The Girl Next Door

I'm delighted to drop this new artwork, commissioned by the wonderful team at Del Rey Books to celebrate the upcoming release of AGNES AUBERT’S MYSTICAL CAT SHELTER by Heather Fawcett!

I was grateful to read an early copy from Del Rey Books to deep-dive into Heather's crafted new world, and I'm not exaggerating when I say this was my TOP read at the end of last year. This was the first time I've wanted a stand-alone to not be a stand-alone, as Agnes and Havelock and all of the shelter kitties are my new obsession.

In the book, Agnes Aubert is on the search for a new space after her cat shelter was collaterally damaged by a spontaneous magician's street duel. She ends up unwittingly leasing a new space from Havelock Renard, the First Dark Mage who infamously almost caused the apocalypse -- a worst case scenario for Agnes when magic is outlawed. Agnes is adamant on keeping her cats safe and her charity sensible, but soon her no-nonsense policies clash with Havelock's stubborn personality and his precarious dealings in magic, bringing the attention of the authorities and other unexpected magical dangers to her doorstep.

Please sit down and enjoy this cozy fantasy set in 1920's Montréal, packed with bejeweled magicians, magical pastries, and the ultimate cat distribution system!

I did a FFXIV Colour Wheel challenge over on Bluesky! This was really fun and a great way to get the creative juices flowing - and also to draw some characters I'd never drawn before :)

Haurchefan will encourage you

I always feel like I owe him an apology, even though he definitely wouldn't want wol to think that way.

SEBIAN LEX