Katrina Rideout

Katrina Rideout is a doctoral researcher and creative writer based at the University of Brighton. Her research examines the development of human-nature connections and how this can be explored through creative practice. Within this context, she investigates temporal and topographical liminality alongside witch narratives to understand how these can be implemented in fiction as effective literary devices. We are about to enter an unprecedented era, the environment is under threat and we have no clear idea of what might come to pass. By reawakening and reclaiming the Witch as a representation of the environment - abused, undermined, burnt by man/patriarchy - we can hope to identify a guide for this liminal time, someone who can help us reconnect with nature and map a way through the real and seemingly unreal. Katrina aims to establish how the liminal persona of the Witch may be utilised in fiction to navigate topographical liminal spaces such as forests, and temporal/psychological liminal spaces, such as anxiety, grief and climate change.