Writers seem to really like the visual post I did recently on the types of picture books and illustrations I’d like to see in my inbox, so I figure, why not do some more for other genres/age groups I rep. This one will be slightly different since I’m not looking for specific types of illustrations, but more to express the mood and tone of what I want to see. Keep in mind, these are just some of the things I’d love to find, not a definitive list. I’ll add to as I think of others.
Fantasy
Gothic/atmospheric
Southern Gothic
Ghost stories
Weird/strange
(love the similarities here to Pan’s Labyrinth, which is the perfect example of what I mean by weird/strange)
Circus/freak show
Think Big Fish
![Merissa and the creepy twins. [Demonic Circus by vinegar.deviantart.com]](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5f/83/7e/5f837e2b89821f895641cc243e509a8d.jpg)
Fairytale-esque
Not necessarily retellings, but something with the feel of fairytales.
Myth/folklore
But not European, Greek/Roman, or Egyptian. They’re overdone.
Retellings
New treatments for great works of literature or legend (not just fairytales)
Clueless = Emma by Jane Austen
O Brother Where Art Thou = The Odyssey by Homer
Historical
![52 Powerful Photos Of Women Who Changed History Forever ... Photograph of a samurai warrior. [c. late 1800s]](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/bf/6f/49/bf6f492892af865ff3e8f05b9631e3f0.jpg)
Mystery
Contemporary realistic
But not issue-driven (suicide, anorexia, rape, etc.)
Set in the West/Southwest
Jackson Lake, Wyoming*
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah*
Sisters/friends
Brothers/friends
This, but when they’re teens.
Tight-knit group of boys who’ve known each other forever.
Family
Healthy family relationships
Diverse characters
Authors from marginalized groups
*These images © Michelle Witte
nice group of eclectic photos and drawings.
Good taste.