Alexis Marie Chute

In this episode of U of A Reads, we sit down with Alexis Marie Chute, ’07 BFA, an award-winning visual artist, filmmaker, art gallery curator, and bestselling author of 7 books, including the fantasy trilogy Above the Star, Below the Moon, Inside the Sun, and memoir Expecting Sunshine. Her latest non-fiction books include Prairie Spirits, The Eternal Summer of Alberta’s Herbarium, Memorable Murals, and Moments in Focus. Her artwork is represented at the Art Gallery of Alberta and her documentary films have screened worldwide. She is the curator of Wild Skies Art Gallery, the Red Brick Common Public Art Gallery, and is co-founder of InFocus Photo Exhibit. Her most recent venture is Wild Skies Press, a hybrid-Canadian book publisher that produces beautiful art books, poetry collections, fiction and non-fiction titles. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Design and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and is passionate about creativity, healing, resiliency, and wellbeing on the “joy journey.”We talk with Alexis  about her creative process, how she develops immersive fantasy worlds, and the themes that run through her trilogy, from courage and friendship to the power of storytelling itself. She shares insights into what inspired the series, the challenges of bringing an entire fantasy world to life on the page, and the ways her artistic practice informs her writing.Whether you’re a fan of epic fantasy or curious about the craft behind building a trilogy, this episode offers a fascinating look at how imagination, discipline, and storytelling intersect in Alexis  Marie Chute’s work.This podcast is brought to you by the University of Alberta Alumni Association.  Follow @UAlbertaAlumni on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.