Fox Files with James Ravencroft
Hey everyone! Cali Fox here and today is an interview I did with a very scary man named James Ravencroft. I traveled back to England in the 60s and let me tell you, I was terrified the whole time I spoke to him.
The first thing I did when I woke up was look this guy up. The self-assured way he looked at me and spoke, I don't know. I've been going back into these weird little trips for a while now but this dude is the one that gave me the idea for Fox Files. This man, which his long dark hair, beautiful blue eyes, and perfectly groomed facial hair stuck with me. I swear his only physical flaw was the gap in his front teeth, which I admit, I watched while talking to him because I was afraid to look him in the eye too long.
James was introduced to me as an artist. I married a photographer and I've been to my fair share of exhibits and it's safe to say this guy just felt like an artist. For a moment, he felt safe and familiar, but there was something about him that, well, it's difficult to explain. This man made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Anyway, I'm stalling because I'm not sure how to get into these. I'm just going to jump in.
Good evening! My name is Cali. I hear you're an artist. What's your name?
James Ravencroft… But you knew that already. I’m very pleased to meet you, Cali. I do hope you have not dragged me away from my studio to ask me such mundane questions such as what is my favourite colour? I’m an artist, we artists do not have favourite colours. I work in lights, shadows, and hues. My world is full of lines I must put down on canvas. Give me your notebook, and I will create a masterpiece while we speak. Go on, ask me another question.
*At this point, I literally erased that question from my list. I love asking people's favorite colors. Alas, we will never know James'. I ripped out my sheet of questions and passed my notebook off to him.*
*I know I sounded flustered here because of the color thing* Right. Umm, well where are you from?
Ha! Is that the best you can do! Where am I from? My dear woman, is it not more important to know where I am going? What do I hope to achieve in my time left on earth? I paint! That’s all I want from this life is to paint an outstanding body of work. My mother was an outstanding artist and her work still demands high sums of money. You misunderstand me, Cali, I am proud of my mother, but I can achieve so much more. Given the right support and marketing, others will soon know my name.
Who was your mother?
*At this point James had a look that I'd swear that song "If Looks Could Kill" was about. There is also this tickle in the back of my mind like maybe I do remember James Ravencroft's names, but I can't picture his art.*
Apologies, that's probably a stupid question. It's just that I'm not from England and I'm unfamiliar with an artist named Ravencroft.
Her name isn't Ravencroft. It's Jane Elspeth Maedere.
*So, I work in a photography studio and my husband is a photographer and a decent artist, if I do say so myself, but my knowledge of artists-especially those outside photography-is limited at best. Still, I'm pretty sure I know who his mother is*
Why not tell others that your mother is Jane Elspeth Maedere?
How shallow of you my dear, Cali! I thought this interview was going to be about my beautiful Stone Angels, and me but once again all anyone is interested in is my mother and her sad story. Her struggle and her heartbreak, I refuse to talk about her.
Fair enough. Admirable to try and succeed without her name. What steps are you taking to reach your goals?
No, don’t look, Cali I will show you my sketch once we have finished talking.
*I'd been very careful not to look at what he'd been creating in my notebook, but I admit, my eyes did flick to his work here and he noticed immediately. I know he saw my embarrassment at getting caught too.*
You must understand my mother was misled and betrayed and I promised myself I would never share her work with the world. My goal is to become far better known than she is so others would leave her alone and allow her to rest in peace.
*As someone who's dealt with loss, something about the way he talked to his mother unsettled me. But I also think there is more beyond life than just being dead and I like to think those we've lost are still out there doing things and not just laying around and watching us. Which is what I always picture when people talk about the dead resting in peace.*
Rest in peace, of course. That sounds so final. I'm sorry for bringing her up. Right, so may I ask, what stands in your way, James?
It’s the same old problem all creatives have. Finding representatives who can market our work, and get the best price without betraying our trust. My agent, Basil Hallward says he will allow me to have my first solo exhibition soon but I need one last model for my roofscape collection. I was wondering if you would be interested in modeling for me, Cali.
That's kind of you.
*I know my voice was tight here. I'm not a model. I don't want to be part of an art exhibit. Besides, I'm in the past, how would that even work? It's one thing to talk to people, but I can't go around being part of an art project that will survive and exist in the future where I have to go back to. It's just too weird.*
May I see your sketch?
*James turned the page so I could see it. It was beautiful. I stood like an angel on a rooftop. Peaceful. If it weren't for something in his smile, I think I'd have really liked it.*
You're very talented.
Can you keep perfectly still, Cali? If not, do not worry, I have the means to help you. Please do not look so concerned, I’m always gentle with beautiful things.
When I woke up in my bed, I admit I felt relieved. I couldn't fall back asleep though so I hopped out of bed and looked this guy up. He was a straight-up murder, folks. I'm pretty sure that's why I had a tickle of familiarity when I heard his name. Stacey is really into true crime and I think I've heard her talk about him. That stone angel drawing? I was lucky to get out of there when I did. I don't exactly know what happens if you die in your dreams, but I don't want to tempt fate. On top of that, if I'm really going to the past in my dreams, who knows what happens if I die there.
You know his art is still out there in the world. Not only that, it's worth a TON OF MONEY! That is so crazy to me. While it was interesting to talk to James, I honestly hope I never see him again.
Is fame the perfect cover for murder?
Artist, James Ravencroft, thinks so. As his reputation as a painter grows, so does his need to find the next perfect model. They don’t just pose for him, they become his still life – his Stone Angels. Haunted by his dead mother’s notoriety, James goes in search of an agent to give him what he wants: international prominence. But then, James discovers that his agent, Basil Hallward, has his own agenda. Now James must turn the tables and destroy the one person who can give him the publicity he seeks for his Stone Angels paintings.
Finally, after ten years, he achieves his ambition to have a solo art exhibition for nine of his paintings, but the police are closing in on him. James has one last chance to complete the tenth painting, but has he left it too late?
If you haven't heard of James, Author Paula R C Readman does a wonderful deep dive into his life and crimes. Check it out HERE.
Readman is worth looking into. She has a Website HERE.
Check out all her socials!
