The Book Shop
Books filled with enchanted forests, extraordinary creatures, wise women and mischievous monsters
Please note that I ship every Monday
To learn more about each book scroll down the page
Strangehollow
Once upon a time…
“Back in a time long ago, that people have forgotten, there was a great forest. It was known as Strangehollow. It spanned many rivers, reached across to touch oceans and gathered around the ankles of soaring mountains. These woods were made up mostly of ancient deciduous trees, but there were also sprawling swamps and towering pines.
Amongst these wilds there lived many unusual beasts and magical beings. There were some as delicate and diaphanous as spider’s silk and others which were so immense, their heads rose above the canopy of trees. It was a marvellous place.”
Strangehollow is a wild and unforgiving place, humans do not live there, except for a small number of magical folk, the wizards, witches and enchanters who found a way to live among the dangerous beasts.
If you seek adventure and whimsy, magical beasts and strange characters, you will surely find it here.
"Mischief is the only word that can be used in regard to Brownies. They are small, they are noisy and they are the biggest show-offs you are ever likely to meet.
Naked and hairy with outrageous hair and beards, pink naked bottoms and sticky-out ears, they are, on the surface, seemingly harmless and rather amusing."
Exerpt from Strangehollow
Creatures
As is the norm for any vast ecosystem, there are many beasts and beings that make the forest their home.
In Strangehollow, most are dangerous, and even the most benign are not to be trusted.
The idea that started Strangehollow was a challenge I gave myself which was to paint the inhabitants of a ‘vast enchanted forest’. This idea has brought forth not just one book, but four!
The forest grew too, it now encompasses not only the Amazon-sized forest land, but huge mountain ranges in the north and wild coastlines to the west and south too.
I never imagined that there were so many creatures hiding away in my mind and I have loved every moment of creating this world.
"Got Savage Strangehollow today! Emily, you are brilliant! The Hushwortle and the Grollop! The charm is off the charts and pops out from the page. Love ‘em!. And the swamp troll sketch, Exquisite! And of course your unicorn close up, that’s just showing off. I’m sure I’ll find new favourites tomorrow but these were the ones that got me the first time round. Thank you for creating such magic!"
— — Henning Cedmar Brandstedt via Kickstarter
“Absolutely love the imagination and craftsmanship behind this work! I find I can just get lost in Strangehollow, in the most wonderful way!”
— Anny R
Cauldron
In 2018 I launched my second book, Cauldron. This book is filled with witches and their marvellous familiars, as well as magical potions and enchanted tools.
There are not many of these books left and once out of print, I will not be making more.
Each witch has descriptions about it and what they use or enchant their familiars for, be it magic or potion craft…
Mini Books Of Monsters
Why Monsters?
Monsters have always had a special place in my heart. I was bullied for years at school and I grew up feeling strange, and didn't understand people or why they were so unkind. I felt like the odd one out, and these monsters help me express these feelings. The monsters are an extension of the many parts of me.
The monsters are totally at ease with their strangeness and their silliness. Something that has taken decades for me to achieve for myself.
These books are for those of us who were never part of the clique, felt left out, or who maybe still feel like a bit of an outsider now.
“I’ve bought both volumes of the Mini Book of Monsters for my friend’s monster-obsessed little boy and he’s absolutely loved them! Reading independently is still quite new to him, and the combination of the brilliantly creative images and simple but characterful monster-bios has been really great for developing his reading confidence. The excitement of meeting a new monster on each page has had him tackling every new word with enthusiasm. He’s read through it so many times that he now knows it off by heart. A joy for adults and children alike; I would highly recommend!.”
— Adam J
Alien Outlaws
I had had the idea of creating a collection of characters who were being chased across the universe for extremely silly reasons. The smuggling of illegal Zloppcumbers and teaching illegal dance moves are two of the crimes.
In 2024 this idea came to fruition with my book WANTED - Cosmic Outlaws, Space Pirates & Intergalactic Scallywags!
Lovers of Sci-fi and humorous aliens will love it.
“Emily’s beautifully absurd characters make this book an absolute joy. Despite their surreal backstories, her gallery of rogues feel somehow relatable; perhaps we have all come across a Frimm Bolabas at some point in our lives? In addition to delivering a fantastic product, Emily’s customer service was exceptional. Thank you!”
— Adam J
