Max Gruff
@maximilliangruff.bsky.social
150 followers 270 following 120 posts
Royal college of art graduate, querying my first novel, also working on new WIP
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maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Phantom Thread x The Last Witch of Scotland

“ In the highlands and in the glens, where the volcanic streams tick with waters yet prime, and the corncrake cries and the air is a Gaelic hymn, where blood was ploughed from a crop of people now peregrine. ”

#questpit #LF #H #Q #OS
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Poem written for my daughter Sylvia who turned one today. #poetry #poem #poet
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Oh thanks! Yeah I still really enjoy all the character art/ design stuff when I get a chance. Hope you’re doing well
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
For Trickster’s Net I emulated the work of Carl Otto Czeschka. The first two are mine, all images were envisioned in pairs as the images of Czeschka’s Die Nibelungen were. These first two were envisioned as the primordial origin of the world. #illustration #design #conceptart #trickstersnet #TTRPG
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
So tricksters net, the project by @playframe.co.uk and Loco Ludus, was an interesting game design exchange project linking German students with Welsh students to help build and define the world of Tricksters Net, a TTRPG. I was only brought on to make some inspirational touchstone art
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Some more #illustrations and bits of #conceptart #characterart
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
These were done for @peakrillpress.bsky.social King Arthur vs Devil Kitty.
#kingarthur #arthurian #illustration
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
For anyone who only knows me as someone querying a novel, there have been times when I’ve worked as a concept artist and illustrator on various projects and I’ll probably be sharing a few of these over the next few days
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Artworks done for the Trickster’s Net project by @playframe.co.uk and Loco Ludus #conceptart
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Old art, sometimes good art. #illustration
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Congrats! Love the cover!
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Hey, was wondering if there will be a status update on these January manuscripts soon?
Reposted by Max Gruff
ldrexauthor.bsky.social
When Elizabeth inherits two portraits from her wild grandmother, and stores them in her mother's attic, a phantom begins haunting her, guiding her closer to the truth--one that lies behind the sanatorium of your worst nightmare in the Canadian woods. #Questpit #A #H #R
an aerial view of a snow covered building with a tower on the roof
Alt: an aerial view of a snow covered building with a tower on the roof
media.tenor.com
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Thank you so much! I think the posterpit event did a lot for me figuring out some strong imagery
Reposted by Max Gruff
erichardsonbooks.bsky.social
🙏🏻Writer Hannah Chambers was just joking when she became the internet’s most infamous trad wife (or at least that’s what she told herself).

But as the bit spirals and her following grows (along with her milkmaid dress collection), keeping the lie alive might cost her everything.🙏🏻

#questpit #a #os
A square moodboard with TRAD in the middle and praying hands. The other squares are idyllic photos of trad wife life, with running children, freshly baked bread, and women in milkmaid dresses.
Reposted by Max Gruff
sallybromley.bsky.social
'I, SAID THE SPARROW'
In WWI Sussex, when a petty criminal is found gutted like a fish, tales of forbidden love, the infamous Fowler Gang, and two young suffragettes, bleed together staining the River Arun red.
#Q #A #HR #MY
#QuestPit
Images of Peaky Blinders, a dead fish, a man and woman kissing, two women kissing, a soldier in WWI uniform. 
Agent's guide to 'I, Said the Sparrow.'
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Got two agent likes on my #questpit for my novel! first ever agent likes via a pitch thing. Thanks everyone for support and sharing and all the kind and supportive comments!
Reposted by Max Gruff
saraduran.bsky.social
Pirates of the Caribbean—if Jack Sparrow were a vengeful sapphic ghost possessing a sapphic princess Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner went on a gender journey, and the curse could only be broken when two hearts meet the light—through love or bloodshed 🫀🗡️

#QuestPit #YA #F #Q #LGBT
A moodboard showing the pirate (Amir), the princess (Mira), and John.

Amir silhouetted against a cloudy sky with a sword slung over her shoulder and a group of joyful sailors on a pirate ship. She has this quote: 

Continue to love
Continue to forgive
Continue to grow

Mira is shown in the reflection of an ornate mirror. She is wearing long white gloves and a pink ballgown with her hair in a natural updo and the lesbian pride flag is subtly depicted over her photo. There is another photo of two girls kissing in the surf at sunset. Mira has this quote: 

We looked at each other a little too long to be “just friends”

John is shown with his bare back to the viewer, facing the sea with the trans pride flag subtly depicted over his photo. He also has a close up of iridescent mermaid scales and this quote: 

Go bravely, go deeply, or do not go
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Phantom Thread x The Last Witch of Scotland

“ In the highlands and in the glens, where the volcanic streams tick with waters yet prime, and the corncrake cries and the air is a Gaelic hymn, where blood was ploughed from a crop of people now peregrine. ”

#questpit #LF #H #Q #OS
Reposted by Max Gruff
bvbodegom.bsky.social
CABIN IN THE WOODS×JOHN DIES AT THE END×KNIVES OUT

When their detective friend is murdered during their annual gaming retreat, 5 dads must use their years of #TTRPG experience—and puns—to solve the crime before they're all killed off like NPCs in a badly-written campaign. 🎲🥓

#QuestPit #A #H #MY #W
The image shows a horror-comedy novel cover titled "DAD BODIES." The top of the cover reads "THE GAME JUST TOOK A DAD TURN" with "DAD" in a different color. 

The background features a haunted house with multiple towers and illuminated windows against a dark backdrop. At the center is a 20-sided die (D20) used in tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, with visible numbers including 1, 7, 13, and 19. The die is surrounded by red blood splatter effects.

At the bottom of the cover are six men with expressions of terror and shock. One man is wearing a white shirt over his head. These men are the dads referenced in the title.
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Clear x There Will Be Blood

Life on the Isle of Kiloran is hard & Floireans longs for adventure in the wider world. When an outsider arrives she sees a chance to change her fortunes. What follows will change her life and the life of her people forever.
#questpit #Q #LF #H #OS
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
#questpit #WIP #LF #H
Princess Mononoke x 1917

Shortly after Murenger spots a wolf on Dagö island his life changes forever. He is imprisoned. His submarine and crew vanish without a trace. In his search for answers he meets a woman who claims she can transform into a wolf. Then the war finds them.
maximilliangruff.bsky.social
Thank you! It’s been amazing to write and to research.