Many fantasy authors incorporate various types of tattoos in their world-building with each author putting their own twist on what permanent ink markings represent in their setting. This article is a deep dive about our love affair with bookish ink.

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Image credit : Mrs Gaither Tattoo Design: @swords.and.shapes Tattoo Artist: Elizabeth Mackey (Woodward, OK, USA)

When you hear "reading retreat", what pops into your mind? 

 

You might picture a weekend getaway, just you and a pile of books. Some peaceful time away from the kids, your partner holding down the fort at home, and those work emails set to auto-reply. The only thing on your agenda? Blissfully diving into those pages, making progress on your TBR, and savouring the stillness of uninterrupted you time.

The first time we put on a plastic tiara or wielded a foam sword and imagined our lives were like the characters we loved, magic sparked. We could never rule a kingdom nor fight a dragon… But for a moment we could pretend to, no matter who we were. For many of us experiencing disabilities or chronic illnesses, sometimes even pretending consumes energy we don’t possess. But when we get a chance to put on that tiara or carry that sword, the barriers don’t feel as tall. Disabled cosplayers Deanie and Ciarán shared their journeys and how they embraced who they were so they could keep creating.

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Photographer: @needleandhammerstudio Image credit : @deaniewink