#yegmakers

Presented by TIX on the Square

If you’re a collector of beautiful books and ephemera, you’ve likely heard of Michael Hingston. If not, you’re in for a treat. He’s half the team at Hingston & Olsen Publishing, an independent press known and loved for its Edmontonia Trading Cards, Short Story Advent Calendar, and deluxe boxsets. Finding stories and giving them a permanent home is Michael’s passion. As you’re about to discover, so is writing, reading, collecting, and being a big stubborn believer in paper books. Meet this week’s maker, Michael Hingston.

TIX: We’re taught to believe it’s what’s inside that counts, but it’s impossible to ignore the beauty of your books and boxsets. Tell us about your decision to not only publish books but also celebrate them as art.

M.H.: Well, thank you! When Natalie (my co-publisher) and I decided to form Hingston & Olsen, in 2015, one of the first things we agreed on was that our books would be beautiful objects in their own right. At the time it seemed like everyone was panicking about the future of publishing in the age of e-books. We decided to double down on the qualities that you can only get from physical books: the tactile feel of paper, pops of colour, and an interactive presentation that you just can’t replicate on a tablet. It’s a better reading experience, not to mention a better deal for our readers in the long term. Ten years from now you probably won’t have access to an e-book you bought today, but every book on your bookshelves will still open up like it always did.

TIX: Which of your strengths (or experiences) as a writer have helped you succeed as a publisher?

M.H.: I’d say it comes down to empathy. Publishing is an act of faith between writer and publisher, and understanding the creative process—with all its up and downs—gives me an extra level of appreciation for the work that our writers entrust us with. That’s not something we take lightly. All of our editorial and design choices are made with the goal of presenting the text in the best light possible. I want writers to love working with us, and to feel that their work is in good hands.

TIX: What’s the first thing you wrote that inspired your career path?

M.H.: That’s a great question. The truth is I didn’t start reading or writing seriously until I was in university and fell in with the student newspaper there. I remember my first few production nights—which routinely kept us in the office until past midnight—where I would frantically write something on deadline, then look at it in print the following week and think, “Huh, that’s actually not bad.” Then we had to do it all over again for the next issue, which was a big part of the charm.

TIX: Tell us about your Edmontonia Trading Cards and what inspired the idea.

M.H.: The Edmontonia Trading Cards are a set of all-ages collectible trading cards that showcase this odd, charming, mostly frozen city of ours. Each card features original artwork

from one of 12 different local artists on the front, and an entertaining and informative write-up about that subject—from landmarks to urban wildlife to the four phases of West Edmonton Mall—on the back. They come in randomized packs of 8, and there are 60 total cards to collect. You can get them at independent shops around the city, or from our website (edmontonia.ca).

The idea for the cards was two-fold: (1) Thinking how cool it would be to make a set of non-sports-related trading cards, and (2) Figuring out what to do with all these odd little stories I was gathering about my adopted home. When I first moved to Edmonton, back in 2008, I kept having all these questions about what I was seeing. Like, why do all these buildings look like pyramids? What’s the deal with magpies? Sure, it’s cold, but what’s the coldest it’s ever been? As soon as those two ideas merged, I got to work, and I’m really proud of how it all turned out.

TIX: Your projects all seem to celebrate reading as an experience—combining the physical act of opening a beautiful “gift” with the pleasures of reading. What was the inspiration for that equation?

M.H.: The age of paper being the default vehicle for communication is gone. Digital technology is way more convenient, and also generates less clutter in people’s lives. But that doesn’t mean paper has no function. As mentioned above, I’m a big, stubborn believer in paper books—and I think one of the things they do exceptionally well is ground the reader in a particular time and place, having a particular experience. Throwing in extra layers, like the element of surprise in the Short Story Advent Calendar or opening a pack of random Edmontonia cards, just makes that experience a little more fun.

TIX: Far too often, the conversations around print publishing are centered around worry for it and what’s being lost. What excites you about the future of print publishing and your role in shaping it?

M.H.: As more of our lives go digital, the funny thing is that people actually become hungrier for offline entertainment. (Have you seen the internet joke about spending all day at work looking at the bad screen, then coming home to look at the good screen? I hate how much I relate to it.) We all want to unplug, or at least to stop doomscrolling for a while. This is a big opportunity for print! It’s one of the few modes of entertainment we have that doesn’t require electricity. That’s one reason H&O doesn’t do e-books. We want to give people a different experience, because we believe there’s value in it.

TIX: Your books and advent calendars have become a favourite gift to receive. What’s a favourite book you’ve been given (and who gave it to you)?

M.H.: I love books about books, and two of the chunkiest and most beloved ones on my shelves were gifts: John Sutherland’s Lives of the Novelists, given to me by my friend Jeremy before he moved away (he’s actually since moved back; hopefully he doesn’t want the book returned, too), and Michael Schmidt’s The Novel: A Biography, which was a Christmas present from my brother.

TIX: You’ve said that the retirement of your Advent Series has freed you up to work on some exciting new ideas. Can you tell us a little about them?

M.H.: We try to keep a pretty tight lid on things at H&O, but I can tell you we’re planning to release more titles in 2021 than we ever have in a given year before. That’ll include something new for the holidays, as well as our first-ever standalone novel.

Want more? Visit hingstonandolsen.com, edmontonia.ca and tixonthesquare.ca for the latest from Michael and other great artists.

Artist Bio

Michael Hingston is a writer and book publisher. He is the author of three books, including Let’s Go Exploring, a history of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes. His journalism has appeared in Wired, The Guardian, The Atlantic, and the Washington Post. Hingston is also the co-founder of Hingston & Olsen Publishing, an independent press specializing in deluxe boxsets like the Short Story Advent Calendar and the Ghost Box. He lives in Edmonton with his family.

Presented by TIX on the Square

Sometimes, when you work really hard, you fall in with the right people, community, and — bears? Watercolour illustrator Gloria Ho has that kind of a story. What began as a series of whimsical bear-themed cards, grew into a signature collection of prints, depicting the sartorial wild side of nature. From hipster house cats to owls in Starfleet uniform, Gloria’s delightfully furry fashionistas have become her trademark. In this interview, we had the great pleasure of chatting with her about the unpredictability of watercolours, the certainty of a handwritten message, and the joy of seeing people smile. Meet this week’s maker, Gloria Ho.

TIX: Out of all the mediums, how did you land on watercolour? What is it about the medium that suits your style of storytelling so well?

G.H.: I found watercolours very tricky and a bit frustrating at first. But after some time, I fell in love with how unpredictable it was. I loved learning ways to control it and ways to let it go wild! I love to paint people and animals – living things. Watercolour almost feels alive because it blends and bleeds and moves. It’s as animated as my subjects!

TIX: Does showing in a gallery allow for your ideas to become bigger?

G.H.: I think so. I’ve shown my work in a few gallery settings, and it’s such a different experience than displaying my work at markets or online. There’s no pressure for it to be about sales and being marketable. It’s more about communicating my ideas and telling a story. It’s been a long time since I’ve made work for a gallery setting, and I definitely look forward to doing it again in the future.

TIX: In your animal series, your characters depict so much emotion and story through their body language and fashion. Do you build the characters first in your head, or do their personalities reveal themselves as you work?

G.H.: It happens both ways! Sometimes I see an image of an animal that I really want to paint, and then I will do research and gather reference photos to get a sense of its personality. Other times, I have a clear character in my head. I also love people-watching, and very often I will see people that I want to capture in animal form. I’ll take inspiration from their fashion, their body language, and their personalities to create animal characters.

TIX: With correspondence becoming much more digital, what do you think the charm of receiving a physical card still holds?

G.H.: Absolutely! It is such a wonderful feeling to receive a physical card in the mail or from someone’s hands. Touching the paper and seeing someone’s handwriting brings a special warmth that’s different from a digital message. Also, taking the time to pick out a card, write a personal message, and deliver it to a loved one is such an act of care! I’m quite old-fashioned, and I still write letters and cards to friends. I’ve also recently started writing letters to seniors living in care facilities.

TIX: What is the best advice you’ve received, and how have you applied that advice to your work?

G.H.: I started selling my artwork in February 2014, which was coincidentally the same time that I started my current job as an English teacher to newcomers to Canada. It felt great that I was able to juggle both of my passions. At that time, a former university professor was incredibly encouraging of me, and he advised me to continue to strike that balance for my whole life. I’ve always kept that in mind. However, I’ve felt overwhelmed at times trying to manage both jobs. Sometimes I can’t paint as much as I like. At times, I’ve felt like quitting one or the other. But I often think about my university professor, and now I don’t pressure myself to take on every project that comes my way. I try to focus on that balance and just do what I can.

TIX: What from your everyday life fuels your creativity?

G.H.: Before the pandemic, it was definitely being out in public and people-watching! Travel was also a big part of my life, and I loved seeing design and aesthetics in other countries and cities. Now, it’s probably watching movies, having conversations with friends, and trying to be aware of what’s going on in the world.

TIX: What’s coming up for you?

G.H.: I am slowly making my way through custom portraits. My clients are incredibly patient and understanding of my limited painting hours, which I’m so grateful for. I am also in the process of designing a more diverse collection of greeting cards. A friend asked me a few years ago if I had an adoption card and, regrettably, I didn’t make one until last year. I’m trying to think of cards that will be meaningful to more people.

Want more? Visit gloriaho.ca and tixonthesquare.ca for the latest from Gloria and other great artists.

Artist Bio

Gloria Ho is a watercolour illustrator based in Edmonton, AB. Gloria paints animals, people, and other random things. She aims to make illustrations that are joyful, inviting, and bring a smile to people’s faces. Gloria started her business in 2014 but has been painting for most of her life. In addition to painting, Gloria teaches English to newcomers to Canada. Both jobs fuel her creativity and desire to make the world a more beautiful place.