Adam Gretsinger

@ledstar.bsky.social

93 Followers 1402 Following

Author from Akron. MFA in Creative Writing from Kent State. Current Arc ==> “Good Will Hunting”

Ink drawing of one of those old fashioned candle holders being held by a hand and illuminating an epic ghost. My grandpa used to have one of those holders, and it looked as well used as the things probably were before electric lighting. Wonder how old it was when he acquired it.
Sketch of protagonist Maria and deuteragonist Maggie in an action scene.
Mock up illustration for Kids Can Be Cruel, starring protagonist Maria Nievez pointing a pair of scissors at you.
Image of Maria struggling with game controls that aren’t keyboard and mouse.
Maria ready to knock u out
Image of a snowy city street at night with text overlaid. Text: “Well, consider yourself lucky,” Maria said. “You don’t have to deal with this town’s actual ‘grisly’ secrets.” “…Like what?” Maria looked at the girl with what she hoped was an unsettling smile. “That ‘sinkhole,’ yeah? It was caused by hundreds of miles of tunnels under the city,” she said truthfully. Then she exaggerated, just a little: “Most of the tunnels are still there, covered in darkness and filled with the entombed bodies of the workers that made them.” “…ok, I think I’m” — “And the nastiest secret? Middle schoolers like me engage in ritual bloodsport to feed these burrows, lest they consume the town again!” She put up her hands to look like claws and gave a toothy grin: just like how Jackie would tell the story.
Maria in various poses set against photos evocative of the novel’s setting and themes.
Maria, in her coat from the commission, makes a thumbs up sign in front of the phrase “Thanks Bluesky!”
Mood board for querying novel, Kids Can Be Cruel. Art by me, primarily of Maria.
Commissioned image of protagonist Maria.
Commission of protagonist for Kids Can Be Cruel, Maria Nievez.
Kids Can Be Cruel
Image of a snowy city street at night with text overlaid. Text: “Well, consider yourself lucky,” Maria said. “You don’t have to deal with this town’s actual ‘grisly’ secrets.” “…Like what?” Maria looked at the girl with what she hoped was an unsettling smile. “That ‘sinkhole,’ yeah? It was caused by hundreds of miles of tunnels under the city,” she said truthfully. Then she exaggerated, just a little: “Most of the tunnels are still there, covered in darkness and filled with the entombed bodies of the workers that made them.” “…ok, I think I’m” — “And the nastiest secret? Middle schoolers like me engage in ritual bloodsport to feed these burrows, lest they consume the town again!” She put up her hands to look like claws and gave a toothy grin: just like how Jackie would tell the story.
An edited comic of Sweet Bro and Hella Jeff. The text reads as follows: Maria and Maggie in… kids can be cruel. Maria: I can’t wait to be a really good friend and investigate my friend’s disappearance. (Next panel) Darn! I’m entering into a middle school fight club. Maggie: I told you about middle school fight clubs bro! I told you dog! Maria: It keeps happening! Maggie: I told you man. I told you about middle school fight clubs!
That picture of Samuel Johnson looking at the newspaper and then looking up, disgusted.