Basics - Xanthippe Svanström is a weirdo currently residing in the northwestern portion of the state-side colonies. She enjoys a great many things about life, foremost of which are her beau, her five cat companions, excursions into nature, 1930s fashion and film, living the paradox of simultaneous multiplicity and infinite oneness, and playing at cards. She published the first volume in her illustrated time-travel series Implement 13 August of 2008 (currently unavailable for purchase; see news here), and shortly thereafter formatted a new edition of 2004's The Angel and the Reaper for lulu.com. At present she is putting the finishing touches on Implement 13: Book Two, which is rather longer than the first and has nearly succeeded in dragging her into oblivion.
History - Origins? To quote a brusque but lovable sailor pal, 'You floated down out of the aethers.' A very fine compliment.
Credentials - None. Untrained, undisciplined, despises when her work begins to feel like work. Often finds herself wandering aimlessly about her flat contemplating the transparency of air. During the æon Miss Svanström spent as a hypersensitive eremite, she did read a number of books and articles on various topics, building a smelly and dusty library for her fella to lug in multi-tonne loads each time removing house. So, she does possess a self-driven education of sorts. Quite willing to admit to being a dilettante, and willing also to concede that her frankness regarding her lack of discipline does not make said lack acceptable, she—oh...! Never mind that.
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Drawings, Sketches, Paintings, Writing, Odds and Sods -
Switching to first person, here... all the stuff I've had lying about is being scanned in progressively (yuss! I love the tangible stuff, haven't done anything properly digital in ages), and may be found in the Playtime section. I've been drawing more lately, and doing some other strange things, things I imagine will appear in that section as well.
Public Contributions -
* Nuptual Peacock - Thank you postcard commissioned by a bride who found me via etsy.
* Implement 13: Book One - Labour of love, love, love. My obsession for over ten years, an illustrated time travel story (sans machines) released in installments (will likely be four volumes, possibly five).
* Thank You, Dovey - Art deco-themed postcard (at etsy).
* Happy Holiday Vibrations - Yuletide/Xmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa card featuring a group of terrified friends in the 1930s whose motorcar has stalled due to the electromagnetic emanations of a UFO on the horizon (also at etsy).
* Happy Hallowe'en - Hand-produced card featuring a stylish 1930s witch and her cats enjoying a quiet All Hallows Eve, cocktails, and cigarettes (etsy, too).
* Nine - A story in fabulous Roxanne Carter's Hothouse.
* Hollywoodland/Amour Dangereux - An ink illustration in the same publication as above (Persephassa Press, by the way, do go and buy her books—her talent and charm are beyond compare). This illustration appears also as frontispiece in another glorious girl's work: The Beauty Secrets of Margarita Morozova, by Mashinka Firunts—love that story. Amazing.
* The Angel and the Reaper - Illustrated novella with surreal qualities (this means it doesn't make much sense), produced by hand in 2004, re-released in 2008 via lulu.
* Vanity - Ink illustration for Flaming Fire's Illustrated Bible (no I'm not a holy roller).
* Coast - A story in an ocean-themed 'zine produced by someone named Anna or Lianna or something (sorry, we've lost touch, and I never obtained a copy).
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Pronunciation - People ask often about the pronunciation of my name. It is ZAN-thih-pee SWAHN-struhm. ZAN-theep, ZAN-thihpp, and swan-STORM are the commonest errors. I will answer to 'X' or 'Hey, prat!' as well, so have no worries.
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Electronically Speaking
http://www.myspace.com/implement13
http://xanthi.livejournal.com
http://www.goodreads.com/profile/implement13
http://twitter.com/implement13
http://www.facebook.com
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Upcoming
* Uno Mayson's Beginning the Occult Arts and Sciences - A one-book course on occultism I'm editing and illustrating. Fun stuff!
* Comic with Kippily Miller - A through-the-post round-robin (?) type of comic with my sweet and talented online pal Gish.
* Inamorata X - Anthology of poetry, short stories, and illustrations, many of which never before published. All, er, by me.
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© Copyright 2008 by X. Svanström
