Isis Sousa, a Brazilian artist living in a remote Norwegian valley, has always been drawn to the dark side of storytelling. Surrounded by mountains and fjords, with few neighbors, Isis finds inspiration in the natural beauty and isolation of her environment. She describes her connection with nature as a vital source of creativity, especially in the serene and melancholic fall and winter months. Her love for history, heavy metal music, and the arts has guided her career as an artist, illustrator, and graphic designer. When she’s not working on client projects, Isis writes, paints, and even enjoys woodworking.
In 2014, Isis created Tragic Books, a platform for her to share her dark, illustrated stories and art books. For her, Tragic Books isn’t about following the rules of mainstream publishing. Instead, it’s an artistic venture focused on creating adult dark fantasy that offers something unique for readers looking for more than typical gothic fiction.
Isis has a particular passion for Gothic Fiction, and through her stories, she seeks to resurrect the classic storytelling and aesthetic values of the genre. She believes that self-publishing gives her the creative freedom to fully express her vision. “Traditional publishing often requires you to conform to specific standards, whether that’s word count, genre traits, or illustration use,” she explains. “Self-publishing offers me more control over the content, and it’s more environmentally friendly, too. Books are printed only when they’re purchased.”
One of her most significant works is The Night of Elisa, a novel that marks her debut into the world of fiction. The story follows Elisa, who finds herself drifting through Duskland, a place between life and death. She longs to return to a home she can’t remember, while her companion, Leonhard, is haunted by vivid memories of a past he can’t escape.
“The Night of Elisa is more than just a debut,” Isis says. “It’s the start of Tragic Books. The book breaks many traditional publishing rules, aiming to stretch the boundaries of storytelling. From the narrative structure to the illustrations, everything is designed to enhance the world-building and the characters. The subtext, the hidden meanings between the lines, is where the story’s deepest and darkest aspects lie. This is where readers can make discoveries about themselves and the world within the story.”
The second book in the Elisa series is set to be released in the fall of 2018. In the meantime, readers can download the first book for free in their preferred format on Instafreebie and even enter a giveaway to win a print copy on Goodreads.
Isis’s second major work, As Cold as Thorns, tells the story of Henrique, a young apprentice from a small town who rises to power in the early 1800s Iberian Empire. His rapid ascension reveals a man torn between his past innocence and the materialistic desires he has come to embody. This story explores themes of ambition, materialism, and the moral cost of power. As Cold as Thorns is available for purchase on platforms like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo, with the second volume expected in spring 2018.
Beyond her novels, Isis has also created several art books, including The Night of Elisa Special Edition, Valencia Noir, and The Picture of Dorian Gray in Quotes and Nudes. Valencia Noir showcases her striking black-and-white photography, taking readers through the gothic, enchanting landscapes of the Spanish city of Valencia, while The Picture of Dorian Gray combines Isis’s fine art nude paintings with selected quotes from Oscar Wilde’s iconic Gothic novel.
One of her upcoming projects is a visual book about the Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Titled Pere Lachaise: The Art of The French Cemetery, this book is a collaboration with photographer Ove Neshaug and editor Clare Diston. It’s scheduled for release in 2018, offering a visual exploration of the beauty and history of this famous Gothic cemetery.
With Tragic Books, Isis Sousa has created a dark, imaginative world where art, literature, and Gothic fantasy collide. Her works resonate with readers who crave something different from the mainstream, offering hauntingly beautiful stories and art that push the boundaries of traditional publishing.
