ENGL 208 opens (Week 1) with an exploration of how narratives and media work together. A key text we study in this regard is Renée Nault's graphic novel adaptation of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. I thinking about the tensions and opportunities between issues and debates concerning, but not limited to feminist science fiction and dystopias, as well as intermediate adaptation, Dr. Kwasu David Tembo speaks with Renée about the latter's (re)reading and (re)presenting of both texts, their cultural context, point-of-view, framing, use of colour, the relation between text and image.

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Renee Nault is a Canadian artist, illustrator, and graphic novelist.
She is known for her vivid watercolor and ink illustrations. Her work has appeared in books, magazines, newspapers and advertising around the world.

In 2019, Nault's graphic novel adaptation of Margaret Atwood's dystopian classic, The Handmaid's Tale, was released. The book received critical acclaim and quickly became a bestseller, with several new international language editions in the works for next year.

Nault was born in Vancouver and later moved to Victoria. Growing up near the ocean, she was influenced by the languid weightlessness and bright colours of underwater landscapes. Later she connected these ideas with the "floating world" of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints which interested her with their repeating patterns and shapes. To this she brings a very personal edge, a cryptic symbolism and a dark sense of humor.

Renee loves to travel, and she has spent long stretches of time in Europe, Asia, and Africa. She has many appearances coming up where you can meet her and learn more about her work.