Comics or graphic novels written and illustrated by women are rare. A few write a daily comic strip, but not an entire novel! Ruth Tait is one of those hardworking illustrator authors who are in the independent publishing business. She has written and illustrated Outworld, a science fiction but realistic story about engineers who experience a grim future. She thinks that some of the characters are based on herself, having had the ambition of becoming an engineer before, but switching to arts instead due to a crime massacre slaying of female engineers in a school in Canada. Ditto her family and some experiences which later became part of Outworld's story. It is a trilogy with 300 pages and is self-published in small comic books which are sold in book events and probably from her website. Originally from the United Kingdom and moving to Canada, she recalls life there and has included some of it in Outworld, such as a race economy drug riot which frightened her and her friends, with police getting involved with Jamaican immigrants. Art reflects life is obviously something she practises! She uses computer and digital tablet to draw her comics and also teaches courses. She has her own live/work studio and regularly shows her works in small galleries. Her dedication to her art and word is admirable and like a true artist continues despite complaining of lack of funding. It is hard to get a grant from the government or to be independent and self-published. When will the public recognize such unique talents? Time will tell if the money will ever come in to reward all artists with talent. Set in the future, Outworld just might bring in some for Ruth Tait...
