the Back Room Gallery Artists' Co-op, has been painting since 1979, continually pursuing her education and development while working in social service and teaching, being married and raising a family. In 2005 she completed a BFA at the University of Windsor.

Suellen describes her artistic philosophy which is grounded in Art as Social Practice:

My painting is my passion interplay of energy between humanity, nature and spirit. My paintings are abstract expressionistic landscapes of vibrant colours, utilizing mixed media and texture. It is my mediation; I try to let it unfold as it should, allow it to have its own voice through me. My technique often incorporates Manmade and natural objects. I have been influenced by many other artists notably by Vincent Van Gogh, for his palette, thick paint and passion, Julian Schnabel for his used of objects, texture and his passion.

Philosophically, I am greatly influenced by my friends from Kettle Point/Stoney Point and their clear ability to see the insurmountable value in nature and its beauty and share their vision with me. Also I am influenced by the area of Ipperwash and the beauty and energy that pulls me there. I paint to try and find a balance, to search in the unknown, and to connect with energy of something more than myself.

 Suellen joined me for an exclusive interview with Windsoriana. I'm honoured to have her as my first guest.

What would you say to someone who feels they are not an artist?

Saying 'I am an Artist' is one of the hardest things for an artist to do. An artist is someone who thinks creatively, who expresses those thoughts in a creative way. It has taken me a long time to say 'I am an Artist,' because I revere the profession so much. It feels good to be able to say it.

In 2005 you decided to pursue art full time. What brought you to that decision?

In 2005 my father past away. His passing made me realize in a very real way that life is short. The time to do what I love is now. I love doing and being involved in art, it energizes me.

Can you explain this style of painting for readers who are unfamiliar with the term 'abstract expressionism?'

Most of my art is expressionism and often abstract, abstract expressionism is art that focuses most on expressing a feeling or creating a feeling in the viewer, often colourful with less concern on perspective, realism and precision.

Is there anything else you would like to say to our readers?

It has taken me over thirty years and I am still evolving to remember how to paint as a child, confident, passionate and free.

Thank you for joining us, Suellen! Suellen Evoy-Oozeer's works are available at Back Room Gallery Artists' Co-op at  4749 Wyandotte St. East in Windsor.