Riveted Press has acquired worldwide rights to The Book of Kin, a collection of five almost-wordless picture books for older readers by author/illustrator Tamlyn Teow. Each of the works explores an issue related to the human condition, and its impact on our communities.
In SoXiety, the first in the Kin series and her debut solo work, Teow combines an intriguing visual journey with a timely—and at times confronting—depiction of the impact of dopamine addiction on our mental health and wellbeing.
The graphic novel style illustrations lead the reader on a journey through a melancholic city of towering skyscrapers, bombarding billboards and blinding screens. The hustle and bustle of day precedes the lonely isolation of night, as people return to soulless utilitarian apartments where screens fill their remaining waking hours. Spiralling further into depression and anxiety, consuming more but never being nourished, one Man falls into a mysterious underworld, where a metamorphosis begins … And when he eventually returns to the city above, a seed travels with him. A seed of community. A seed of hope.
Multi-award winning artist, writer and composer, Matt Ottley, had this to say:
“Tamlyn Teow’s work has extraordinary depth and insight and her Kin series will offer readers a powerful opportunity to reflect on some of the key issues currently facing humanity and how those issues are interrelated. In particular, her focus on social media and AI and its effects on individuality and how this intersects with climate and environment are themes crucially relevant to young people today. The first book in this series, SoXiety, expresses these themes in a very original, startlingly beautiful and non-didactic way. The proposed other titles in the series, Men O’ War, Homo Algus, Home and The Girl Who Could Hear Grass Grow, take these themes and explore their nuance across very different story-lines, all encompassing a broad exploration of what is often loosely called ‘the human condition’ … I believe the Kin series will be a landmark series in Australian publishing.”
Rowena Beresford, Managing Editor of Riveted Press said: “From the moment Tamlyn showed me her ground-breaking concept for SoXiety and The Book of Kin, I was determined to work with her. Tamlyn is an exceptional talent, and The Book of Kin epitomises our desire to forge unforgettable stories. I am confident the wider community will benefit from—and desperately needs—the conversations these works are sure to elicit, about what kind of society we want to live in and how we can help make that happen.”
After a stint in the corporate world, Teow determined to learn how stories are told through art. She completed a Masters in Production Design, and has since worked in the art department for various films and TV productions, including The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Shang-Chi (Marvel Studios). She is currently co-designing and art-finishing the famous David Jones Christmas Windows, and has done since 2017. Her published works include The Other Side of the Clouds by Matt Samuel (Riveted Press, 2024) and she has completed multiple freelance commissions for illustration and sculpture.
In relation to the acquisition of The Book of Kin, Teow said: “I feel privileged to have my passion project published by Riveted Press. Under Rowena’s guidance, I am confident my creative vision will not only come to fruition but be elevated further. My hope is that The Book of Kin will remind us all of the strength that can be found in unity.”
SoXiety, the first volume in The Book of Kin, will be published in Australia and New Zealand in March 2025 and represented in the ANZ market by Simon & Schuster.