Archive for the ‘Series and Books’ Category
Diffidence and the Rift Audiobook
Thursday, May 28th, 2026
Written by: Amy Crook
Narrated by: Gabriel McKnight
Diffidence Obedience Atonement Smythe is a grad student who prefers to never use his full name. Ever. He’s finishing a PhD 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.
Categories: Series and Books, Words Words Words
March 2026 Patreon Sketches
Thursday, April 30th, 2026
Everyone’s in a spring mood this month, including a commemorative coin from ancient Rome.
- Andria wanted a lucky fox, and gets this cheeky fellow
- Joanne asked for a hare gazing at the moon
- Amy B wanted Raccoon (and specified the cat) so here she is in her ideal form, a sphere (sold)
- Gill prompted, “Beware the Ides,” and I found this coin that Brutus put out after the assassination. Cold, Brutus, really cold. (sold)
- SaraBeth wanted ART from Murderbot saying, “Make peace or else.” Since ART doesn’t have a physical body the same way some of us do, we get word art! (sold)
- Molly asked for an Easter egg
- Sky wanted something spring-ish, and suggested tulips, so here we are (sold)
- Jeff prompted “Onlyferns” and reminded me of Opus, so this is the result (sold)
- Lila asked for a fox amongst flowers and frolicking occurred
- Eric wanted one of the cats, and since I was already doing Raccoon, here’s Trotsky! (sold)
Categories: Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: amy b, andria, cat, copic marker, eric, gill, jefferson, joanne, lila, molly, pen and ink, sarabeth, sky, watercolor
A Suspicion of Serpents
Monday, April 6th, 2026
Consulting Magic Book 5
It’s a manor house mystery for book five of the Consulting Magic series!
Alex Benedict-St. Albans is a mage with a myriad of skills to his name, from investigating murders to warding a household. Other nobles exacerbate his usual grumpiness, but underneath everything he cares for his chosen few.
Julian St. Albans-Benedict is a plant mage and Alex’s husband, drawn into the murder investigations despite himself. Alex’s sweeter half, Julian has a kind word for everyone.
Lucas Chudleigh is a good friend to both, and when he invites them to a weekend party at his manor house to celebrate his completed renovations, they reluctantly accept. The good doctor Geoff Tamlinson, Chudleigh’s beau, is at least there to help alleviate the boredom of high society.
When there’s a murder at the snowbound party, even the police can’t get through to investigate. Alex and Julian are left on their own to try to catch the killer before anyone else dies.
This cosy magical mystery revisits our romantic heroes for a fifth time, following their established relationship, their cats, and their friends into another adventure!
Tags: mm romance, established relationship, murder mystery, food, cats, cosy mystery, cosy fantasy, found family, modern fantasy, contemporary setting, magic as science, science as magic, grumpy/sunshine, go read book 1 first if this sounds good to you, tw: emetophbia
Categories: Series and Books, Words Words Words
Tags: book, consulting magic
February 2026 Patreon Sketches
Thursday, April 2nd, 2026
Almost forgot to post these here!
- Gil asked for a birthday cake – happy late bday, darling! (sold)
- Kelly asked for a willow, wisp or tree, and got one of my spooky tree and ghost arts (sold)
- SaraBeth wanted Gonzo, and Gonzo wanted turtles on his shirt (sold)
- Amy B wanted a Cheshire Cat, and got this odd little creature with sparkly pink and also a rainbow tail (sold)
- Jefferson prompted “WTFebruary” and tbh I just wanted to draw this cat I saw on tumblr (sold)
- Karla asked for a dust bunny dragon, and gets this scruffy gal (sold)
- Nick asked for a Beautiful Disaster so I drew him Lestat
- Eric wanted 2×1, so he got his Gundam Wing boys in bad stick figure glory (sold)
- Andria wanted a sparkly purple birthday cupcake – happy late bday to you as well!
Categories: Angels, Cthulhu, and Other Myths, Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, People, Figures and Faces, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books, Things I'm a Fan Of, Whimsical and Strange
Tags: amy b, andria, cat, copic marker, dragon, eric, gil, gundam, jefferson, karla, kelly, lestat, muppets, nick, patreon, pen and ink, sarabeth, watercolor
Harvest Moon 7
Sunday, March 22nd, 2026
Harvest Moon 7, 8″x8″ mixed media on paper, sold
I painted this in 2024 and apparently never posted it to the site! Some darling person bought Harvest Moon 5, which then got lost in the move to NY, and I promised her I would (eventually) paint a replacement.
This one’s different but, I think, absolutely gorgeous, with the acrylic ink texture in the moon and acrylic paint mixed with watercolor to give the sky a tumultuous texture. There’s only one crane this time but I think it makes a really nice contrast to the moon and sky all by itself, and my buyer agreed.
The mix of media really makes it shine, and makes me want to get my acrylics back out — but first I have to clean the table of detritus, because acrylics are a lot messier than watercolor.
Categories: Completed Commissions, Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
Tags: acrylic, acrylic ink, brush and ink, harvest moon, nfs, sold, watercolor
Debris Field
Tuesday, March 10th, 2026
Debris Field, 7″x5″ watercolor on paper
This abstract watercolor painting is loosely part of a series I’m calling Formations, although it doesn’t follow the naming convention.
The red and metallic gold seem like they’d make a striking contrast, but it’s only when the light hits that you really see the outlined field of brush-strewn droplets as separate and discrete. I have my own absolutely dorky interpretation of this art, but you’re free to see whatever it is that makes you happy in the shapes.
Debris Field, detail, watercolor by Amy Crook
Categories: Abstract and Just Plain Weird, Series and Books
Tags: formations, map, metallic, nfs, watercolor
Three Crows 3
Thursday, March 5th, 2026
Three Crows 3, 5″x7″ watercolor and brush & ink by Amy Crook
After a long hiatus, I’m working on getting back into a regular art practice along with my writing. This first finished piece is technically part of a series, mostly because I wasn’t feeling original about the title.
I had this background painted already from months ago, but I hadn’t had the motivation to finish it until I did a short mentorship with the wonderful Sarah Lacy, who gave me “finish one work in progress” as homework. The very darkest blue at the top has a subtle sparkle, fading down to a more demure vivianite and then just that first blush of pink and gold as the sun comes up to outshine the moon.
The twisted tree is one of my favorite types to paint, brush and a dark matte india ink really making it stand out from the background along with the titular birds. There’s more focus on the tree than the birds in this painting in the series, but I think that’s okay.
I have another abstract coming soon, as well as a pair of more spectacular sunrises, so keep an eye out! This one’s for sale if you’re inclined, but the point was more to get back into an art practice than to make a sale, if you know what I mean. Contact me if you’re interested, though!
Categories: Flowers, Trees and Landscapes, Sea Creatures and Other Animals, Series and Books
Tags: brush and ink, crow, for sale, three crows, watercolor
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