Looking Back Before Everything Changes
A yearly wrap-up as my next book finally arrives
2025 highlights
A big professional shift
In September, I started a new role at a creative agency after many years as the artistic director at Keshet. This was a huge move for me and absolutely the right one. It has fed into my creativity in ways that have me genuinely hungry for new ideas again, and I can already feel how this will influence my work across everything I do.
A whole lot of drawing (the best kind)
I have just wrapped up around 100 illustrations for a forthcoming middle-grade book about a very awkward 12-year-old girl. (These are my people.) I am so excited to share more when the time is right. If you enjoyed Big Apple Diaries, I think you will really love this one.
Published!
I had a short comic published in Island Magazine, which was a real highlight.
Healing and gratitude
On a personal note, I have made a strong recovery from my spinal surgery last September, and I am still grateful every single day for the movement and freedom I have again. It is not something I take lightly.
Live illustration, turned all the way up
This year brought some truly fabulous live event illustration work, including weddings, corporate events, and charity fundraisers. It has been amazing to see how much this part of my practice has grown, and how surprisingly (or maybe not surprisingly) comfortable I am drawing very quickly in high-pressure, ever-changing environments. It has challenged me artistically and been an absolute blast.
People are already booking me for 2027, which blows my mind. Here are some of my favourites from this year:
Big Summer Read Ambassador!
I am Tasmania’s ambassador this year for the Big Summer Read, a national reading challenge for young people across Australia. I will be touring the state in January for library workshops, and bookings are opening soon.
And the big one…
Most importantly, and somehow still easy to forget since it has been over a year since I finished the artwork for this book, Run Home debuts NEXT MONTH.
I think I am in denial.
This book has been such a long time coming. If you would like to help make this the best debut it can be, you can:
Pre-order a copy if you have not already
Add it to your Goodreads library
Request it at your local library
Share it in whatever way feels natural to you (any booktok loving people out there?)
You can find the editorial reviews and pre-order links by country (Australia and US) on my website here:
I hope everyone out there has a beautiful holiday season, however you celebrate it.
Finally, I am still deeply confused as to how my Spotify Wrapped listening age is 91, so if anyone can explain that to me, I would be extremely grateful.
- Alyssa
You’re a fabulous artist & looking forward to your new book.