Hello, wonderful people!

Angele here—Chief Illustrator for AngJon Hornibrook! 🎨✨

Wow, what a whirlwind the past 18 months have been as we brought our new Irish characters, The Lepralites, to life! It’s been an adventure filled with creativity, discovery, and, let’s be honest, a few very late-night sketching sessions fuelled by plenty of cups of Irish tea and Irish snacks.

Now, here’s a little secret: When I was growing up in Lithuania, I loved to draw—but for some reason, I never mentioned it to my husband, Jonathan. 🤷‍♀️ Twenty years together, and it just never came up! (I know, right?!) So, when we started this project, little did he know that his new illustrator was already sitting across from him at the dinner table. Surprise! 😆

Being an illustrator for novels and short stories is pure magic. It’s more than just drawing—it’s about stepping into the world of the story and making it real for readers. My mission? To create authentic, hand-drawn illustrations that breathe life into these incredible characters. No AI shortcuts here—just good old-fashioned pens and imagination!

Creating the visual world of The Lepralites has meant lots of deep-dive discussions (some intense, robust debates may or may not have occurred 😜). From initial sketches to final artwork, every piece is shaped through vision, collaboration, and artistic stubbornness. And let’s not forget Deirdre—our fantastic editor, designer, and marketing wizard—who keeps us all on track!

The most rewarding feeling is seeing my illustrations come to life in print and understanding that these images help readers immerse themselves in the story. I thank my mother every day for her attention as a child. She always encouraged me to draw naturally, which really brings me back to happy times.

Illustration bridges an author’s words and a reader’s imagination; honestly, I wouldn’t trade this job for anything. (Well… maybe for an unlimited supply of art supplies and chocolate. But that’s negotiable. 😉)

Thanks for joining me on this creative journey—there’s so much more to come!

Angele 🎨💛