West of the Moon - More Australian Fairy Tales for the 21st Century

Story illustration - The Woman in Glass Slippers

West of the Moon is the second illustrated anthology of contemporary tales produced by the Australian Fairy Tale Society in partnership with Serenity Press. Whether they're old or new, slippery or subversive, haunted by the dark, leavened by sweet revenge or filled with sheer delight, every tale has something in common; a contemporary edge. Even tales set in earlier times deliver a modern sensibility that reflects Australian landscapes, characters and voices, within the 21st century. Anthology II contributors range from emerging talents to award-winning authors, including Cate Kennedy, Donna Cameron, Eugen M Bacon, June Perkins and Serene Conneeley. Cover art is by the wonderful Helen McCosker. Publication is scheduled for late-2026.

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I was commissioned to illustrate Eugen M Bacon's story, 'The Woman in Glass Slippers'. To complement her story, I focused on capturing two opposing moods of The Woman. In one portrait we see the '...disdainful glance at the dudes...' seeking her attention, and in the other we see a moment of desire for the stranger who has managed to catch her eye. 

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Eugen is an African Australian author of several novels and collections. She’s a Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award winner, Otherwise Fellow, Locus, Ignyte, British Fantasy, Foreword Indies Award and British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Award winner. She’s also a twice World Fantasy Award and Shirley Jackson finalist.

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