The Cats of Tanglewood Forest (Excerpt)

Charles Vess was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. He graduated with a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1974.  He moved to New York City in 1976, and it was there that he became a freelance illustrator working for many publications including Heavy Metal, Klutz Press, Epic Comics, and National Lampoon. His award-winning work has graced many comic-book covers and interiors, including Marvel's Spider-Man and Raven Banner; DC's Books of Magic, Swamp Thing, and Sandman; and Dark Horse's The Book of Night.

His recent work is more in book illustration, including George R.R. Martin's A Storm of Swords, Susanna Clarke's Ladies of Grace Adieu, Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess's Stardust, and Charles de Lint's A Circle of Cats, Moonheart and Medicine Road. He continues to win accolades and praise for his development of fine illustration with detailed, ethereal, light-and-shadow infused color and black ink work. Two books on the art of Charles Vess are to be published this year, one from TwoMorrows Press (May) and one from Dark Horse (September). A hardcover art book, Drawing Down the Moon: The Art of Charles Vess, which will cover the last 35 years of his career as an illustrator, will be published in the Spring of 2008 by Dark Horse Books. Upcoming projects include Blueberry Girl, a picture book for mothers and daughters written by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins, 2009), and a series in Realms of Fantasy magazine featuring short stories based on unpublished Charles Vess paintings. He also has collectible fantasy sculptures available on the market for the first time this year.

Charles's awards include the Ink Pot, two World Fantasies, the Mythopoeic, a Spectrum annual gold and a silver, two Chesleys, and two Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards.