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Author interviews

Jules Hoepting; Ms. Moon & Planted Pretty Rows

Do you attend SUNY Fredonia?  If so, are you involved in any groups on campus?
Yes, I am a first-year Public Relations major with a minor in Writing and Rhetoric. The clubs I am involved in on-campus are Fredonia Radio Systems, Writers' Ring / Poetic Perspective and the Applied Communication Association. 

Was your poem, Ms. Moon based on beer? Or was it representative of the significant other going out?  Or is it a pseudonym for a women?
"Miss Moon" is about a woman who is in a relationship with an alcoholic. His addiction is taking away from the quality of their relationship, as he is constantly making time and spending money to perpetuate his addictive tenancies. The poem is relating an alcoholic partner to an unfaithful partner, using Blue Moon as the tying metaphor.

What was the inspiration for Planted Pretty Rows and Ms. Moon?
The inspiration behind "Planted Pretty Rows" comes from thoughts that have circled in my head for a while. Every time I pass by a big, fancy house - an embodiment of achieving the American Dream - I can't help but wonder if the people who live inside that house are happy. If the fancy outside is masking the sadness within. "Miss Moon" is based on a relationship of a close friend of mine. It was originally written as a song titled "Labatt Blues," about a man who's "got a case of the labatt blues," referring to his addiction to alcohol. I rewrote it as a poem with the concept of the alcohol being a mistress about two years after the song.  

Who are some of your favorite poets?
To be completely honest, I do not read a lot of poetry. I think Sophia Moore, Stephanie Pierre-Jacques and Sarah Hughston, three members from Poetic Perspective, are incredible writers and deserve to have their work read by a larger audience. 

Victoria Wraight; Keep Your Enemy Closer 

What inspired you to write the story?
I've always loved stories that break a genre or cliché, so by writing a story in which a hero and a villain are so close without either realizing, I'm attempting to give a refreshing take on the superhero genre. 

How did you come up with the plot twist, what made you excited to write it?
Last semester, I took a course on writing fantasy and science fiction, and one of our subjects was superheroes. I wrote a story about a hero and villain being set up on a blind date, as I wanted to create a story with high tension right from the start. But this got me to thinking, what if this was reversed? What if two enemies were together and didn't even realize it? When would they realize and how would they react to the fact that their nemesis is closer than they thought? 

Is this piece similar or different to other things you've written? How so?
This piece is similar to others I have written, but also a bit different. I like to write magical realism, as it allows for magic and a unique setting without having to have those things dominate the story. 

Who is your favorite author or writer and why?
My favorite writer is Sarah J. Maas, a fantasy author.  I was lucky enough to meet her at a book festival back in 2017. I told her that she inspires me to write and that one day I wanted to be published too, and without hesitation she told me "you will", which has stuck with me ever since and motivates me to keep writing.

Angeline T. Ginsberg, Dia de los Muertos

Was there a certain feel you wanted the piece to portray?
I was kind of going for a surrealistic feel because I really wanted the character to come to life and mask the idea of a normal person under the makeup. I also liked kind of the goofy, uneasy aspect of the skulls on top of his head about to fall off in contrast with how dark and serious the piece initially looks.  

What is your favorite kind of art to create?
I would say my favorite kind of art to create is the art I make for other people. Don’t get me wrong, I love making pieces for myself that express me or address an issue etc. but when you make something for someone else and they see it for the first time it is the best feeling in the world knowing it means something to them or represents something that will stay with them for a long time. 

Natalie Harden, Moon & Tranquil 

Who is your biggest inspiration in the art world?

Truth be told, I’m not that into art history/“artist”, but my mom works in an art museum so I’ve gotten the chance to meet and view many different artists. Jackson Pollock is one of my older favorites and now I look more to film directors, my favorite being Jordan Peele (recent) and Alfred Hitchcock (all time).​ 

What is your goal as an artist?
I am to get an emotional response from my audience and then hopefully change their outlook on the situation I presented them. Sometimes this is easier through film because I can add in audio and acting or change the scenes up, but with photography, people are going to look at my photos and each find something different to connect with. I have only one shot, but it tells one million stories.