Stories & Illustrations by Jo Gamel
Gamel embraces quirk not as ornament but as a form of truth-telling. The result is writing that is both ambitious and playful, deeply serious in its intent while alive with curiosity, through which her broader artistic world unfolds. In the tradition of artists like the visionary makers championed by the American Visionary Art Museum, Nick Cave’s transformation of the Soundsuit into high art at the Guggenheim, or Jim Henson’s Grammy-nominated and Oscar-winnign crossing of puppetry, television, and music, Jo Gamel’s practice extends naturally into writing and illustration, forming a cohesive, rigorous, and deeply imaginative multidisciplinary vision.
Jo Gamel’s debut fantasy novella, Wraiths of Pongus Maw, appears in Swords of Steel IV (DMR Books, 2025), an anthology composed exclusively of heavy metal musicians working in the traditions of heroic fantasy and cosmic horror. Fusing the mythic imagination of classic sword and sorcery with the visceral spirit of metal, Swords of Steel offers a rare convergence of literary and musical cultures.
Both author and illustrator of Wraiths of Pongus Maw, Gamel crafts a dark maritime fantasy where ambition, betrayal, and ancient forces collide. Set against a backdrop of haunted waters and violent storms, the story follows a ship’s desperate attempt to navigate a forbidden passage guarded by a monstrous sea serpent and a shape-shifting selkie. Through vivid prose and cinematic illustration, Gamel explores cycles of survival, transformation, and the fragile architecture of leadership.
“Amazing… well-researched!”
“I couldn’t stop reading from beginning to end, and I haven’t done that in years”
“The historical setting is very unique and inspired, and the writing is incredibily cinematic, really vivid — also I LOVE that selkie, shes so seductive and diabolical!”
“Top-notch… original… wonderfully descriptive but very easy to follow”
Join Jo Gamel’s Substack
Jo Gamel’s Substack presents a rare fusion of speculative imagination and literary refinement, evoking the quiet intensity of Ambrose Bierce and the delicate atmosphere of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman. Weaving together elements of dark fantasy, folklore, and science fiction, her stories unfold with restraint and resonance.
Her piece “Wraiths of Pongus Maw” (DMR Books, 2025), inspired a visual interpretation by artist Alex Spalding (“Selkie”, 2025), reflects the quiet depth and interdisciplinary reach of her work. In a time when thoughtful storytelling is increasingly rare, Gamel offers a space of calm, complexity, and lasting impression.