Mother Lion Studios

Beginning as a poem she wrote for a Children's Literature course, "The Painter" blossomed into a full-length work of literature.

Written in the literary style of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, or C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, Vanessa Pottiger's The Painter spins a poetic tale of our hero's discovery of what it means to love and be loved.

Synopsis: To calm her sister's fear during their father's drunken rage, clever Elise begins to tell little Clara the story of a far-away land named Erumell. When they dare to open their eyes, they discover they are no longer hiding under a bed, but stuck in the middle of Elise's made up tale. 

The girls are quickly captured and forced to become Entertainers of the royal court, joining the ranks of Edgar the Animal Tamer, Vernard the Musician, and a young man known only as the Painter, who can paint anything to life. Elise, young and unfamiliar with anything resembling love, becomes captivated by him.

After a chance meeting by the sea, the Painter shares with Elise a dream - a dream of a woman calling him to paint her to life. Can he do such a thing? As the Entertainers travel with the Queen and King from land to land, the Painter and Elise grow closer, and Elise grows wild with jealousy. 

The charge of a Great Spirit haunts Elise: can she learn the mysteries of the heart before her strength leads everyone she loves to their graves?

Vanessa is still seeking out a literary agent and subsequent publication. If you would like to contact Vanessa about an opportunity, please fill out our contact form here.