This week on Windowsill Chats, Margo is joined by novelist Jane Ward, author of four books, including her latest, Should Have Told You Sooner. With a lifelong love of storytelling, cooking, baking, and art, Jane has built a creative life rooted in curiosity, observation, and finding inspiration in unexpected places.

Jane began writing her first novel, Hunger, nearly thirty years ago while living in Iceland with her Navy husband, finding space for storytelling during the long, dark winters. Since then, she's continued exploring the complexities of human relationships through fiction, often weaving together themes of family secrets, forgiveness, regret, and the things we leave unsaid. Her latest novel was inspired by something as simple as a lawn sign spotted during an early morning dog walk.

Margo and Jane discuss:

• The meaning behind the question on Jane's website, "What's done is done. Or is it?" and why the past has a way of resurfacing

• Writing about family secrets, forgiveness, and the complicated relationships that make us human

• How Jane develops fictional characters who begin to feel like real people

• Finding inspiration in unexpected places, including the lawn sign that sparked her latest novel

• The creative freedom found in bread baking, photography, travel, and other everyday pursuits

• Her upcoming sequel and its exploration of motherhood in all its complicated forms

• The importance of making space for creativity outside of your primary artistic practice

• Jane's plans for a Gothic novel set in Switzerland, inspired by her childhood love of Daphne du Maurier

Connect with Jane Ward:

• Website: janeaward.com

• Instagram: @authorjaneward

• Threads: @authorjaneward

• Facebook: @janealessandriniward

What does it look like to build a creative career that keeps evolving, without losing the curiosity that got you started?

This week, Margo is joined by illustrator, designer, cartographer, educator, and all-around creative powerhouse Tania Willis. With a career spanning editorial illustration, advertising, pictorial maps, heritage interpretation, products, licensing, and education, Tania has spent decades finding new ways to make a living from her creativity. She's also the co-founder of The Good Ship Illustration, where she helps illustrators navigate the business side of a creative career.

Tania and Margo talk about the power of creative community, adapting as the industry changes, and why even established artists sometimes need to reinvent their work. They also explore the value of diversifying your income, following your genuine interests instead of trends, and creating supportive spaces where artists can learn without fear or shame.

Margo and Tania discuss:

• Why collaboration and community can accelerate creative growth
• Adapting your business as social media and the illustration industry change
• Teaching, mentoring, and sharing what you've learned along the way
• Reinventing your style when your work starts to feel too predictable
• Following curiosity instead of what you think you "should" be making
• Building a resilient career through freelance work, teaching, products, and licensing
• Why relationships and unexpected opportunities often shape a creative career
• The enduring value of handmade, imperfect, distinctly human work
• Creating safe, encouraging spaces for artists to experiment and learn
• Why sometimes you just have to fly your freak flag

Connect with Tania:
www.taniawillis.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tania.willis
The Good Ship Illustration: www.thegoodshipillustration.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thegoodshipillustration

This week, we're revisiting a favorite conversation from the Windowsill Chats archives with artist and surface designer Abby Jacobs.

As far back as she can remember, making art has been Abby's favorite thing to do—and some of the happiest times in her life have been when she's had a consistent creative routine. Her belief in art-making as a way of life led her to pursue a master's degree in transpersonal counseling and art therapy from Naropa University in Boulder after studying art and psychology/human services as an undergraduate.

Whenever something doesn't feel quite right in her life, Abby asks herself, "Am I making artwork daily?" If the answer is no, she usually knows where to start.

Margo and Abby discuss:

• Why pattern clashing isn't necessarily a bad thing

• Abby's art therapy background and how it influences her creative practice

• The importance of working with clients who feel aligned

• Having a creative outlet beyond paid work

• Navigating client expectations and people-pleasing

• Creating work that feels authentic to you

• What Abby learned from completing a 100-day project

• And much more!

Connect with Abby:

www.abbyjacdesigns.com
Instagram: @abbyjacdesigns