The opening chapters read like Shirley Jacksons novel We Have Always Lived in the Castle with how the main character the wife is secretive, likes to bury flowers for safe keeping, and befriends a gardener at a church. The author seems to let the reader in on a secret that something is coming but doesn’t reveal exactly what it is. It’s an interesting premise to set up the story like this. To lead the reader to believe something awful might happen to the main character’s future husband.

My question is why does the fiance want to kill her future husband? Seems like alot of effort. Just break up with him and call off the wedding instead. So far by chapter 3 we have no reason to believe he deserves death. This is exactly the point the author is trying to point out. Sometimes there doesn’t need to have a reason.

I also love the attention to detail in terms of research of the plants used in the book. They are infused into the pages with the scientific names and uses.

This story seems to show the dark side of why someone might kill another human. It’s not a common perspective to make the hero of the story the one that commits the murder. This book won’t be for everyone, but it’s certainly a fresh perspective in this genre of thrillers.

1. Who are you and what do you do?

My pen-name is A.M. Walker, or Alyssa. I’m a wife, friend, human, author, and publisher. I created Harbor & Stone Press, an independent publishing company in August 2025, with our doors officially opening on January 1, 2026. With a team of nine people (and growing), we are enjoying working with authors and helping them tell their stories. I pride myself on being an active community member outside of books, and I like to keep a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

2. What inspired you to write this story?

Don’t panic... Planning my own wedding. BUT! I was NOT planning my fiances murder! Haha. Writing is my outlet. Wedding planning is incredibly stressful, and mentally unloading through writing was an outlet, especially afterwards when decompressing. I’ve always loved to write. When I was a small child, I remember hiding in my closet writing songs because I was too shy for anyone to know. I’m still shy about my writing, but clearly I cannot go back now!

3. What’s your writing process? Do you plot scenes or come up with them as you go?

I use what I created and termed my “sandbox.” This is a space where I mentally free-flow my thoughts and allow things to... happen. I’ve always been very visual, and I often daydream in movie scenes, imagining the music I’d choose or the feeling it would give me. I started to write these moments down, and eventually, I found parts that I felt really proud of. I pieced them together and then developed the parts in-between. So, a little bit of both. I am absolutely a mood writer, though.. if I’m not fueled creatively, it isn’t going to happen.

4. What was the most fun to research in this book?

Shout out to my editor Leilani, because she helped me a lot with the research. I enjoyed researching names the most. Every name has a meaning. The chapter I enjoyed writing and researching the most was the scene where Emily speaks to a professor. I had a very clear visualization of that moment, and loved the vigor of the details.

5. Why plants? It’s a unique way to bring the reader into the world.

Hey, thanks for noticing! My first thought of a book was to have a wise yet cold neighbor.. and in my mind, I kept visualizing an older woman tending to a garden. From there, I developed the idea that she would show her intelligence through plants. Mrs. Volkova is also lightly inspired by Red from Orange Is The New Black, who knew a lot about cooking (even in a menacing way).

You can find more of her work and her publishing house Harbor Stone Press.

Harbor Stone Press

Rooted In Silence on Amazon

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Kickstarter Update

We are currently 5% funded towards our $2,500 goal and about 10 days into it. If you are able to share with your communities about the story please do.

Desert Wasteland is a special book that’s taken a decade to write.

Premise: In a future where artistic expression is illegal and those with tattoo-born powers are hunted, a mother hiding a powerful secret must rise and join a resistance against the ruthless Harmony Syndicate, and the dark forces guiding it.

You can post these images on your social. Download HERE

Kickstarter Campaign

Want to check it out and read a sample

Ch1-2 Sample

New Releases in Poetry

This past year I released a full length collection of poetry called Holy Ghosts and Hollywood Dreams. If you have a kindle you can read it on KU.

It tells the stories of finding love, paying rent and finding a job while trying to survive on your own for the first time in Los Angeles. It also has some of my own photography I took while I lived there.

To purchase on Amazon here

Or to a signed copy, order directly from me.

Signed Copy

Website Updates

If you didn’t know I run a production company and most recently have gone into publishing independent books. The publishing arm Good Stuff Books is run through Good Stuff Films. I’m currently in the process of fundraising money to join the Independent Book Publishers Association and the Editorial Freelancers Association. These organizations will help provide resources and networking I wouldn’t have access to.

Additionally you can now purchase books and (merch in the future) from me directly!

I also got my Good Stuff Books publishing page up to accept submissions for new authors. If you would like to work with me submit your pitch today.

Submissions

Author Services

At Good Stuff Books I now will be offering services to authors! I’m really excited about this because imposter syndrome is real. There’s only so many degrees and courses you can get before you have to jump in and go for it. So, if you are a writer and would like to have a developmental edits or formatting for your next book please reach out here.

Author Services

Author Event Sightings

From 10am-2pm the event will go on. RSVP on their site to be eligible for a free bouquet of flowers.

RSVP

Thats all for now! Over summer I will be getting ready for the FALL! Which will be epic. I’m already signed up to vend three different author fairs and hopefully hearing back for one other one. Can’t wait to show you character art from the book! An amazing designer is working on them. The cover will come in due time. We finally have an approved sketch. Let’s see how that goes.

Until Next Time!

Have a great weekend.

Jen

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It’s live.

Desert Wasteland is officially out in the world. It’s terrifying to release your project into the ether. I’m used to it when it comes to filmmaking, but with writing it still feels new even though I’ve been doing it for almost a decade.

I think imposters syndrome is real especially for me and this project. It was the project that started all the writing and publishing in the first place. Desert Wasteland made me dream what could be possible for my filmmaking career.

Sharing this story feels both exciting and a little vulnerable.

If it’s meant something to you…
if any part of it has resonated…

I’d be honored to have your support.

Check it out today or share with your friends.

If you’ve been thinking about supporting, this is your moment.

And if not, thank you for being here anyway. That means more than you know.

Support on Kickstarter

In other fun writing news, I had an impromptu desert photoshoot, just like I wrote in Desert Wasteland. In an old version the main character is getting her best friend to take photos of her in the desert for her dating profile. While that version of the story is gone, it’s still in my heart and stays with me. I guess I always wanted to do something random like that. Pull off the side of the road on a trip and enjoy the scenery.

I ended up using Kait Waterhouse’s book Oracle City as a stand in for my eventual book. I’m going to try and photoshop it in once I’m holding a precious copy of Desert Wasteland. In the meantime go check her book out. I’m a few chapters in and already love, love, love it. I can’t believe how gritty it is and it makes me excited to read more indie books.

Fun fact this jean jacket is full of places I’ve been to. I still have a few more to put on there.

I’ll leave you with some art that’s been created for Desert Wasteland. It’s a mockup sticker sheet that backers will get at pretty much any tier except the first one. I’m also making these into tattoos as well for kickstarter backers.

Go see the last day today! Film Schedule

1. Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Dr. Joe Roselle, Chief Operating Officer of Urban Farming Education. My work lives at the intersection of education, climate action, and community engagement. At our core, we’re trying to close the gap between information and action—helping people not just understand environmental challenges, but actually do something about them. SkyFire is an extension of that mission. It’s where storytelling becomes a catalyst for real-world change.

2. What inspired you to start this film festival?

SkyFire was born out of a simple realization, people don’t act on information alone, they act on emotion, connection, and story. We’ve been doing hands-on education in gardens and classrooms for years, but we wanted a platform that could scale inspiration across an entire city. Film has that power. It brings people into the experience. It allows someone sitting in Phoenix to feel connected to a farmer, a scientist, or a community halfway around the world. SkyFire is about creating that spark and then building the pathways to act on it.

3. Why do you think films about sustainability and nature are important forms of advocacy?

Because they humanize complex systems. Climate change, water scarcity, soil degradation. these are big, abstract issues. Film makes them personal. It gives them faces, voices, and stories. Advocacy isn’t just about data; it’s about shifting culture. When someone watches a film and sees themselves in that story, that’s where change begins. That’s where apathy breaks down and responsibility starts to take shape.

4. What are you looking forward to during the festival?

Honestly, I’m most excited about the moments between the films. The conversations in the hallways, the connections between filmmakers, students, nonprofits, and community leaders. We’ve designed SkyFire as a citywide activation, not just screenings, but a shared experience. When someone watches a film, then steps into a panel, then connects with an organization doing that work locally, that’s where the real impact happens. That’s what I’m looking forward to.

5. What was one challenge you had to overcome in putting the festival together?

Scale and coordination. We intentionally designed SkyFire to span multiple venues and communities, ASU, Arizona Science Center, Culdesac, Beth Hebrew, because we wanted this to feel like a movement, not just an event. But with that comes complexity: logistics, programming, volunteers, technology, communication. The challenge was making something this big still feel intentional and connected. And honestly, that’s still the work aligning all the moving parts around a shared purpose.

6. What's your next project after this?

SkyFire is just the beginning. We’re building a year-round platform. That includes ongoing film screenings, expanding our Harvesting Wisdom podcast, scaling our school garden programs, and launching our new nonprofit collaborative to bring in more partners and funding. The goal is continuity, so the inspiration from SkyFire doesn’t fade, but instead feeds directly into education, action, and long-term community impact. For us, this isn’t a one-time festival. It’s part of a larger system we’re building.

My next big adventure is throwing the book a Kickstarter! That was a project in itself. The crowdfunding campaign has come a long way since last time I did one over a decade ago.

On April 1st the campaign goes live, but if you could do me a favor and subscribe to the updates of the campaign that would be really helpful! Also you can let your friends know about it. The book is about a group of friends and a mother who wants to protect her son from the evil government that’s constantly trying to find them. They are wanted because they have tattoos that give them a specific talent. Conformity is safety and artistic expression is outlawed. So it’s the story of Olivia who has to reluctantly jump into being a hero to save her friends and face her fears. I also love that I’ve aged this main character to her early thirties and was inspired to give my characters diversity. As I am someone with a disability there is quite a few characters that have different conditions such as migraines, autism, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTS and asthma. Disability representation is so important to me, but invisible conditions even more so. I wrote a book I wanted to see on the shelves, so I hope it resonates with you too.

Check out more about the story at the kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/desertwasteland/desert-wasteland-novel

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Stylistically this film is beautiful with sweeping landscapes and creative costume design. Did I notice if characters were missing? No, but there were a few key supporting characters that were eliminated. I’ve seen quite a few versions of Wuthering Heights and as an audience viewer I prefer this one. It’s sensual, pacing is great and doesn’t drag, but the biggest thing for me was the main characters. Cathy and Heathcliff were the main characters in a big way. This version of the film showed their passion and their heartbreak in an exaggerated way and I loved it. Not sure about you but I slogged through this book as a senior in high school and at the end still was confused why there was a ghost. The brutality that is shown in the book compared to this movie almost offers a subtler version. It’s less harsh and shows the despair that Heathcliff (played by Jacob Elordi) has when he’s separated by Cathy (played by Margot Robbie).

If you want this version of Wuthering Heights with Fennell’s essay in it you can get it here. The next one in the series is Sense and Sensability with an essay by director Georgia Oakley.

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Eunbi Kang is an artist that tells beautiful stories. Check more of her work out at https://www.eunbikang.com/

1. Who are you and what do you do?

Hi! I’m so happy for the opportunity to introduce myself through The Articles of Antiquity Magazine. My name is Eunbi Kang, and I’m a Korean artist working in the entertainment industry. My work focuses on visual development and illustration for animation and games, as well as related products like toys and movie posters.

2. Where did you go to school for your art training?

I studied at ArtCenter College of Design in California, where I majored in Illustration with an Entertainment Arts track.

3. Why do you love to create illustrations/concept art?

I started making art as a kid simply because I loved drawing and painting. When I discovered illustration and concept art, I completely fell in love with the idea of designing things that don’t exist in the real world or reinterpreting real things in my own way.

Beyond just loving the field itself, art has changed how I see the world. I pay attention to the smallest details, because everything around me becomes inspiration. When I look at buildings, trees, or even cars passing by at different times of day, I’m always thinking, “That would be such a great reference.” The world feels like my playground, my reference library, and my teacher. Because of that, art and this beautiful world never leave me bored.

4. What did you learn and love about the Animal Crossing project? What did you get to design?

I worked on a fan art project based on the Able Sisters clothing shop from Animal Crossing, using Blender for 3D modeling. I started learning Blender after seeing how helpful it was for other artists, and I wanted to combine 3D with my painting skills in Photoshop to strengthen my illustrations.

Color is one of the strengths people often mention in my work, so I treated this project as both a learning experience and a way to showcase that strength. I love animal crossing but I want to see more time of day from that world. So I created lighting and colors that the current Animal Crossing does not have. Creating fan art allowed me to genuinely enjoy the process while also building a strong portfolio piece. It was the perfect balance between growth and fun.

5. How do you think your college prepared you for the current job you have?

ArtCenter helped me through its curriculum, especially for someone like me who knew exactly what I wanted to do but wanted to learn the fundamentals in a structured, professional way. Some art schools encourage students to explore a variety of majors during their early semesters from fine art to photography which I think is wonderful. But I was always very focused on illustration for the entertainment industry, so choosing a school that specialized in that path was the right decision for me.

That said, I think the instructors who came directly from the industry helped me the most. Learning from professionals who are actively working in the field is incredibly valuable. These days, students can also access that kind of mentorship through online courses, which are often more affordable and have smaller class sizes.

In the end, no matter what path of education you choose, once you learn how to learn and how to practice on your own, it becomes a personal challenge to keep pushing yourself to grow as an artist.

6. Do you have any advice for the graduating college student to get their dream job start in the industry? Netflix seems like a really incredible place to be at.

I would say, create work that you would personally love to be part of, and turn it into a series or project which is similar to what I did with my Animal Crossing piece.

For example, if you make one cute illustration, don’t stop there. Expand it. Make more illustrations out of it or design the characters, props, and environments. Show how they exist in the same world. Grow your passion and imagination into a story.

People in the industry want to see whether you can tell a story through design. Turning illustrations into a cohesive project and showing how the world functions will make your portfolio much stronger and more memorable.

7. What’s next for you project wise?

I am currently working on my personal project about a witch who has an issue with flying with her broomstick and builds her own broomstick to fly and survive in her world. I made this character quite a while ago and have been developing the designs but never could think about the story. But after keeping thinking about the story for a couple years I think I made progress with the concept.

Right now, I’m working on a personal project about a witch who has trouble flying on her broomstick and is trying to find her own way to fly and survive in her world.

I actually created this character quite a while ago and had been developing her design for years, but I struggled with the story. After thinking about it on and off for a long time, I finally feel like I’m making real progress with the concept and narrative, which is really exciting.

8. Do you think you will ever branch out and go into animating characters? (unless i’m now old and developmental artists totally animate things and I didn’t know)

Yes, I’m definitely interested in animation and would love to create my own animated piece one day. It’s still a vague future goal, but I dream of making a short animation based on my witch project.

Animation requires an incredible amount of work, and I still feel like I have a lot to learn, especially about writing stories specifically for animation. I think it would be amazing to build a small team in the future and bring that project to life together.

9. What artists inspire you?

Oh wow, there are so many that I could list names forever!

I’ve always been a huge fan of traditional painters like Walter Everett and Miguel Acevedo. In the animation and game industry, I really admire artists like Celine Kim, Rebecca Shieh, Simon Baek, Drew Hartel, Edwardian Taylor, Caleb Ketchersid, Hatt Cho, and Jennifer Wu. They have such an incredible sense of design and worldbuilding. It almost feels like you could give them any idea, and they could bring it to life instantly.

Recently, I’ve also become interested in other areas of art, like UX/UI design, especially after learning more about the game development pipeline. One of my coworkers, Baird Wang, whom I worked with on Squid Game: Unleashed at Netflix Games, has an amazing sense of design. He really understands the core concept of a project and creates visuals that support it perfectly.

10. What books, movies, music artists are you loving and watching right now?

When it comes to music, I’m a bit of a nerd. I mostly listen to game and animation soundtracks, along with classical music. Whenever someone asks about my favorite music, I secretly panic because I can’t exactly say, “My favorite track is #32 from the Kena: Bridge of Spirits OST… but The Legend of Ashitaka is still my all-time favorite.”

Lately, I’ve also started a marathon of classic, legendary American films. The kind that everyone seems to know except me! I recently finished Star Wars, and I’m really excited to start The Lord of the Rings next and be an absolute nerd for their OSTs.

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I’m about to finish draft 2 of my novel Desert Wasteland. Recently I picked up a craft book to recommend to you. Refuse to Be Done How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt Bell. It struck me that this particular book hit to my exact pain point and love of where I was at in my writing journey.

Sometimes you need a self help writing book to get you to finish line and this one is going to be my kick in the ass writing coach to not give up because my goal is have this book finalized by May so I can get it ready for print and be sold starting in October!

If I get some time I’m going to reach out to Matt Bell and interview him on his book and learn more about his process.

If you know me, I have always enjoyed the rodeo and some good country music. Together, it felt like home. The Hondo Rodeo is an event designed to bring people together and raise awareness about the cowboy lifestyle, fostering men and women who are hardworking, courageous, and of good character through the love of country music and rodeo. People from across the country came together from November 7 to November 9, 2025, for this memorable event. The events that took place during the rodeo were bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing, and the fan favorite, bull riding. Over the course of the three days, each rider would put their lives on the line to win that cash prize and have champion written across their belt buckle.

The big winner of the weekend was Lisa Lockhart and Blazin Ta Betty, winning $101,500 in total earnings from the Maverick Top Hand Award and Hondo Rodeo Average Championship. Other highlights included team ropers Driggers and Eaves and bull rider Kaiden Loud, each earning $41,000. The energy from the fans in the arena was something I’ve never experienced before. Thousands of people cheered the riders to push their hardest, all loving the sport of rodeo.

In addition to the competition, there were halftime performances by Bethany Kiesner and Rider Kiesner, who performed trick riding. I got to chat with Bethany Kiesner and learn more about the passions behind the sport.

What breed of horse do you prefer to ride on?
“Just like most of the guys here at the Hondo Rodeo, I ride a quarter horse. They’re fast, and they’re strong. So they can hold my body weight up, and just past that, each horse is different. So we really look for them to love their job. The one I was on tonight is 19 years old, and so we certainly slowed her down a bit, but she still loves her job, so we are still trying to take her to some of the big ones.”

Are you based in Arizona?

“My husband and I are actually from Oklahoma, but we travel most of the year. I think we have been home for two weeks since Christmas, so we are on the road most of the time.”

What do you want to encourage young riders who are interested in this field? Who are getting started, and are really excited about the sport?

“Man, I have a lot to say on that. This year has been a tough year. I’ve had a lot of horses get hurt and a lot of struggles and trials. First and foremost, my faith in God is most important, and that’s who I lean on. And then past that, you know, just put in a lot of work. I wasn’t talented when I started. All of the horses I rode cost no more than $2500, which is a lot less than what you will see people spend on a horse. But you know, just put the work in. If you want something, just put the work in, and it’s worth it!”

Are there any camps you recommend where kids can get started?

“Yeah, so I always recommend a good coach. There is a place in Colorado called Red Top Ranch Trick Riding. They’re great, and a friend of mine, Madison Thomas, gives lessons, and those are both really good places to go to.”

Make sure you follow Bethany Kiesner online to see where she and her husband are performing next.

Later, throughout the night, I got a chance to chat with some local college girls and hear about what brought them out to the for this memorable event. When asked what brought them out for the night, collectively, their answers all included cold beer, country music, and a girls’ trip to get away from school, work, and life. Their favorite event to watch was the bull riding. Sammy Troeter shares her best tips for everyone coming to this event next year.

“Get here early, get your spots at the barcade.”

Marlee Miller said it best, “This is the best rodeo ever! Everyone should come!”

By the end of the third night, Jason Aldean’s “Crazy Town” was being sung all the way home by everyone that night. This weekend will hold a special place in my heart, and I look forward to future Hondo Rodeos to come!

Video and Photo credit by Amber Leann Media

Instagram is a place of kittens, dogs, people's family photos and then sometimes adventures. Collin Richter is in the later category. He goes out exploring and takes his camera with him. His photos inspire others to get outside and see the vistas of mountains and see the stars as their ceiling.

I am Collin Richter, and I go to college at UW Stevens Point, and my major is Communications. In my free time, I spend as much time as possible going on adventures and seeking new thrills in nature. About two years ago I got into taking pictures, and now I am crazy about outdoor photography. Going to a natural resource college I have a lot of friends who are also interested in experiencing the outdoors to the fullest, so I always have buddies who want to adventure with me. During spring breaks we would all go on a trip out west and we camped and mountain climbed. We even went on a road trip all the way from Wisconsin to Wyoming for a weekend in November. It was amazing. When we're not on a trip we still camp as much as possible in Wisconsin and are always looking for new places to hike. We were so desperate to camp that we even camped on a Monday once. Even winter doesn't stop us.

Why do you love photography?

I love photography because it's a way to log your beautiful experiences and remember them forever. As a painter, I also love the art of picture taking! You have the opportunity to make people see what you see. It's also wonderful to share the blessing of nature with all of my friends.

What got you interested in photography?

I've always loved adventure and art, and so when I got a GoPro it finally came together and I realized that it was so much fun!

What was your first camera?

My first camera was actually a GoPro, but eventually, I went and got a DSLR, a Canon Rebel t5.

Do you prefer 35mm or digital?

I haven't ever taken a photography class, so to be honest I don't know how to use film. I learned everything I know about photography through videos on YouTube. It's a wonderful and free way to learn anything!

What are your most favorite things/places/people to shoot pictures of?

In Wisconsin, I love shooting sunsets, forests, bluffs, and stars. We don't have any mountains out here so I do what I can to find breathtaking locations. I think it's helped me to get better because I try to make the simple things look better! If I had the choice I would absolutely love to shoot mountains and travel destinations and waterfalls!

What do you love about the outdoors?

The amazing thing about the outdoors is that it's challenging and beautiful. Unfortunately not everybody is brave enough to go outside all the time, so it's more peace and tranquility for me! Also, I could never perfectly paint a landscape so just capturing the natural beauty of perfect creation sounds amazing to me. I love climbing mountains because it gives you a sense of accomplishment, and it's a chance to see forever. I love the bare ruggedness of the outdoors and as a competitive guy I love the challenge of rough terrain!

What photographers are you most influenced by?

I was really inspired by Instagram, and all the amazing landscape photographers and their quality of work makes me always want to get better! @theexpeditioners were a big influence on me for sure!

Where do you see photography going in the future?

For me, I'd love to travel the world and see it first hand, but for society, I see a lot of industrialization, so it's hard to get good shots of nature when there's cities blocking the view and polluting the night sky with light.

Where are you hoping to travel to next? In terms of photo stories you can tell.

In April my friends and I are doing a road trip to Utah, so that will be a fun story to document! I would eventually love to go across the world to places like Thailand and China and photograph their beautiful people and landscapes.

Fun Questions

If you were stranded on an island what five things would you want with you?

• Probably a tent

• a water desalinater

• a knife

• a fishing pole

• A camera!

Hopefully it's a beautiful island like the one on Castaway! I think it would be a fun challenge, especially because I wouldn't want to leave!

What language do you wish you knew fluently?

I'd love to learn Mandarin or French, so I could communicate with people in China or Africa!

If you could travel in a rocket ship where would you travel to?

A planet with some cool mountains! Then I could be the first to mountain climb on a different planet!

If you could meet anyone in history who would it be?

I'd love to meet Jesus. I'm one of his followers, and I want to know how he radically loved people.

If you could have a super power what would it be?

I would fly or be invisible.. either way something that could sneak me into a national park or other countries!

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Andrew T Kearns is a photographer, video maker, storyteller Andrew Kerns tells visual masterpieces in the great outdoors.

Who are you and what do you do?

I'm Andrew Kearns, and I do photography and video work for a living all while documenting the whole experience.

Why do you love photography?

It's always different no matter the place or the people. You can get minor details or epic landscapes, or portraits of the people you're with. It's always different and is always providing you something to do.

Who are some photographers that you admire?

Jared Chambers has always been my favorite, his tones and compositions are so good.

What does a typical day look like where you are?

Lots of time in front of the computer and behind a camera, haha. That honestly about it.

Any fun stories to share on a photoshoot or photo adventure?

Not really any specifics, but like I said I document it all and put it on YouTube, you can check it on my vlog!

What's your most challenging photo you've taken?

Hard to say, but I struggle and get frustrated shooting in rain. Your lens get wet, you're soaked, you have to protect your gear, etc. It's a lot to keep up with and worry about all at once.

Where was your most favorite location in Iceland?

South/South East is unbeatable. I could have spent the 10 days I was there just around that zone. You have beaches, you have stark mountains, and everything between. It's another world.

How did you turn your passion about photography into a business?

I just kept shooting. That's all really. Lot's of shooting and a lot more hard work put behind that. I put more hours towards it than most people in a normal work week.

Where's one place you haven't been to that's on your list of places to travel to?

White Sands, New Mexico. I want to shoot a portrait session there so bad.

Do you like traditional film or digital photography better?

I've only shot a few rolls of film. Although I would love to shoot more, I already have so much stuff going on it's hard to justify adding something else.

Fun Questions

If you were stranded on an island with only five items what would they be?

My Land Cruiser, My Camera, My Laptop, and the other two can be a surprise.

If you could have one childhood object with you today what would it be?

I'm not sure actually, I lost this northface jacket that I liked a lot and it'd be cool to have it back.

If you could photograph any world that isn't on Earth where would it be?

The moon would be kind of fun? I know that isn't a world, but the other worlds don't look safe to be on, so I hear.

What's one thing about this world that makes you happy?

Clicking the upload button after working really hard on a vlog edit that I'm proud of. It's like reaching the summit of a long hike.

If you could alter history what is one thing you would change?

Probably that I should start taking photos sooner, but other than that I am fine with how life has played out.

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Sam Landreth is a writer, photographer, and storyteller. Every day she tells her truth through the lives she captures and adventures she writes about. Her bohemian and entrepreneurial spirit comes through in her pictures. Find out more about Sam and what makes her feel inspired.

website

Who are you and what do you do?

I'm a freelance photographer & fashion blogger. I travel & take photos full time -- my passion lies in weddings & engagements & I spend most of my time on the road capturing lovely couple for a living!

What got you started writing and taking photos for brands?

I realized that I found myself in front of the camera pretty frequently & I have a big love for fashion & writing, so they all seemed to go hand-in-hand!

What is one of the challenges of working as a freelance blogger/writer?

Finding the balance between always having things to do & resting. You can work every hour of the day & still never finish work. Finding rest is super important, though.

Best adventure you've been on so far?

Yesterday, I got home from Santorini, Greece + Copenhagen, Denmark & the Faroe Islands. Absolutely the best trip I have ever been on! Probably will never see anything prettier than those places.

Best hideout you've found?

Coffee shop corners in unfamiliar cities.

Do you have any favorite cameras you like to use?

I use a Canon 5D Mark III & a Canon AE-1 for film.

If you could travel anywhere where would you go?

Probably Norway or South Africa! They both look amazing.

Who inspires you as a storyteller?

Nicole Mason, for sure. She is so authentic & everything she writes inspires me a great deal.

What's your ultimate comfy outfit to wear?

Overalls! Always my go-to. I think I have like four pairs.

Fun Questions

If you were stuck on an abandoned island what 5 items would you want with you?

• A good book

• A film camera

I'm stuck on what else I would want Obviously matches & food & all of that.

What's the best wedding/engagement/portrait you've photographed?

My favorite engagement session was up at Diablo Lake in Washington. It was fall & perfectly foggy & the lake was the prettiest shade of glacial green/aqua. Definitely my favorite photos!

If you could photograph anywhere in the world where would it be?

Again, probably South Africa. Definitely, a trip I'd like to take soon.

If you had super powers what would they be?

Probably to fly! Definitely, would expedite my travel process.

Who are some photographers that you are inspired by?

Logan Cole, Nicole Mason, Tyson French, Jordan Voth

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Todd Blaisdell is in Cordova, Alaska. A tiny town that you can only access by boat or plane. It's remote, beautiful and some pretty amazing stories are from there. I came across Todd and his incredible work through a friend.

Who are you and what do you do?

I am Todd Albert Blaisdell. I spread love throughout the land.

What do you love about photography?

Photography is a way to capture time and moments to be shared with those who cannot experience the time or moment themselves.

How did you come up with the idea of creating the light painting?

While I did not come up with Light painting myself, as it has been around for many years, I started taking long exposure photographs in my teens as a way to be allowed outside at night for hours without question. Truth is I was looking for a way to get out of the house and smoke some pot. As long as I came home with at least one photo then the night was successful. Actually, 20+ years of photography later that hasn’t changed much, ha! Except for the last 10ish years where I started to draw with lights while taking these photos.

What's the coolest photo you've created with light painting?

That's a hard one… I have created thousands of these images. For me, the coolest ones were in the beginning. I used to draw in the dark not having any idea what the outcome would be, and then once the shutter closed and I got to see the image I would be blown away at what I had created. These days I have a pretty good idea of what is supposed to be the end result, and when I don’t get it right there's a lot more disappointment than satisfaction. So while there is no one image that I can pick, I will say that the abstract work, with no intention behind it, is usually the coolest stuff.

What is your advice on trying to light paint? Any tips you have to remember?

My advice is to try it. If you have a long exposure setting on your camera then go for it. It's fun. Don’t be disappointed if you think others have amazing work and yours sucks. That's not what it's about. It about waving around flashlights at midnight in the dark with your friends and laughing at yourself. If you get any decent photos on any of these adventures that's just a bonus. Go out with your friends and have fun.

What are your favorite types of lenses to use?

I enjoy fisheye lenses for a lot of things.

What got you started in glass blowing?

I went to The Center For Creative Studies in Detroit, MI for photography after high school. I was disappointed in their photography courses and ultimately spent more time in the glass studio than in the darkroom as a result. After a while, I started manipulating beer bottles in a fire pit and then bought a scientific test tube kit from WALE scientific suppliers. Thankfully as the internet grew I was able to access some quality supplies and create my own glass studio over the years.

What do you typically like to create when you do glass blowing?

For the most part, I create Pipes. Being its something that I use and have the highest demand for. Pun intended. But I also enjoy the holiday season. I typically spend November and December creating customized Christmas ornaments. The folks I sell/give these to always thank me again, year after year every time the Christmas tree comes out. Jewelry also has that same nostalgia to it. So in summary, I like to create pieces that people love. Something that has true meaning to them.

What do you love about living in Alaska?

A million and one things. I live in Cordova. It's a small town with no road to the outside world. You can only get here by boat or plane. That in itself is an amazing thing. The majority of my food comes from a subsistence lifestyle of truly wild animals. Salmon, Moose, and Deer are my main proteins and the energy they provide is amazing when compared to a farm raised animal. I also love the extreme change of seasons and going from 20+ hours of light in the summer to 20+ hours of darkness in the winter.

Fun Questions

If you were stuck on an abandoned island what five items would you want with you?

Camera. Knife. Magnifying Glass.

Coffee or tea?

Coffee in the morning, Tea at night. Heavy whipping cream in the coffee. Heavy Ginger in the tea.

If you could travel in history where would you go?

I’d go back before man, or at least modern man. I’d love to see this planet before we fucked it all up.

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In a quiet coffee shop I finally begin writing a piece of work I've reworked countless ways as a screenplay. At the first of the year I'm dedicating myself to starting again this piece of work as a novel. It's going to be a slow but magical experience. Thank you Lord Jesus for giving me time to have the courage to start writing again. I walked around Liberty Station to clear my head when I got a little stuck writing. Then I went to Werewolf to eat the most delicious sweet potatoe fries ever and homemade ranch. The burger was okay but it's rare when the fries outshine the meal itself. Next I checked into Hotel Z and felt so relaxed. What they don't tell you is that in downtown San Diego you will never get a good night sleep! I heard sirens all night. Can't have everything. So overall good writers retreat. Have about 1500 words written only another 118 thousand more to go.

An update with this writing begins. .. . from the future of Sept 13, 2025

The book did, in fact, get written. Is it done? No. Is it going to be almost hopefully done and sent out to agents finally this year? YES. I’m in the final revising stages of Desert Wasteland. A book that’s lived with me for almost a decade, and it’s insane to believe that this little dream among a million others will finally make it into print. A lot had to happen to make this book become the version it was meant to be, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Until that time, wish me luck.

Hi World. It's been awhile since we have spoken without an artist in front of my face. Although you should go check out all the artists on the other pages. Instead of reading about me and my thoughts here. I promise they are so much more interesting than I, but if that didn't scare you off keep reading.

Or if you are or identify as an artist stay put and keep reading. I'd like to start a dialogue and ask you fellow artist/writer/blogger/maker of creative objects do you ever feel alone in a crowd? As if you are the unicorn in a sea of beavers? I do. All the time.

Of course, there's always this idea that won't shut up in my head which is "Do I belong?" "Do I matter?" The logical answer is yes you do. Is it where you spend 90% of your week? Debatable. In this world of rising social media and Instagram fame, I often wonder how people make money in that spectrum. This past week the magazine's Instagram got hacked and I apparently while I was sleeping befriended people who sell watches, body sprays, and I have a weird obsession with bodybuilders. Needless to say 2k people of unfollowing later I think I might be finally back to normal in my feed of cute designs, treehouses and people running off to Bali swimming. You should check out who I follow on the Instagram you'll see the basic things I find inspiration from. Although it's not wrong to feel inspired by the wilderness out there or delicious pizza eating in New York.

Now, what do I mean with all this nonsense about Unicorns and artists? Throughout the history of time artists have had the real struggle of fitting in. I've never met someone who's incredibly creative and is completely popular and has a million friends. They probably have three really good people they vent to and drink wine with or watch Netflix but that's it. If we are honest. Everyone else is a beaver to them. Beavers are efficient creatures. They build dams and care for their young on their stomachs. I mean that sounds so nice and easy and full of community. Artists move around too much to have that kind of community. It's why social media is a blessing and a curse. If you can get past the garbage about politics and self-hate having the ability to chat with someone online is lovely.

Where do you spend most of your day if you are a unicorn? Are you in a corporate job? Are you selling wine? Do you take photos for nature sites? Do you ever wish you ever wish that box you're put into and labeled as could be burned to the ground and be turned into a circle? While change takes time, I have one tiny piece of advice someone much wiser said to me, "if you have to stay inside the box, sit at the edge of the corner and keep pushing the walls a little farther every day."

Until next time friends.

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Happy New Year! How it has been a year of crazy life transitions over here. The magazine is still here and thriving, but still looking for ways to expand and make more beautiful stories come to life.

It’s also been a pretty consistent year in publishing interviews, reviews and commentaries. If we take a step back and look at the data we had a consistent basis of around 600 people from all over the world visit the site for one reason or another every month. Places such as Australia, to England to all the way in the Middle East. It never ceases to amaze me when the power of the pen goes to the send button to ask a simple question.

The magazine has truly grown and taken on new awesome, rockstar publicists in the film and digital media realms as well as reps in the literary publishing world. I am always looking for new readers, so if you want to know about new and nonfiction I will have it.

As this magazine flies through the year I can’t forget the humble beginnings it had in 2013 when I had no idea where it would take me. So far we have been to concerts, music fests, read and ate wonderful things. I’m blessed to be apart of a community of people who love to talk about art, music, design and storytelling in all mediums.

With even all the interruptions in my life, and cross country moving this magazine has stayed a steady rock to go back to when all the world seems chaotic.

Thank you for everything.

You dear magazine is the sanity in my ever exploding world.

So let’s take on 2019 with some gutso and go find those stories under the hidden corners of coffee shops and dusty record store table fliers.

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To you I honor you,

For you are like a flower that slowly wilts in a misty shadow,

The year for envy, love, misogyny and triumph,

The You in all Yous,

You're more perfect than Helvetica,

Misadventures, dead ends, elections and malfunctions,

To go forward you must go backwards,

Tests, GRE, patients, waiting, and Whole Foods,

Long afternoons in a lazy summer heat,

Beauty wrapped up in wine hazed memories,

Vows, romance, couples, loneliness,

Relationships happen when you’re not looking,

Stop looking for a relationship,

Shakespeare and the death of You,

Missing hands, and one man’s love,

Fierce powerful Zen spirit,

Honesty, words, time, space, endings,

Stupid mistakes, and missed opportunities,

New friendships, renewed faith, that little white church,

Crushes, flings and misguided nights out,

Searching for the truth,

While standing on a mountain overlooking,

Hobbits, farms and a best friend,

Long plane rides, inner self, fear, and reconciliation,

New beginnings fall upon the summer air,

Sweet, sweaty couches full of maracas and teakettles on fire,

Peppermint, Alpine, fires and raindrops,

Dedication to honoring those before you,

Road trips, unexpected ideas and abandoned waterparks,

Hiking, treetops, wisdom tree, deep conversations,

9am, coffee, bibles, and beautiful prayers,

Juarez, Alvin, Trolls and singing will never go out of style,

Indie movies, funny coincidences and weird stop motion sex scenes,

White winter hymnal, red foxes and Christmas,

To you 2016 I will remember thee,

You were full of life, love and thousands of stories that will never get written down.

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An Ode To 2017

To Cold nights,

To Warm summers,

To writing pages in a hotel room,

To fuzzy pineapple slippers and empty bars alone,

To the solace of quiet and contemplative thoughts,

To phoenix, a happy accident and harry potter.

To learning to love alone,

And knowing the difference between that and everything else.

To more monthly hits and greater oceans leaped,

To many weekends indoors sitting on the couch,

To essays, classes and no social life.

To the little white church and new kinds of family,

To revelations, honest prayer and damn commitment,

To fear, and misdirection and all that is apart of the life kid.

To sweat stained couches,

To laundromats for the last time this year,

To car parks and creepy alleys,

To FaceTime chats,

To phones being stuck in pockets and new family histories,

To walking around neighborhoods and a movie buddy,

To boba, sushi and downtown LA ramen,

To food trucks, finally good beer, and a group of friends,

To monthly writer meetings and moving on.

To packing my life up in boxes,

To never wanting to leave this hot bed,

To staring up at the ceiling, while my friends pack my life away,

To mimosa’s and wine in red solo cups,

To 3000 plus miles in the bag,

To four weeks that forever changed my life,

To taking a chance and never looking back.

For living my best life,

To new friends who are seriously the smartest people on a level I’ll never understand,

To old friends becoming new again and realizing we are just picking up where we left off,

To Zunizi’s, the Fleet Foxes, my girl who got me through the last two years of my life.

To getting caught in the rain, and seeing snow for the first time,

To going down sideways streets,

To not being able to pronounce a god damn city name.

To Thanksgivings that are too good for words,

To a Black Friday that will never be forgotten,

To a tiny thai restaurant that I felt like I spent hours in.

To laughing out loud for what seemed like ever,

To finding the best wine in the world because you let me take a chance,

To letting the end of one thing be the beginning of something else.

To gaining three new sisters that I never asked for,

But always had wanted.

To my first new years kiss and dancing like I’ve never danced before.

To you 2017.

It’s time I move on.

Don’t look back.

It only gets better from here.

2018 in all it’s glory. An Ode to YOU.

Let’s give it up for all the players,

In life we call friends,

Family,

Co-workers.

The ones who work and live on passion in their tiny apartments,

Making music until the morning light,

Dancing up all night in secret clubs and music you’ve never heard before,

To the midnight rushes and sushi dates at 7.

All fair in love in war.

To giving love one last shot and getting stomped in the heart

On the way to work,

Over Snapchat,

To winter winds, and Nor’Easters that won’t quit,

To pour overs and breakfast tacos,

To the mountains of Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

To homemade dumplings and friendship in snow piles,

To funny squished noses on dogs and diners that hark back to

College,

To all the holidays that seemed broken,

To which I say now are mended.

People make the moment, not the technology.

To dreams finally taking flight,

And long days ahead,

To sleepless coughing nights,

And data meetings that just don’t seem right,

Oh what a year,

Of super highs that even Paul Revere would smile at,

TO the lowest of lows and never ending fights,

Where the beautiful and the damned slept tonight,

Finding the way through this year was like combing hair in an ice storm,

It just never happened.

Who even goes out in an ice storm?

To unexpected deaths that seem like a laundry list of sadness,

To the love of life, love and loss published in a small book,

A quiet place for one reader and the peace of mind to another,

Poetry takes on a new dimension as it grows and intertwines,

With the burnt taste of mosquitoes and the able bodied lambs.

Thank you 2018.

Let’s remember you fondly of the best and worst of us

Moved on.

Without you.

Forgot you.

Ate you like a delicious taco loves ramen.

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Theater is special especially when a group of bootstrapping theater artists get together to laugh alot and make incredible stories come to life. Welcome to The Shrill Collective!

Who are you and what does The Shrill Collective Do?

We’re a group of 6 female artists and friends who met in our New York City acting class. We produce staged readings of female-centric works and give the proceeds to charity. Our mission is to be a platform for women’s voices and issues to be heard. Basically, we make badass art in hopes of affecting positive change.

What's it like working with your friends?

It’s pretty awesome! We truly have each other’s backs. The Women’s March in 2017 was a big moment for us. We went as classmates and new friends, and left knowing that our connection was strong and that we wanted to come together to use our art for a bigger cause.

What kind of charitable organizations do you support and how do you decide which ones?

We seek out charities that support causes close to our hearts and that tie in with the theme of whatever production we’re putting up. We’ve had the privilege to support The Reproductive Health Access Project, Safe Horizon (domestic violence shelter and counseling program), Girls Write Now, and next we will be donating to Everytown for gun safety.

What has been the toughest women's issue to cover?

Back in July, we did a beautiful production of Susan Glaspell’s 1916 one-act “Trifles” directed by Shrill member, Ashley Croce. “Trifles” dealt with domestic violence, the roles women play in the home and in society, and the intricacies of female relationships. These are issues that are so often silenced or avoided because they are uncomfortable, so we felt the weight of portraying that on stage in a way that would spark a conversation. It was tough, but necessary and worth it.

You were recently named Artists in Residence at Matthew Corozine Theatre. How did that partnership happen?

After our first 2 productions, we went to Matthew Corozine Studio Theatre (MCS) to propose setting up a home within their theatre which we all already belonged to as acting students. The MCS community of artists is very close-knit and supportive. We view being Artists in Residence as a wonderful way to not only have a home base in the city, but a built in tribe of actors who we can showcase, and ultimately help spread the word about our charities’ causes.

What do you have coming up next?

Our next show, “FIRSTS”, is a night of original monologues, poetry, and songs about first experiences. Directed and conceived by Shrill member Lynda DeFuria, it will showcase over 30 writers and actors, and features only brand new original material.

Performances are Friday, March 23rd and Sunday, March 25th at 8PM and all proceeds will be benefit Everytown. Tickets are on sale at www.TheShrillCollective.com and on Brown Paper Tickets:

https://shrillfirsts.brownpapertickets.com/

When/where can I see The Shrill?

You can see us at our next show, FIRSTS! Come see support our art and then say hi afterward. We’re also all over social media.

Follow us on Instagram * Facebook * Twitter

Could I join The Shrill Collective?

Soon! We aspire to start having bigger collective meetings in the future with more members. For now, you can audition for our shows and support us by being an amazing audience member. The best way to keep in touch with our latest is on social media and by joining our e-mail list on our website.

Just for fun

If you were stuck on a deserted island, what would you bring and why?

From all the Shrills:

Kristina Cole: Either sunscreen because I don’t want skin cancer or a machete because it’s the Swiss Army knife of desolate living

Ashley Croce: My glasses because I can’t see without them. If I just get to have those, then a big notebook and a pen. Is that boring? I don’t care, it would keep me sane.

Lynda DeFuria: SPF-50 because I do not tan. I burn.

Chelsea Feltman: Nutritional yeast. I need my B vitamins

Allison Wilkes: As much Lip Balm (because I struggle with chapped lips) that my hypothetical bag can carry, a pocket knife, and a large book that I’d like to read but I’ve never been able to finish such as “Les Mis”

Erin Dahl: Alcohol. Because why not?

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