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Killer Crime: Get Lit! hosts crime writing panel

05/23/2018 by afuller Leave a Comment

I’ve always enjoyed crime novels and I love to read stories that allow me to piece things together from a set of clues. When I heard that there was a Killer Crime panel at Get Lit!, I had to check it out. Here’s a little I learned about crime writing.

The suspects

Okay there weren’t actually any suspects, but we did get to meet four different crime writers: Mathew Sullivan, Devin Devine, Tony Russell, and TJ Tranchell. They answered a few questions relating to crime writing and their personal experience with the genre.

What drew them to crime?

Matthew was drawn to crime writing from a literary influence and a life influence. He loved the idea of the natural progression of crime (from crime to case to solved), and the clear scaffolding that crime novels fit in. Matthew said he enjoys getting into the book and solving the crime from a writer’s perspective.

Devin said that crime novels have gray areas and even the worst characters can be likeable. She talked about being a nine-year-old watching The Ring as her first motivation to write. She thinks crime writing is realistic and a good sense of the state of things today.

Tony said that crime is universal.

Finally, TJ said that crime is about plot and planning. He said that crime novels are a search to find out if you as the reader are right in your assumptions.

What is suspense beyond “the next thing”?

TJ talked a bit about how Hitchcock used suspense. In one of the old Hitchcock movies, the villain planted a bomb under a table. The viewers knew about the bomb and that it would go off, but the characters had no idea. TJ talked about how suspense is showing readers details about a crime that the main characters don’t know about. Suspense comes from knowing what will happen and having to read to find out if the detectives will solve the crime in time.

Tony talked about the five-part novel he and Devin were working on. For him, the suspense is more about wanting to tell everyone who the murderer is before the series is completed.

Devin said that the series she is working on with Tony changes characters between each chapter. Everyone lies and that for crime novels it’s up to the reader to decide who they think is telling the truth.

Matthew says that suspense as a writer is much like being a therapist. Instead of handing out answers, the job of a crime writer is to let readers get to the conclusion on their own through clues.

What about the Denouement (end)?

Matthew said that he once wrote a story with a 150 page denouement that his editor had him cut to 20 pages.

Devin said that the denouement is about waiting and waiting until the end. She said that like with the Harry Potter series, a denouement does not always give all the answers.

Tony talked a little more about Noir and said that the style of Noir was exaggerated and uses misadventures to further the story.

TJ talked about novels and how he was a bigger fan of questions than he was with answers. A denouement might give some answers, but oftentimes it leads the reader to a few more questions.

A bit about Get Lit!

While this year’s Get Lit! festival has ended, you can check out the website in spring of next year and check out the schedule for 2019.

Comic Creations: comic artists talk at Get Lit!

05/17/2018 by afuller Leave a Comment

Get Lit! is an annual festival in Spokane where local writers talk about their experience or run workshops to help with writing skills. Each year is a little different, with topics this year ranging from poetry slams to writing workshops and panels.

One of the events I went to was called Comic Creations. A five-dollar purchase got me a four pack of posters made by the panelists. As far as events go, this one was decently sized with about twenty people attending.

Before I went to the event, I didn’t think comics aren’t just about superheroes or political cartoons. Many of these comic artists drew scenes from their own life or created a story that borrowed from literary themes such as character or setting (I suppose that’s why they were at Get Lit!).

Derrick Freeland

Derrick is the leader of Spokane Sequential, a group of comic artists who design a monthly magazine. Derrick talked about his upcoming graphic novel and how the novel reflected his own life. He brought in examples of characters and how they were symbols of his parents, himself, and the parents he always wanted.

Derrick’s art style was the most realistic of the four styles I saw that day. His work was shaded and even his fantastical elements seemed as though they would fit in the world he created.

Tiffany Patterson

Tiffany talked about how she started out as a painter and moved into creating comics. She talked about her paintings and talked about how she started to move away from her perfectionist style by drawing messy lines in the background of her works.

Tiffany’s work had a surreal aspect to it. The main comic she discussed had a Where the Wild Things Are feel to it, with monsters and a child who travels to a magical forest. Her other artwork had fantastical elements with a few femurs and plenty of bright colors.

Chelsea Martin

Chelsea started out as an artist and began to create long descriptions for her works. She then moved into writing and finally became a comic writer. She worked with human interaction and awkwardness.

Many of Chelsea’s comics featured people looking at the floor, awkward silences, and vague relationships. Some of the awkward pauses were uncomfortable in a way that felt realistic and interesting. Her art style was very realistic and had few if any instances of fantastical elements.

Simeon Mills

Simeon talked about how he created his comics. Simeon took photographs of himself acting character expressions and then drew the character in sharpie on the reverse side of the photograph. He redrew each face to make each panel of his comic.

Simeon’s work was completely two dimensional with no shading. His drawings were very detailed with mustaches made from individual lines and highly expressive characters.

A bit about Get Lit!

While this year’s Get Lit! festival has ended, you can check out the website in spring of next year and view the schedule for 2019.

EWU Bazaar

03/12/2018 by afuller Leave a Comment

As a design major, I would meet new people every quarter in both design and art classes. When I heard that there was a bazaar for design and art students, I had to go check it out.

The bazaar had about thirteen installations with 9 current students and 4 EWU alumni. It feature all kinds of artworks, from the types of things you'd fine in a downtown gallery to the types of things you might fight at one of Spokane's summer street fairs. The alumni assisted the new students with picking out art for the show, pricing pieces, and even managing their own inventory. Students got firsthand experience and training with selling their art.

Show me the art already!

In no particular order, I’ll present some of the fantastic artwork done by students and alum. I really enjoyed the pottery, but I’ll be sure to show off some of the paintings and prints too!

These are all made by one student, Amanda Caldwell. Check out the variety of pottery she has, from small cups to canopic jars (let’s be real, I saw the canopic jars first).

Rebekah Curtis did all of this work.

Yes, all of it.

I keep getting drawn back to the two large paintings in the middle. I’m sure everyone who sees a painting like these sees something different but I keep thinking of them as the eye and minotaur paintings.

Mike Haynes is an alumnus of the EWU art program. One thing I love about his work is the unity between pieces I see here. The pottery is styled with either the black and grey snakes or the multicolored line pottery in the front. I feel like I could get all of my bowls from Mike and they’d all match up with each other!

The bazaar had much, much more but I’ll just go over the pins, prints and zines. It’s exciting to see how much students at EWU made and were able to show off!

Olympia 2016: Advocating for More Outdoor Recreation

02/16/2016 by Nick Thomas Leave a Comment

EWU students recently headed to Olympia for all kinds of important issues like promoting EWU Computer Science and securing funding for the new science building. I traveled to Washington’s capitol to attend the Big Tent Coalition Rally for Outdoor Recreation and advocate for more funding for The John Wayne Pioneer Trail, a cross-state trail that connects to Cheney and EWU.

The big white tent set up in front of the Washington State Capital was packed with banners, gear and all manner of people wearing bright ski coats, sharp business suits, and denim jackets and cowboy hats. The overcast sky had just opened up a torrent, so loud I leaned in to hear Governor Inslee address this odd assortment of outdoor enthusiasts and politicians.

In spite of the weather, his message came through loud and clear: The importance of Outdoor Recreation to Washington State is undeniable. A new study, the first of its kind in Washington, has determined the total economic impact of outdoor recreation equals $22.5 billion annually, with $1.5 billion of tax revenue and supporting 200,000 jobs.

Besides the major economic impact, getting outside is good for our health.

Gov. Inslee called on young people to go outside, to seek adventure off the beaten path. “Going outside is the single biggest health benefit to our young people,” he said. He emphasized that young people are the future leaders and caretakers of the environment. He backed this up by restarting the state’s “No Child Left Inside” program, which funds various independent groups that help youth get out of the cities and into the wilderness.

At Washington State Capitol in Olympia last week (photo by Nick Thomas) — The Washington State Capitol in Olympia (Nick Thomas photo)

Next, legendary mountaineer Jim Whittaker took the stage. He was the first American to Summit Mt. Everest and is a co-founder of REI. In remarkable shape for 86, he bounded up to the stage and spoke eloquently about his experiences. He emphasized his belief that actively participating in preservation of our landscapes leads to a lifetime of profound experiences and lasting love and respect for the environment.

John Snyder also spoke. In December the Spokane City Councilman was appointed the state’s very first Adviser to the Governor on Outdoor Recreation. Snyder (pictured below) started the NW outdoor recreation magazine Out There Monthly. He is a fellow supporter of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, the cross-state rail-trail.

jon snyder — EWU student Nick Thomas with Jon Snyder, 1st Adviser to the Governor on Outdoor Recreation

I came to Olympia to learn more about the legislative process by promoting the public’s and elected official’s awareness of The John Wayne Pioneer Trail. This former railroad is now a trail that takes hikers, horse riders and cyclists 253 miles across Washington State from North Bend clear to the Idaho border. It is the longest rails-to-trails conversion in the country, and one of only two cross-state trail systems.

The John Wayne Trail connects to EWU via the Columbia Plateau Trail (aka the Fish Lake Trail). The potential is there for students to enjoy a weekend ride on the trail, camping along the way, or a day ride on the paved Fish Lake Trail that connects to Spokane (an easy, off road 1.5 hour bike ride).

Last August I biked the trail from North Bend to Spokane over the course of five days. It was an adventure that I will never forget. I was challenged both physically and mentally, and was amazed by the beauty of our state, especially the remote high desert of eastern Washington.

While it’s tempting to stay inside and play computer games or binge watch Netflix, mixing in screen-time with regular exercise and interaction with nature will actually help you do better in college. You will likely experience better grades, cure writer’s block, and just feel happier.

Students who exercise even once a week earn a higher GPA than students who don’t exercise. Those who hike are happier and experience lower blood pressure and less depression.

A 2015 Stanford study shows that people who “engage with nature” have less negative thoughts than those who spend time walking around in urban areas.

Making Art is a Walk in the Park for 3D Design Students

12/17/2015 by Nick Thomas Leave a Comment

This fall a group of 3D design students, led by Professor Lisa Nappa, cruised out to Turnbull, EWU’s neighboring National Wildlife Refuge. The students’ goal: to make art with just their imagination and the raw materials found in Mother Nature.

Before venturing out of the studio they watched excerpts from “Rivers and Tides,” the documentary about Andy Goldsworthy, who is a guru of ephemeral sculptures made strictly from elements of nature. They also had a brief practice session across the street at Sutton Park, where they quickly learned that sketching ideas ahead of time wouldn’t help.

“You have to play with the materials long enough to know what you can and can’t do with them,” said Monica Hoblin, a senior majoring in Visual Communications.

Students Hoblin and Al Abdul Karem at work (Lisa Nappa photo)

Arriving at Turnbull Wildlife Refuge, Hoblin paired up with Aziz Al Abdul Karem, a studio art major from Saudi Arabia, to arch long sticks over a small boulder, forming a cage-like canopy. The result is that your eye focuses not just on the cage but on the rock underneath, an object you wouldn’t notice otherwise.

Other students sewed leaves together with thorns, or filled the cracks of a fallen log with moss, implementing basic design principles such as line-form and contrast.

One student wreathed a boulder with bunchgrass, creating what looked like an eye peering out of the dry grass.

Nystrom's collage adorns a birch tree (artist photo) — Nystrom’s collage adorns a birch tree (artist photo)

“It was fun to get outside,” said Linnea Nystrom, a junior Occupational Therapy major from Olympia. She said the exercise made her pay closer attention to the colors of the particular season. “The fall colors contrasted with the grey mud and the white birch bark.” Though not an art major, she took Nappa’s 3D Design class as an elective, or as she put it, “for fun!”

Working directly with nature to sculpt works of art, the students knew nothing they made would last more than a day or two.

“You have to let it go,” says Hoblin. “It can’t be precious.”

She wove together fiery leaves, sticks and trumpet blossoms into a collage that adorned a birch tree trunk.

And yep: U.S. Park Rangers granted permission for this student project. It’s just one of the great parts of the strong relationship between EWU and the wildlife refuge.

Weekend Roadtrip!

12/08/2015 by Nick Thomas Leave a Comment

One of the world's premier, undeveloped hot springs is in EWU's backyard. Goldbug Hot Springs outside Salmon, Idaho, is well worth a weekend trip from Cheney.

The stunning landscapes of Idaho and Montana make the time fly by. It’s even more powerful when you realize you’re passing through the same mountain ranges that blew the minds of the 1805 Lewis and Clark expedition.

Traveling east from EWU, and after skipping through Spokane, you pass beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene and the historic mining towns of the Silver Valley. Then you descend Lookout Pass into Montana.

Missoula is the perfect halfway point. Before turning due south refuel at one the towns’ restaurants and coffee shops. Recommendations include the delicious Catalyst Café, which has a fresh, unique menu and great coffee, or The Bridge Pizza, which offers up fresh pizza by the slice.

Geology fans should take note of the strange lines running across Missoula’s foothills. Those lines are high water marks made by the historic Lake Missoula thousands of years ago, the same lake whose ancient floodwaters carved out the current rugged landscape of the Inland Northwest and the territory around EWU.

Leaving Missoula you are soon flanked on either side by the peaks of the Bitterroot Mountain range, rising up to just over 10,000 feet.

Be sure to top off at Tower Creek Road and take in The Pyramid Rocks. Known as Hoodoos, these soft rocks are eroded by rain and wind to resemble their Egyptian namesakes.

After passing through Salmon, the birthplace of Sacajawea, you are almost to Goldbug. Just past the community of Elk Bend turn left on unpaved, unmarked Warm Springs Road. Be sure to Google map it, as the turn off is easy to miss.

The trailhead is a hundred yards down the dirt road. The hot springs is a two mile hike up a moderately steep trail. While camping is prohibited at the trailhead and within 500 feet from the springs, there’s plenty of flat spots to pitch a tent about a mile up the trail alongside the creek. There are also a few hotels in nearby Salmon if camping is not your thing, or if its too cold out.

The hot springs themselves sit in a series of pools connected by picturesque waterfalls. Temperatures vary from scalding hot to warm. If you’ve been to other springs you’ll be surprised by Goldbug’s crystal clear water, smooth, clean gravel floors and a distinct lack of the sulfur smell common to other hot springs. Settling into the crystal clear pools is the perfect reward for the long drive.

As you relax, take in the view. All around you steep mountains rise up, and the shimmering pool reflects the sky as you peer over the edge at the valley below.

Goldbug Hot Springs is an incredible outdoor experience you will never forget, and it’s a perfect weekend trip for a new EWU student.