Interviews With Extraordinary Women

SUE MIDLOCK, writer and illustrator

Nadia’s Introduction: The guest we have with us today is a multi-talented writer and artist from Joliet, Illinois. Sue Midlock has always had a natural gift for drawing. From an early age, she would draw at recess in school rather than go outside and play. She also drew pictures as gifts for family and friends and in her early years, her artistic endeavors were a hobby. But now, Sue gets work as an illustrator. To help describe what she does, Sue coined the name, “Zentacular Art”. She calls it a form of fancy doodling. She starts by using pencil. Then she outlines her images with a fine line black marker, and adds vivid colors with the use of brush tip markers.

Sue Midlock is also a passionate writer. Her short stories and poetry have been published in numerous small press publications. Her vibrant and imaginative illustration, “Girl With Crow” and the accompanying poem of the same name, was the centerfold for issue 9 of Mississippi Crow Magazine. You can see that image and other examples of Sue’s artwork at http://suesart.weebly.com/zentacular-art.html. That link is a bit tough to catch just by listening, and I’ll repeat it again at the end of the show. But you can also Google the name, Sue Midlock and also Zentacular Art and you’ll find her.

NG: Welcome Sue. I love the way you describe your work as Zentacular art, and I know it’s an unusual technique, so the first question I want to ask you is did I describe correctly the medium you use? 

SueM:  Yes, I use brush tip markers, chalk, and water color.

NG: Sue, let me also ask you how you got your start as a book illustrator?

SueM: I got started when a friend of mine who liked my artwork, was looking for someone to illustrate her children’s book.

NG: Did you ever formally study art?

SueM: I took my usual art classes when I was in High School, as for College, I didn’t study it at all.

NG: You mentioned that you were commissioned to illustrate a book recently.  Can you tell us a little about that book?

SueM:  It’s called “Playing with Words” and it’s a poem that a friend of mine Donna Marino, wrote for her niece. In fact, the girl I drew for the cover was a portrayal of the niece.

NG: Can you give one or two examples where your work has been published?

SueM: Most recently, two of my pictures appeared in Mississippi Crow Magazine, “Girl with Crow” and “Landscape”. Another one, “Fairy” appeared in the Shining Journal which is an online publication.

NG: Are there any places for people living in the greater Chicago area where you are, to see your artwork?

SueM:  My work is displayed at the Lockport Street Gallery in Plainfield, Plainfield Art league in Plainfield, Illinois, Lake Geneva Art in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and Gallery 1700 in Cresthill, Illinois.

NG: Do you have any online outlets where people can see your artwork and buy it if they want it? 

SueM: You can purchase any of my artwork at Fine Art America.  Not only do I draw, but I also dabble in photography as well.

NG: You are a writer too, Sue, and perhaps this is a good place for me to mention to the listeners, that you and I have had some contact professionally prior to this interview today. I wanted to ask you some questions about your writing since, as the editor of Mississippi Crow magazine, I published some of your work. I didn’t really know anything about you or your background at that time, so this is a perfect opportunity for me to get to know more about your writing life. When did you start to write? 

SueG: I started writing about 6 years ago–or whenever the first Harry Potter movie first came out.   I started writing Fan Fiction which is a technique where you use characters from movies and write your own story around them. So I’d have to say it was the Harry Potter movies and stories that got me started.  Then when I read Twilight for the first time, I got really hooked.

NG: What were the first pieces you had published?

SueM: “The Clearing” and “Silent Story”

NG: Those first two times must have been exciting, but it never really gets old does it? What other written pieces have been published?

SueM:  “War”, “Dark Love” “Heavenly Delights”, “Angry Night” and “Death Stalkers”. They appeared in Mississippi Crow, Episodes of the Norm, and Three Graceful Stone Skips.

NG: How did you get your start in writing?

SueM: I got started when I met a wonderful author, Mary Deal.  We met at the website The Writing Box.  She started a contest for flash fiction to which I had entered “The Clearing” and “Silent Story”, she liked them so well that she helped me write my first submission email and it was then that I was introduced to you Nadia!

NG: I’d have to say Mary did us both a favor. You may know this already Sue, but Mary Deal will be my guest in an upcoming episode of Interviews with Extraordinary Women. She has a novel about to be released. Now, back to you for a moment. I’d love to know where your inspiration comes from. 

SueM: My inspiration comes from something inside me, a feeling I get. 

NG: You mentioned to me not long ago that you are writing your first novel. What is it called and what genre is it in?

SueM:  It’s called, “Forever”. It’s  in the  vampire genre, which seems at the moment to be very popular.

NG: Oooh, please tell me something about it!

SueM: It deals with a girl whose parents died mysteriously, drained of blood completely,  Katherine Rosewood, their daughter goes back to live in the house and  tries to find out who killed them and why.

NG: The whole vampire thing is very popular right now. I’m wondering if you needed to do research on the subject?

SueM: I’ve needed no research.  I’ve seen a lot of movies, and read a lot of books on the subject, so I guess you could call that my research.

NG: When you want to write, do you find it difficult to get started? 

SueM: I never found it hard.  I found that once my muse got going I couldn’t stop it!

NG: You have two talents you are making phenomenal use of, and from what you tell me, you never formally studied. Where does that talent come from? 

SueM: My talent comes from God and my mother.  It’s a natural talent. 

NG: Are there others in your family who are artists?

SueM: My son is very artistic, he loves to draw Batman, he is highly gifted, I sometimes think he is better than me!

NG: Writing and art can be tough. Have you been fortunate enough to get paid for your work? 

SueM: I’ve been paid for my art work. As for my written work, no, but that’s ok with me.  I find just being published is payment enough!  I really don’t think I’d become like the next Stephanie Meyer or Emily Dickinson, although I have been told by many that my poetry is similar to her, Emily.

 NG: Sue, this has been such a delight to have you here on the show, thank you for sharing your story with us. Before we sign off, I want to be sure to give the listeners your website address, which is also listed here at your interview page at the radio show: http://suesart.weebly.com/zentacular-art.html.  And remember, you can Google  Sue Midlock or Zentacular Art.

SueM: Thanks Nadia for having me, this has been a great experience.