Charley Frost
Featured: November 9, 2023
- Who are your influences?
It varies depending on genre, but since my youth Erin Hunter, the creator of the "Warriors" series has been an inspiration and a loved series. Leigh Bardugo, the creator of Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom, and the Grishaverse series. Recently, I have discovered Tomson Highway, and he has become one of my favourite playwrights, alongside Tennessee Williams (A Streetcar Named Desire) and Paula Vogel (How I Learned to Drive).
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- Describe your artistic style.
I am interested in two genres primarily, that being horror and fantasy. In my horror pieces, I try and dive into the "dark" part of humanity, striving to get people to have uncomfortable conversations because discomfort is a learning tool. In my fantasy novels, I try to focus on multiple characters, and I am fascinated by magical systems centered around elements such as water and fire.
- In your free time, what do you like to do?
I enjoy many facets of art. Reading and writing are two of my biggest ones, but besides that, I enjoy playing video games (my current obsession is "Unpacking"), organizing and cleaning, and attending social events. You can frequently see me at events put on by Q-space and events with social activism. - What advice would you give aspiring artists?
Do not feel ashamed of what you create. There is a harmful notion that some people still have that people who write violent or "dark" content are somehow dangerous or need to be watched. This is not true, people can be fascinated with "concerning" content out of a healthy morbid curiosity or exploring and learning, as humans need to. It's a corny phrase, but it's so true, which is "don't apologize for your art!"