With the world of Lore Olympus in the rearview mirror, Rachel Smythe is stepping into high gear for her next great adventure. The latest stories she’s cooking? Two standalone graphic novels going by the tantalizing titles of “Eleanor’s Deathbed” and “Patients in the Dark”.

Loosely described in an interview with Cosmopolitan, “Eleanor’s Deathbed” introduces us to a life-weary mortician’s apprentice who finds herself intertwined in issues making even Olympus look mundane (who knew death could be such a buddy?). The intense comic strip craze “Patients in the Dark”, on the other hand, launches a psychiatrist into a turmoil her degree could have never prepared her for. Evidently, Smythe isn’t letting her pen get cold anytime soon.

The Breakdown

In creating a careful balance of fantasy and romance, “Eleanor’s Deathbed” manages to carry notes of Smythe’s previous work, Lore Olympus. Swirling into a heart-tangling mix, this novel dips into the wild and the wonderful. As for “Patients in the Dark,” you could expect the ground beneath them to be, dare we say, more solid. Keep your shoelaces tied tight, folks.

All this creative bubbling isn’t without a muse though. Smythe’s change in creative direction, from weekly webtoons to graphic novels, was inspired by none other than Emily Carroll’s captivating 2023 work, “A Guest in the House.” An elegant story in a compact 250-page package, it got Smythe thinking that something sizable isn’t always better.

A Long and Drawing Road

However, here’s the juicy slice of reality – no one spins a fascinating tale like Smythe without breaking a sweat. Between creating entire worlds and discovering character depths, Smythe is candid about the challenges she faces transitioning from weekly webtoons to crafting in-depth graphic novels.

Also on her plate, the responsiblity of appeasing her eager fans who, let’s be honest, probably want their stories “all at once.” But Smythe is not one to be easily rattled; navigating these early stages of development is simply a thrill of the job.

In her own words, “It is a romance, but what else could it be? What can we do for people that will pull them in and make them excited and make them feel seen?” We hear you, Rachel. And so does the rest of the world.

Bringing Other Stories to Life

The road to these upcoming novels doesn’t stop at Smythe’s personal scribbles either. She’s also involved in the graphic novel program “Rachel Smythe Presents…” in a bid to foster and showcase new talent. Launched in October 2023, the program aims to give budding creators a platform to bring their creative renditions of mythology to life.

Inklore Books: Where Great Stories Emerge

Lore Olympus, Smythe’s magnificent interpretation of the Greek myth, “The Abduction of Persephone,” is the success story that put her on the map. A highly praised webtoon series that ran from March 2018 through to June 2024, it introduced a new way to enjoy comics by successfully validating webtoon as a viable format.

So buckle up mythology enthusiasts! With Smythe’s distinct storytelling style, expect nothing short of a riveting journey through the fascinating realms of “Eleanor’s Deathbed” and “Patients in the Dark.” Just remember, patience is a virtue when eagerly awaiting the arrival of these tantalizing titles.