Fiction – roz macLean

This is the cover artwork for my upcoming book Do You Know the Dark? Set for release on May 12, 2026 with Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, Do You Know the Dark? is available for pre order now wherever books are sold ✨

IndieBound (US), Canadian Indie Book Stores

In times that feel collectively challenging, uncertain, and like the warmth of the sun is far away, I wanted to explore the transformative and nourishing aspects that are possible in seasons or spaces of darkness. What exists in the dark of the earth, of the sea, of outer space? What can our imaginations create when we dream? As a person who needs to hibernate sometimes in order to feel energized or creative, I know the absence of light is both the natural rhythm of things, and can be a vitalizing retreat from the expectation to be “on” 24 hours a day.

Away from the light, it becomes less clear that we’re so different, so separate. Without a spotlight, maybe the ways we shine brightly as individuals can take a break, and we can feel into how we are connected by heartbeats, breath, sensation, and soul.

I am so pleased that Do You Know the Dark? received a Kirkus starred review!

“MacLean’s spare, rhythmic prose—which asks what happens “in the dark” across various landscapes—creates space for her artwork to breathe and astonish. Mixed-media spreads radiate with jewel-toned colors, including purples, bright greens, and blues that transform darkness from frightening to fascinating. The compositions employ strong visual principles: Horizontal lines in mountain scenes convey stability and peace, while curving forms in underground and underwater sequences create energy and movement. Dark silhouettes in foregrounds—trees, cave formations, a child’s profile—establish a sense of safety and frame the glowing mysteries beyond, making distant wonders feel approachable rather than threatening. The deep blue backgrounds recede comfortingly, while warm accent colors (amber firelight, pink coral polyps) pull focus to specific discoveries. The visual journey progresses from twilight’s familiar shadows through increasingly wondrous nocturnal phenomena—moths transforming, bioluminescence gleaming, northern lights dancing—culminating in a celebration of imagination itself. Text and image work in perfect tandem: Words pose questions; art inspires magical answers. The people depicted vary in skin tone.

A mesmerizing invitation to embrace night’s beauty—great for bedtime shelves and budding naturalists alike. (Picture book. 4-8)“

Single Book

So, I have undertaken something called the Fiction Project, which is part of the Brooklyn based Art House Co-op. The idea is that artists and writers from all over the world get a moleskin journal in the mail, fill it out with story and art, then send it back in. The Co-op then travels across the US to show the collection, ultimately and finally logging the books within their library. Every author/ artist is given a theme to work with. You can choose or have yours randomly selected- I did that and got ‘ a day in the life.’ Of course once I got the theme I wished that I’d picked one from the list. But eventually, I came up with an idea of something to write about. It has to do with birds and migration, and generally knowing what to do with your life.

I think I liked the idea of sending something into the world immediately, without it having to filter through barriers of publication, acceptance or rejection, and so on. I like the idea of people reading through my book, and it living forever in a library somewhere. Getting my art out of my own living room has been a growing theme in my life lately.

That being said, The Fiction Project almost feels as if it’s going to disappear into thin air once I send it out- never to be seen again by me (although it will be digitized online), and with the possibility that no one will have any strong feelings about it. . . So on that hand it’s kind of hard to get motivated and get to work. But . . . I am a bit of a perfectionist, so I also don’t want to do something half assed, because then you are not only putting time into something, but sending something into the world that is not a true representation of what you can do. ARGGG. This kind of mental ping pong is kind of what the story in the book is about, incidentally.

Anyways, I’m going to put up some pictures.