Cover Reveal + Q&A with artist Marie Tulbo

Isn’t this cover the most stunning thing you’ve ever seen?

Don’t you want to own this book just so you can display this cover on your shelf?

Even without the book, I’d frame this and hang it on my wall.

The artist for this cover is my dear friend, Marie, she’s a talented artist and illustrator who prefers to work in the medical field. This was perfect for me. I snagged her up before anyone else could. 

This is my debut fiction novel, a literary novel in a world where only women exist. The good and the bad, the old and the young, the sick and the strong. They're all there and they're all women.

Jordi, a young woman navigating the world in her early 20s, has been sucked into the life of video games and escaping responsibility. Her great-aunt, who relies heavily on Jordi for her day-to-day care, feels the impact of Jordi’s lack of attachment to reality. When an act takes place that turns both their worlds upside down, Jordi must navigate the world of inter-dependance, self-care and the love of her friends - one of whom is suffering from the energy zapping realities of long-covid and needs more care than she is able to give. Loyalties are tested, composers are cracked, and betrayals grow as the tug between selfishness and selflessness are tested.

Available on October 30th 2025

Here are some questions to delve a little deeper into the world of art:

How did you get into art?

My whole family is quite artistic. My mother used to make jewelry and taught me how to sew from a young age, my dad taught me carpentry and my sister taught me how to draw. I quit drawing when I started working in healthcare.

How long did it take you to build up this talent?

What talent?

What made you say yes to this project?

I was inspired by Livvy Skelton-Price’s desire to create a book. She hasn’t given up on her dreams and I wanted to see if I could still draw after all this time. It was an ode to my younger self, it was the perfect opportunity to heal.

What is your favourite part of your artwork?

The wallpaper, surprisingly. It was really hard too because I was drawing really tiny but I felt like I could emulate old house wallpaper. 

Especially the wallpaper, dining room and storage. The storage was damp and mouldy which is an ode to many New Zealand houses, especially the older ones, which are damp and mouldy.

What was the hardest part about designing and creating this cover?

Oh my god, most definitely the characters. It was so small and I find people hard to draw anyway. Just the size of it, it’s really hard to do with pen and paper.

Would you ever draw another cover?

I would. I like to challenge myself.

What would you tell an aspiring cover artist?

Good communication with the person who you are being an artist for. Stick to the brief. Don’t over complicate it. Give them what they want. Most importantly, you need to be proud of the work you’ve done. If you aren’t happy with it, don’t submit it. The writer chose you for a reason. Stick to the brief but make sure you also like it.

Anything else you’d like to say?

Read the book!