The Reflection of Memory
OLEKSANDRA BARYSHEVA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
For as long as she can remember, UK fantasy writer C. L. Holland loved telling stories. At five years old, she would tell bedtime stories to her younger brother. At seven, she wrote her first fantasy story, a “Choose-Your-Own-Adventure” scribbled on the back of a school workbook. The stories came easily, spurred by her voracious reading habits (something she continues to do today). She cites authors Patricia McKillip, Neil Gaiman and Guy Gavriel Kay as major influences on her reading and writing habits.
C. L.’s love of words eventually led her to a bachelor’s degree in English with creative writing and a master’s degree in English. Those degrees did not figure in her professional career (thus far anyway), where she toils away administering the payroll of a busy environmental consultancy. One thing her education, reading and storytelling did do was provide a rich tradition in the printed word. Her stories have now appeared or are appearing in the Ruins Metropolis, One Step Beyond: Subatomic Anthology 01, A Fly in Amber e-zine and Kaleidotrope print zine.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Oleksandra Barysheva is a native of Ukraine and a senior at Matawan Regional High School in New Jersey. Growing up in the Ukraine, she showed an “excellent proficiency” in her drawing classes, inspired by her architect mother, who was her first art teacher. After moving to America, Oleksandra became even more fascinated and dedicated to illustration and visual arts.
Over the years, Oleksandra has received numerous art awards for her work, which has motivated her to try different techniques, work without boundaries and take greater risks as an artist. Her interests have expanded to book illustration, ceramics and graphic design. It was her love of illustration that led her to enter the Illustrators of the Future Contest.
Soon after her entry, Oleksandra began attending classes at the duCret School of Art where artists, professional illustrators and their work constantly surround her. The environment has inspired Oleksandra, and she says her technical skills have definitely progressed. “Art has been my life,” she says. “This is just the beginning.”