As the nuns in Catholic school would often remind me,
‘change is inevitable’. With that in
mind, this week’s character interview is going to take a little detour from the
original format. Hey, that’s what creative writing is all about. So you’ll get to learn a bit about Flynn
from the “Traveling Circus” and Ingar Rudholm, the creative artist behind him.
Trapped by a
mysterious traveling circus! Young
Flynn must find his inner courage to battle his way home. A crooked ringmaster,
wielding a magic pocket watch that controls time, holds Flynn captive against
his will. Escaping requires reaching out to some unusual circus performers. So,
he befriends Cordelia who’s cursed to become a mermaid at night and Albert the
fortuneteller who has a crystal ball where he can see the future and the past.
Using the power of imagination and the fortuneteller's magic, Flynn must escape
the circus before the ringmaster erases Flynn's memories forever!
Let’s learn a little bit about Flynn.
Are you the type of
person who always seeks out the company of others?
At the young age of fourteen, I shy
away from large crowds, public speaking and talking to girls.
What do you do to
relax after a day’s work?
After school, I write and draw comic
books with my best friend John.
Which do you prefer,
music or television?
I prefer music over television.
Who’s your best friend and what influence have they had on your life?
John is my best friend. He always has my back and sticks up for me when there are bullies in school.
What has been the most romantic thing you’ve ever done or instigated?
Well, I didn’t instigate it, but Rena from my art class came up to me at a high school dance. As the fog machine created a cloud that surrounded them, she leaned in and kissed me!
Here are few questions for the author:
Ingar Rudholm was
born and raised in Whitehall. His mother owned Homestead Art Gallery on Mears
right across the street from the Howmet Playhouse. His father built and
remodeled homes in the Muskegon County area. As a child, Ingar's mother
enrolled him in art classes. Thanks to his mother's art gallery, Ingar met
several local painters and attended local art fairs from Traverse City to
Rockford.
Traveling Circus is Ingar's first illustrated novel and includes a lot of famous painters, but it is also a tribute to the first artist Ingar ever knew and loved: his mother.
Traveling Circus is Ingar's first illustrated novel and includes a lot of famous painters, but it is also a tribute to the first artist Ingar ever knew and loved: his mother.
How did your
background get you involved in this novel?
Mr. Cameron, my Language Arts
Teacher in high school, encouraged me to write.
In college, I took a few creative writing classes. But it wasn't until I
turned 39 years old when I finished my first book. For anyone who always wanted
to write it's never too late to start.
Who did you become
interested in writing?
I started writing stories when I was
in 2nd grade, but my real passion is art. To be honest, I enjoyed drawing the
illustrations for my book more than the writing process.
What is it about this
story that sets it apart from the others?
Even though it's a fantasy book for children between the ages 10 to 13 years old, I wrote the book on three levels.
1. Metaphors used in the story. For
example, during the magical circus act a bunny transforms into a lion. The act
represents Flynn, the main character, transforming from a shy
"rabbit" into a brave "lion".
2. The message to the young readers:
is find and develop your own natural talents. Flynn starts out insecure and
he's not really good at sports. Most boys find their confidence in school
sports, but Flynn finds his courage while using his art, his natural talent.
3. Since he finds his courage through
art, all the characters and scenes in the story are based on famous paintings
and artists.
Links to Ingar's sites
Buy links
Our musical selection seems only fitting for this story.
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