By Birdie Willis & Nicole Andelfinger
Illustrated by Vash Taylor & Fiona Marchbank
MIAMI, FL – Mad Cave’s YA Imprint MAVERICK is pleased to announce OF HER OWN DESIGN, out June 18, 2024. In this incredible narrative from writers Birdie Willis and Nicole Andelfinger, teenage writer Brie Page gets magically transported to the world of stories, but no matter how far she goes, she can’t seem to escape from the drama of her life.
In the small town of Holden, sixteen-year-old Brie Page has been struggling with a tremendous bout of writer’s block. And that’s a problem. One of many she has, actually. Parents that constantly fight, her former best friend/current bully Viv Kinsley, and the gorgeous new girl Kay Ardiger are causing a bit of stress. Brie used to hide from it all in her own worlds and stories, but that seems so far away now. Until an unexpected encounter with a mischievous bookseller, Ambrose Chance, gives Brie the extraordinary ability to go beyond her problems in life and bury them deep into three new stories. Too bad the whole town of Holden had to get caught up in it too when her stories come to life. Now, when the most important people in her life are stuck in fantastical tales, Brie needs to save them by diving into her worlds and facing her worries head-on. Which would be fine…if only she was better at writing endings.
This dynamic creator team noted its excitement for the release:
Vash Taylor, Illustrator:
“Of Her Own Design is a beautiful project. I really enjoyed the time I got to spend with Brie, getting to know her and her insecurities, and her talents, as I drew the comic. I love coming of age stories, especially the kind I never got to see as a teenager. I hope there’s a kid out there a little unsure of who they are, who gets to read this and see that it’s ok. We’ve had a boom in LGBTQ+ media lately and every story is unique and wonderful, and Brie is no different! She and Ambrose hold a special place in my heart – one filled with mischief and fantasy. I hope everyone who gets to read this book can feel a little of the magic of what it is to dream and be and make.
As for the project itself, I had the special pleasure of designing the main cast and drawing the first section of the story. It was a lot of fun to take this personality on the page and turn it into a fully fledged character with tastes, interests and expressions. I’ve always focussed on character and lore heavy design and I hope every reader can find the little things I hid in there that ties the cast together – from the colour palettes to the shape of things, to the way they move. I wish for every reader to have as much fun with them as I did.”
Writer, Nicole Andelfinger said, “Twelve year old me has been waiting for this kind of story to be on the shelves for years now and I’m so delighted to be a part of bringing that story to life. For everyone who finds themselves lost in their own worlds, this one’s for you.”
Artist Vash Taylor said, “Of Her Own Design is a beautiful project. I really enjoyed the time I got to spend with Brie, getting to know her and her insecurities, and her talents, as I drew the comic. I love coming of age stories, especially the kind I never got to see as a teenager. I hope there’s a kid out there a little unsure of who they are, who gets to read this and see that it’s ok. We’ve had a boom in LGBTQ+ media lately and every story is unique and wonderful, and Brie is no different! She and Ambrose hold a special pace in my heart – one filled with mischief and fantasy. I hope everyone who gets to read this book can feel a little of the magic of what it is to dream and be and make.
…As for the project it’s self, I had the special pleasure of designing the main cast and drawing the first section of the story. It was a lot of fun to take this personality on the page and turn it into a fully fledged character with tastes, interests and expressions. I’ve always focussed on character and lore heavy design and I hope every can find the little things I hid in there that ties the cast together – from the colour palettes to the shape of things, to the way they move. I wish for every reader to have as much fun with them as I did.”
Of Her Own Design is available for preorder now, and on-sale wherever books are sold on June 18, 2024.
About Author
