Blog « Antemortem Arts | Art & Writing by Amy Crook

Diffidence and the Rift

Posted on May 23rd, 2025

Diffidence and the Rift by Amy Crook

Diffidence Obedience Atonement Smythe is a grad student who prefers to never use his full name. Ever. He’s finishing a Ph.D. in Extemporaneous Magic, and his research project for his dissertation is closing the Rift between worlds that he accidentally opened when he was thirteen. Obviously, caffeine is an important part of his life.

Ergi Thusol-Von Klempt is a half-orc who works in the infamous Goblin Market, selling magical pastries to those who need them – or, in Diff’s case, just want them. He’s got bubblegum-pink hair, lovely lilac skin, and a smile like sunshine, at least if you ask Diff. Ergi is intrigued by his frazzled, but handsome, frequent customer.

The Goblin Market is a magical space that anyone can find if they truly need it, and most people visit once or twice if at all. Diff is there several times a week as he untangles the layered mysteries of the Rift, and has had years to develop his crush on Ergi.

In this cozy urban fantasy, Diff and Ergi find some solutions to life’s problems in the Market, along with the courage to talk to each other.

Diff might even find a future beyond the Rift that has consumed over a decade of his life.

Tags: m/m romance, half-orc/human, crushes to lovers, open-door spice, found family, unusual magic, fiber arts, lots of tea, this book will make you hungry

Available May 29th on Amazon – preorder today!!

Categories: Sale Post, Words Words Words
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March 2025 Patron Sketches

Posted on April 30th, 2025

Confession, I did these by accident last month, but here they are today!

8 sketch cards in various media by Amy Crook

  • Not a request! Just a tree sunset kinda thing, per my usual ouevre
  • Eric asked for Mustang and got a sad wet version of Roy from FMA:B
  • Amy B requested raccoons and got this trio of trash pandas
  • Jefferson prompted “chaos” and that’s exactly what he got (sold)
  • Rey asked for “Facts Matter” for what I think are obvious reasons, so I went with word art in soothing neutrals (sold)
  • Kelly wanted a cheetah and I was just feeling the emoji style
  • SaraBeth asked for a guillotine, power to the people
  • And finally some twilight and a weird tree I saw on my trip

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Pretty Words, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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100 Cats no.91-100

Posted on April 22nd, 2025

And here we have the finale, the last 10 cats in this months-long project. Thanks for coming on this journey with me!

watercolor of a black cat peeking out of a sideways paper bag

“Peek,” 3.5″x2.5″ watercolor on paper (sold)

 

watercolor of a chonky orange cat flopped on its back

“Flop,” 6″x4″ watercolor on paper

 

watercolor of a cat curled into a ball surrounded by a black zen circle and a soft blue-grey background

“Ball,” 6″x6″ watercolor and ink on paper

 

cartoon of a cat as an old-school cylon

“Cylon,” 2.5″x3.5″ pen & ink and copic marker on paper (sold)

 

watercolor of a cat peeking down over the edge of something

“Vulture,” 3.5″x2.5″ watercolor on paper (nfs)

 

abstract art of a kitty with big green eyes and anxiety lines around its head and tail

“Whelmed,” 5″x7″ watercolor, ink, and acrylic on paper

 

art of a purple cat sleeping in an unusual pose

“Weirdo,” 3.5″x2.5″ acrylic on paper (sold)

 

art of a green cat in with one leg up in the air

“Problem,” 3.5″x2.5″ acrylic on paper (sold)

 

abstract art of a stained-glass cat in a regal pose against a dark background

“Regal,” 6″x8″ watercolor, ink, and acrylic on paper

 

abstract art of a purple cat with spirals in its fur stretching out in a U-shape

“Liquid,” 8″x8″ watercolor and acrylic ink on paper

 

And that’s it! If there’s any of these you love that aren’t marked as sold, they might still be around for purchase — just drop me a line!

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Completed Commissions, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of
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100 Cats no.81-90

Posted on April 15th, 2025

This is the penultimate blog post! I’ll have to actually do some new-new art soon if I want to keep it up. In other news, though, I did finish the first draft of my tenth novel, yay! That’ll publish in June, probably, just in time for Pride.

ink wash art of a flat voidcat with very green eyes

“Flat,” 3.5″x2.5″ ink wash on paper (sold)

 

watercolor of an orange kitty with a very fluffy tail stretching a leggie out front and back

“King,” 3.5″x2.5″ watercolor on paper (sold)

 

ink drawing of a cat on its hind legs looking out a window

“Long,” 2.5″x3.5″ ink on paper (sold)

 

painting of a black cat peeking out of the top of a paper bag

“Soon,” 2.5″x3.5″ watercolor on paper (sold)

 

messy ink sketch of a kitten in sunglasses

“Cool,” 2.5″x3.5″ pen & ink on paper

 

ink sketch of a tiny, round-bellied kitten on its back

“Tiny,” 3.5″x2.5″ pen & ink on paper

 

watercolor of a seal point kitten atop a skull with glowing eyes

“Friend,” 5″x7″ watercolor on paper

 

ink drawing of a cat stretching out to just touch something

“Touch,” 3.5″x2.5″ pen & ink on paper (sold)

 

ink drawing of a cream cat with orange points

“Fire,” 2.5″x3.5″ watercolor on paper

 

watercolor painting of a cat's tail sticking up out of a paper bag

“In,” 2.5″x3.5″ watercolor on paper (sold)

Categories: Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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100 Cats no.71-80

Posted on April 8th, 2025

We’re getting close to done! Just two more to go after this.

cartoon of a teal cat in a fedora

“Agent,” 2.5″x3.5″ pen & ink and copic marker on paper (sold)

 

cartoon of a grumpy cat in an erlenmeyer flask

“Formaldehyde,” 2.5″x3.5″ pen & ink and copic marker on paper (sold)

 

ink sketch of a cat with big eyes on its back looking clueless

“What?” 3.5″x2.5″ pen & ink on paper

 

cartoon of a black cat with a white chest patch and red hat pretending to be a lawn gnome

“Disguise,” 2.5″x3.5″ pen & ink and copic marker on paper

 

watercolor painting of three cat silhouettes leaping against a colorful sunset

“Aspire,” 7″x5″ watercolor on paper

 

watercolor painting of a sleeping kitty in teal on black

“Rest,” 7″x5″ watercolor on paper

 

watercolor sketch of a sleeping kitty

“Pause,” 3.5″x2.5″ watercolor on paper

 

absurd watercolor painting of a cat flying with inadequate fairy wings

“Fly,” 2.5″x3.5″ watercolor on paper (sold)

 

watercolor painting of a black cat hiding in a paper bag, tail peeking out

“Hide,” 3.5″x2.5″ watercolor on paper (sold)

 

metallic watercolor painting of a sleeping kitty all sprawled out

“Dream,” 3.5″x2.5″ watercolor on paper (sold)

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Daily Art, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
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February 2025 Patron Sketches

Posted on April 3rd, 2025

Poddleston at came out and helped awhile with this giant set of 10.

10 sketch cards by Amy Crook

 

  • Amy B asked for something joyful and gets a grey kitty in a Tater Tot sort of pose, which is something that sure brings me joy, anyway
  • Eric prompted “wonder” and I thought this kind of tarot-Fool wanderer wondering about life was a neat response to it (sold)
  • Molly wanted a praying animal and gets a polar bear
  • Jefferson prompted “R is for R’lyeh” and gets a weird, mossy underwater city with a hidden R in it (sold)
  • SaraBeth wanted Love Wins ft. Gritty, and while I didn’t rainbow it up, the sentiment is there (sold)
  • Kelly wanted, and got, a swan, easy peasy lemon squeezy (sold)
  • Rey prompted “napping dad” and got, well, this poor Dad (sold)
  • Andria wanted something cheering for grad school, and I have been informed that surprise food is always cheering when you’re a grad student, especially with bonus alcohol
  • Rebecca S wanted something cosy and gets a little red dragon today, along with a cup of tea to warm him (sold)
  • Amber wanted coffee, and this is as close as I can get to making her a cup (sold)

Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Pretty Words, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Tentacles, Whimsical and Strange
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100 Cats no.61-70

Posted on March 31st, 2025

Whoops, skipped a week, sorry! This is a day early to avoid the April Fools doubts, lol, but we’ll be back on track next week, promise.

watercolor of a floofy orange cat on its back

“Floof,” 2.5″x3.5″ watercolor on paper

 

watercolor painting of a cat licking its paw from behind

“Gremlin,” 2.5″x3.5″ watercolor on paper

 

watercolor sketch of a blue cat licking itself

“Twist,” 3.5″x2.5″ watercolor on paper (sold)

 

semi-abstract ink wash painting of a black cat on a purple background

“Moggy,” 5″x7″ acrylic ink on paper (sold)

 

drawing of a voidcat with big round gold eyes

“Blob,” 3.5″x2.5″ ink on paper

 

detailed watercolor of a patterned black cat staring up at a skull moon

“Curiosity,” 5″x7″ watercolor on paper

 

sketchy drawing of a demanding cat

“Pets!” 3.5″x2.5″ ink on paper

 

stylized ink drawing of a grumpy kitty

“Demand,” 3.5″x2.5″ ink on paper

 

stylized green watercolor cat lying in a strange pose

“Comfy?” 3.5″x2.5″ watercolor on paper (sold)

 

darkly colored easter-egg-like painting of a cat sleeping in the round

“Eggie,” 3.5″x2.5″ watercolor on paper (sold)

Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Daily Art, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Whimsical and Strange, Zombies, Skulls, and Other Morbid Things
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