stephanie
suprock
Hidden In Plain Sight
Hidden in Plain Sight is the title of the novella published as my senior capstone project. The book featured three short stories, following three original characters as they navigate college relationships, stresses, and emerging supernatural powers. I am drawn to the idea of people having some inexplicable chaos inside of them and how they try to make themselves fit into a society that seems to experience nothing of their inner struggle, as it mirrors to how I often feel as an introvert who suffers from severe spikes of anxiety and depression. These are the illustrations from that novella, organized by character in chronological order.
The themes for the short stories were inspired by the 2016 Conception series by Korean music artists, VIXX. Each mini-album focused on a different emotionally powerful Greek deity – Zelos, Hades, and Kratos – and in turn, these short stories tread a similar path. Zelos deals with fervent romantic jealousy, Hades with a selfless devotion drawn out of a dark state of life, while Kratos highlights one with the power to take what he/she wants and the consequences therein.
Elizabeth - Zelos
A bold and savvy senior who seems to have it all figured out, Elizabeth - Lzzy to her friends - is rolling towards her BS in Analytical Chemistry with a 3.9 GPA. She has scholarship offers from the best chemical research graduate programs, and the support of her long-time, poly-sci major boyfriend, Harry. But when she notices interest spark between him and new transfer sophomore, Lzzy finds her whole structured, scientifically ordered world collapsing in on itself, dragged down by the basest of girl instincts. The best laid plans don't seem so solid anymore.
Ezra - Hades
A junior pre-med student, Ezra is calmly cruising to his degree. Outside of classes, his video games and his cat, he doesn't engage much with the social scene, a direct side effect of his rocky upbringing, childhood trauma, and trust issues. He watches the people go by, living vicariously through them and wondering if there was an avenue for him back into that current. He finds this primarily in the form of Rylie, a junior journalism student and the unknowing object of his affections. But when an incident with his stepsister, Cathrynne, finds him at odds with her and out of the apartment more often, he finds himself drawn further out of his shell, into the terrifying flurry of life.
Madison - Kratos
A shy and introverted freshman living on her own for the first time, Madison has so many ideas of what she wants to do with her life. She is at college on a full-ride scholarship, and lives in the special honors housing. There she finds her nerves tested by another honors student, Peter - who seems determined to derail her, but instead ends up becoming her closest friend - as well as their handsome building RA, Remy. Let the convolutions begin.