Dito Abbott
@ditoabbott.bsky.social
Author, Illustrator, Adventurer, Lover of Cheese
Prepping, packaging, and relicing books and maps. The Fountain Hills Craft fair this weekend is my only Arizona show, so stop by if you can!
Today I finished art for Thugwallop’s book box. This thing is a ton of work. But it’s turning out killer.
Thugwallop paperbacks are in and look PHENOMENAL!
Today I finished art for Thugwallop’s book box. This thing is a ton of work. But it’s turning out killer.
Thugwallop paperbacks are in and look PHENOMENAL!
November 11, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Prepping, packaging, and relicing books and maps. The Fountain Hills Craft fair this weekend is my only Arizona show, so stop by if you can!
Today I finished art for Thugwallop’s book box. This thing is a ton of work. But it’s turning out killer.
Thugwallop paperbacks are in and look PHENOMENAL!
Today I finished art for Thugwallop’s book box. This thing is a ton of work. But it’s turning out killer.
Thugwallop paperbacks are in and look PHENOMENAL!
Back in Phoenix! Boxes of books and illustrations await, ready to be packaged and reliced.
I made a Spinal Tap Stonehenge error when I ordered Thugwallop’s desktop banner. This thing is so lightweight, if anyone sneezes, it’s going to fly off my table.
Super cute, though:)
I made a Spinal Tap Stonehenge error when I ordered Thugwallop’s desktop banner. This thing is so lightweight, if anyone sneezes, it’s going to fly off my table.
Super cute, though:)
November 8, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Back in Phoenix! Boxes of books and illustrations await, ready to be packaged and reliced.
I made a Spinal Tap Stonehenge error when I ordered Thugwallop’s desktop banner. This thing is so lightweight, if anyone sneezes, it’s going to fly off my table.
Super cute, though:)
I made a Spinal Tap Stonehenge error when I ordered Thugwallop’s desktop banner. This thing is so lightweight, if anyone sneezes, it’s going to fly off my table.
Super cute, though:)
New Stamp Day! With every new book in the series, I design new rubber stamps specific to the story for book packaging. Stoked with how these guys came out.
As always, the stamps make more sense when you’ve read the novel. The lady at the stamp shop had a lot of questions for me.
As always, the stamps make more sense when you’ve read the novel. The lady at the stamp shop had a lot of questions for me.
November 5, 2025 at 2:56 AM
New Stamp Day! With every new book in the series, I design new rubber stamps specific to the story for book packaging. Stoked with how these guys came out.
As always, the stamps make more sense when you’ve read the novel. The lady at the stamp shop had a lot of questions for me.
As always, the stamps make more sense when you’ve read the novel. The lady at the stamp shop had a lot of questions for me.
Halloween is a US-thing, but a few houses in Christchurch gave out candy. Grateful for a rad night with my ladies.
Z was Dr. Who. J was Mira from KPDH. I was Temu Spider-Man.
Z was Dr. Who. J was Mira from KPDH. I was Temu Spider-Man.
October 31, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Halloween is a US-thing, but a few houses in Christchurch gave out candy. Grateful for a rad night with my ladies.
Z was Dr. Who. J was Mira from KPDH. I was Temu Spider-Man.
Z was Dr. Who. J was Mira from KPDH. I was Temu Spider-Man.
Cover reveal for “Thugwallop; Volume Two of the Terravenum Chronicles”!
October 31, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Cover reveal for “Thugwallop; Volume Two of the Terravenum Chronicles”!
I love following along on maps as I read. For Debunked, I drew a full Terravenum world map. For my follow up novel, Thugwallop, I wanted to zoom in for a close-up view of places in the story, including Easter eggs.
There's going to be a lot of coffee-staining in the near future!
There's going to be a lot of coffee-staining in the near future!
October 14, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I love following along on maps as I read. For Debunked, I drew a full Terravenum world map. For my follow up novel, Thugwallop, I wanted to zoom in for a close-up view of places in the story, including Easter eggs.
There's going to be a lot of coffee-staining in the near future!
There's going to be a lot of coffee-staining in the near future!
Formatting an interior map for Thugwallop. I'm always surprised at how much I need to pump the contrast up to look good in print.
The Terravenum world map took me a year to illustrate, but it's proved one of the most important creative efforts I've ever done.
The Terravenum world map took me a year to illustrate, but it's proved one of the most important creative efforts I've ever done.
October 8, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Formatting an interior map for Thugwallop. I'm always surprised at how much I need to pump the contrast up to look good in print.
The Terravenum world map took me a year to illustrate, but it's proved one of the most important creative efforts I've ever done.
The Terravenum world map took me a year to illustrate, but it's proved one of the most important creative efforts I've ever done.
Illustrating more potential cover art for Thugwallop. When I originally conceived of the Spires of Dubious Wisdom, the hermits lived in outhouse-sized shacks. When I wrote the scenes, I discovered they have a lot more room (and possibly hot tubs?).
September 30, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Illustrating more potential cover art for Thugwallop. When I originally conceived of the Spires of Dubious Wisdom, the hermits lived in outhouse-sized shacks. When I wrote the scenes, I discovered they have a lot more room (and possibly hot tubs?).
Editors have given me the green light to announce Book Two is titled: “Thugwallop”.
If that changes, this conversation never happened.
Finishing up artwork assets for Thugwallop’s cover. This is “Delver’, a submersible who plays a role in the story. Designed with a puffer fish in mind.
If that changes, this conversation never happened.
Finishing up artwork assets for Thugwallop’s cover. This is “Delver’, a submersible who plays a role in the story. Designed with a puffer fish in mind.
September 22, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Editors have given me the green light to announce Book Two is titled: “Thugwallop”.
If that changes, this conversation never happened.
Finishing up artwork assets for Thugwallop’s cover. This is “Delver’, a submersible who plays a role in the story. Designed with a puffer fish in mind.
If that changes, this conversation never happened.
Finishing up artwork assets for Thugwallop’s cover. This is “Delver’, a submersible who plays a role in the story. Designed with a puffer fish in mind.
Alpha readers are editing Book Two. I've already made a bunch of touch-ups, per my wife's suggestions. She has this strange need for stories to "make sense" and "be coherent".
Pshh. Whatever.
Meanwhile, I'm working on back matter for the book. Specifically, a character and terms glossary.
Pshh. Whatever.
Meanwhile, I'm working on back matter for the book. Specifically, a character and terms glossary.
September 7, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Alpha readers are editing Book Two. I've already made a bunch of touch-ups, per my wife's suggestions. She has this strange need for stories to "make sense" and "be coherent".
Pshh. Whatever.
Meanwhile, I'm working on back matter for the book. Specifically, a character and terms glossary.
Pshh. Whatever.
Meanwhile, I'm working on back matter for the book. Specifically, a character and terms glossary.
It turns out I accidentally wrote two books instead of one. Book Two is out to alpha readers now (I need to add a few chapters to Book Three)!
My daughter is reading it and her gentle encouragements soothe my bruised ego.
My daughter is reading it and her gentle encouragements soothe my bruised ego.
September 4, 2025 at 2:51 AM
It turns out I accidentally wrote two books instead of one. Book Two is out to alpha readers now (I need to add a few chapters to Book Three)!
My daughter is reading it and her gentle encouragements soothe my bruised ego.
My daughter is reading it and her gentle encouragements soothe my bruised ego.
First draft of Book 2 is DONE at 149,113 words!
Book 1 started at 134,000 and ended at 104,500.
My goal is to have this book ready when I fly to the USA for a mini-tour in November. There's a lot of work in front of me. Revisions, beta readers, cover art, ARCs, and formatting. Time to level up.
Book 1 started at 134,000 and ended at 104,500.
My goal is to have this book ready when I fly to the USA for a mini-tour in November. There's a lot of work in front of me. Revisions, beta readers, cover art, ARCs, and formatting. Time to level up.
August 3, 2025 at 10:31 PM
First draft of Book 2 is DONE at 149,113 words!
Book 1 started at 134,000 and ended at 104,500.
My goal is to have this book ready when I fly to the USA for a mini-tour in November. There's a lot of work in front of me. Revisions, beta readers, cover art, ARCs, and formatting. Time to level up.
Book 1 started at 134,000 and ended at 104,500.
My goal is to have this book ready when I fly to the USA for a mini-tour in November. There's a lot of work in front of me. Revisions, beta readers, cover art, ARCs, and formatting. Time to level up.
Stumbled across the greatest Free Little (it's bigger on the inside) Library ever today in Hamner Springs.
July 27, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Stumbled across the greatest Free Little (it's bigger on the inside) Library ever today in Hamner Springs.
Checked my author dashboard and was delighted that a 10 year old and 44 year old both enjoyed Debunked.
Crossed 140,000 words on Book 2 today. Rounding third base and ready to slide into the basket for a touchdown. Did I sports right? Flying V! Knuckle Puck!
Crossed 140,000 words on Book 2 today. Rounding third base and ready to slide into the basket for a touchdown. Did I sports right? Flying V! Knuckle Puck!
July 24, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Checked my author dashboard and was delighted that a 10 year old and 44 year old both enjoyed Debunked.
Crossed 140,000 words on Book 2 today. Rounding third base and ready to slide into the basket for a touchdown. Did I sports right? Flying V! Knuckle Puck!
Crossed 140,000 words on Book 2 today. Rounding third base and ready to slide into the basket for a touchdown. Did I sports right? Flying V! Knuckle Puck!
Raptor in the Australia Museum. If I were in charge of posing an exhibit, I would make the raptor look as inept a hunter as possible, too.
Referencing clutz raptors is my secret Writing Side Quest. Did Garrillus the Unread lose money investing in a clutz raptor racing league? Why, yes he did.
Referencing clutz raptors is my secret Writing Side Quest. Did Garrillus the Unread lose money investing in a clutz raptor racing league? Why, yes he did.
April 5, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Raptor in the Australia Museum. If I were in charge of posing an exhibit, I would make the raptor look as inept a hunter as possible, too.
Referencing clutz raptors is my secret Writing Side Quest. Did Garrillus the Unread lose money investing in a clutz raptor racing league? Why, yes he did.
Referencing clutz raptors is my secret Writing Side Quest. Did Garrillus the Unread lose money investing in a clutz raptor racing league? Why, yes he did.
Reader art!
I love seeing how my characters look in other people’s minds. I try to leave room in my descriptions for readers to fill in the blanks. Nikos did an incredible job with Pascal and Layla.
He is writing and illustrating his own book, too, when he isn’t busy making my day. Cheers!
I love seeing how my characters look in other people’s minds. I try to leave room in my descriptions for readers to fill in the blanks. Nikos did an incredible job with Pascal and Layla.
He is writing and illustrating his own book, too, when he isn’t busy making my day. Cheers!
April 4, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Reader art!
I love seeing how my characters look in other people’s minds. I try to leave room in my descriptions for readers to fill in the blanks. Nikos did an incredible job with Pascal and Layla.
He is writing and illustrating his own book, too, when he isn’t busy making my day. Cheers!
I love seeing how my characters look in other people’s minds. I try to leave room in my descriptions for readers to fill in the blanks. Nikos did an incredible job with Pascal and Layla.
He is writing and illustrating his own book, too, when he isn’t busy making my day. Cheers!
Making audiobooks is hard work and expensive. I recorded my entire first book and haven't edited a second of it because the process burnt me out.
But holy smokes, I'm sick of AI. No thanks, ACX. Maybe someday as a cheap version AFTER I release a human one.
But holy smokes, I'm sick of AI. No thanks, ACX. Maybe someday as a cheap version AFTER I release a human one.
March 26, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Making audiobooks is hard work and expensive. I recorded my entire first book and haven't edited a second of it because the process burnt me out.
But holy smokes, I'm sick of AI. No thanks, ACX. Maybe someday as a cheap version AFTER I release a human one.
But holy smokes, I'm sick of AI. No thanks, ACX. Maybe someday as a cheap version AFTER I release a human one.
Stoked with how these posters came out! Poster Ninja did a fantastic job.
As an experiment, compared heavy card stock and a fascinating synthetic metallic paper. Ended up liking them both for different reasons (metallic paper has smoooooooth color gradient, card stock feels lovely in fingers).
As an experiment, compared heavy card stock and a fascinating synthetic metallic paper. Ended up liking them both for different reasons (metallic paper has smoooooooth color gradient, card stock feels lovely in fingers).
March 11, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Stoked with how these posters came out! Poster Ninja did a fantastic job.
As an experiment, compared heavy card stock and a fascinating synthetic metallic paper. Ended up liking them both for different reasons (metallic paper has smoooooooth color gradient, card stock feels lovely in fingers).
As an experiment, compared heavy card stock and a fascinating synthetic metallic paper. Ended up liking them both for different reasons (metallic paper has smoooooooth color gradient, card stock feels lovely in fingers).
In USA for the first time in a year. Here for 2 weeks before heading back to NZ, so hitting important stuff.
1. Carnitas tortas.
2. Barro’s Italian sausage pizza This was number one flavor I imagined on ocean passages
3. My sister’s neighbor built a Mad Max-style hotrod. Yeah.
1. Carnitas tortas.
2. Barro’s Italian sausage pizza This was number one flavor I imagined on ocean passages
3. My sister’s neighbor built a Mad Max-style hotrod. Yeah.
March 10, 2025 at 1:21 AM
In USA for the first time in a year. Here for 2 weeks before heading back to NZ, so hitting important stuff.
1. Carnitas tortas.
2. Barro’s Italian sausage pizza This was number one flavor I imagined on ocean passages
3. My sister’s neighbor built a Mad Max-style hotrod. Yeah.
1. Carnitas tortas.
2. Barro’s Italian sausage pizza This was number one flavor I imagined on ocean passages
3. My sister’s neighbor built a Mad Max-style hotrod. Yeah.
In middle school, I filled entire binders with spaceship armadas. I loved making up stats and purposes for each vessel, imagining how they would fit into their fleet.
Little Dito would be stoked out of his zero-gravity-loving mind about projects I’m currently working on.
Little Dito would be stoked out of his zero-gravity-loving mind about projects I’m currently working on.
March 4, 2025 at 4:51 AM
In middle school, I filled entire binders with spaceship armadas. I loved making up stats and purposes for each vessel, imagining how they would fit into their fleet.
Little Dito would be stoked out of his zero-gravity-loving mind about projects I’m currently working on.
Little Dito would be stoked out of his zero-gravity-loving mind about projects I’m currently working on.
Played my first D&D one-shot campaign today. I've been eager to try a game ever since I first experienced the enthusiasm from RPGers at conventions.
My character was a Paladin Dwarf named Trogdor. I had a pet kitten named Margaret Thatcher, who I swore an oath to obey.
Verdict: Awesome
My character was a Paladin Dwarf named Trogdor. I had a pet kitten named Margaret Thatcher, who I swore an oath to obey.
Verdict: Awesome
February 27, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Played my first D&D one-shot campaign today. I've been eager to try a game ever since I first experienced the enthusiasm from RPGers at conventions.
My character was a Paladin Dwarf named Trogdor. I had a pet kitten named Margaret Thatcher, who I swore an oath to obey.
Verdict: Awesome
My character was a Paladin Dwarf named Trogdor. I had a pet kitten named Margaret Thatcher, who I swore an oath to obey.
Verdict: Awesome
Stretching my boundaries by drawing thematic airships. This lovely lady is modeled after the infamous Overproud Lumberhen. Anyone with the misfortune of crossing a lumberhen knows not to mess with this captain.
February 25, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Stretching my boundaries by drawing thematic airships. This lovely lady is modeled after the infamous Overproud Lumberhen. Anyone with the misfortune of crossing a lumberhen knows not to mess with this captain.
I've walked this path at least twenty times but only yesterday realized this pinhole camera installation looks like a shrine to Jar-Jar Binks.
I cannot unsee this and now, neither can you.
I cannot unsee this and now, neither can you.
February 23, 2025 at 9:10 AM
I've walked this path at least twenty times but only yesterday realized this pinhole camera installation looks like a shrine to Jar-Jar Binks.
I cannot unsee this and now, neither can you.
I cannot unsee this and now, neither can you.
A three day illustration. I’ve been chasing Maelstrom airships for a long time. I’m finally dialing in the balance of menace, whimsy, and Mad Max I was aiming for. When Dad suggested adding an eye to the pilot house, it took things to the next “Um, these guys are crazy” level.
February 19, 2025 at 1:48 AM
A three day illustration. I’ve been chasing Maelstrom airships for a long time. I’m finally dialing in the balance of menace, whimsy, and Mad Max I was aiming for. When Dad suggested adding an eye to the pilot house, it took things to the next “Um, these guys are crazy” level.
I’m just a boy drawing airships for his book series while ignoring a deluge of AI ads attempting to drown my newsfeed.
Trying some new techniques. Every new airship adds to Terravenum lore because technology determines so much about worldbuilding.
Trying some new techniques. Every new airship adds to Terravenum lore because technology determines so much about worldbuilding.
January 28, 2025 at 12:53 AM
I’m just a boy drawing airships for his book series while ignoring a deluge of AI ads attempting to drown my newsfeed.
Trying some new techniques. Every new airship adds to Terravenum lore because technology determines so much about worldbuilding.
Trying some new techniques. Every new airship adds to Terravenum lore because technology determines so much about worldbuilding.