The Author

Gemma Anatole

Gemma Anatole writes at the edge of things — where Taoist philosophy meets the supernatural, where stillness and darkness live in the same breath.

Her books move between worlds: quiet parables for those who have lost contact with themselves, and dark mythology for those who suspect the boundary was never as solid as they thought.

"She sees storytelling not as guidance, but as companionship. A way of standing beside the reader without leading or correcting."

She works in collaboration with Alex Anatole, Grandmaster of the Temple of Original Simplicity, whose teachings form the living root from which these stories grow.

About the Artist

Lian Vo

$Ink-wash landscape by Lian Vo$

Ink-wash illustration · Lian Vo 蓮墨

Lian Vo is an independent ink-wash illustrator working under the traditional seal 蓮墨 (Lotus Ink). Inspired by the aesthetics of sumi-e painting, Taoist philosophy, and the quiet beauty of natural landscapes, she creates atmospheric illustrations that explore mist, light, memory, and stillness.

Working with a restrained palette of warm sepia tones and soft ink textures, Lian Vo focuses on simplicity, negative space, and the emotional weight of small details.

Her illustrations appear throughout the Tao Tales series — each one a visual breath between the stories. The seal 蓮墨 appears as a mark of continuity: the union of the lotus and the brush, clarity and ink.