In 2011 I drastically reduced my DWJ book intake to dripfeed levels, so it was only in the 2024 new year that I finally decided to read Deep Secret. My god - out of all her books this seems targeted at me personally? Stressed late-20-somethings, making fools of oneself in vicinity of fav authors, artist alleys?? Also, blatant unmistakable LGBT-rep??? I can't believe I slept on this one for so long!!! Definitely putting it on the upper tiers of my DWJ bookshelf.
Anyway, here's some designs I've whipped up for the characters! As always, might tweak 'em if ever I draw more in the future, but that's what's fun about figuring out character designs. Rob in particular is a joy to me.
btw Zinka plsplspls let me table with you
#diana wynne jones#deep secret#maree mallory#nick mallory#rob the centaur#rupert venables#will venables#simon venables#zinka fearson#ladies and/or gentlemen#i legit laughed out loud whenever the characters got stunned by them#like props to dwj that you can tell she was a bit confused but she did have the spirit#character design#also glad to say I've thoroughly revised my opinion of nick!!#first read Merlin Conspiracy back in 2009 and I remember being pissed because his backstory was so vague#the copy gave absolutely no indication that this was a sequel to another book#so finally getting context for all that was great and now i adore this eepy teen#(also reread MC after Deep Secret and boy I whooped at the one instance Rob my beautiful centaur son got mentioned by name)