I am currently writing and illustrating a book of fables and wonder stories, some of my own invention and others inspired by folklore traditions. All of them affirm, in their own idiosyncratic ways, the idea that the human world and the natural world are not at all separate, but part of the same deep continuum of life. This idea is embodied by the hedge woman, the kindly, wise, tricksy, practical old lady who flits in and out of the stories, weaving them together. At the center of the book is her own story, telling how this crone, the witch and fairy godmother of all wonder stories, found her infinite wisdom. Along the way we'll meet talking goats, enchanted stags, confused commuters, infinite snakes, God herself, and a menagerie of other strange characters who arrived in my brain and insisted on being included.
I want to create this book as a thing of real beauty, richly illuminated with intricate black and white illustrations. My visions is for almost every single page to have some kind of illustration, decoration, or design, like a modern version of an illuminated manuscript. In order to make this vision a reality I'm going to need some help. If you think this sounds like a book you would like to read the best way to support its creation is through my Patreon page, linked below.
If you do choose to support this labor of love I will send you a code so that you can access my project blog, The Forest, where I will post excerpts from the text and images of illustrations in progress, as well as essays on folklore, nature connection, and my artistic inspirations. I will also send you various other goodies as the project progresses, like prints of finished artwork and hand-drawn pagan holiday cards! If you can't spare the money I understand entirely, and may the trees and the hedge woman bless you all the same!
