Good and
Joyful Things Ania Ahlborn
Illustrated by John Kenn Mortensen
A new novel from the Amazon #1 bestselling author of Brother and Seed, Good and Joyful Things is Ania Ahlborn’s horrifying manifesto of marriage, manipulation and the unpredictability of human relationships.
Simone and Elliott Evans have it all; a comfortable life, a house on a quiet street, and two sweet daughters. But their marriage is far from happy, especially now. While Elliott spends all day at work, postpartum depression presses down hard on Simone’s shoulders. Baby Lizzy is colicky and often sick. Four-year-old Aster is a handful—not at all as good a “helper” as Simone had hoped. The more time Simone spends home alone with the girls, the more she’s convinced that Elliott’s interest in his family is waning. He’s pining for his ex, Leighton Prescott—a woman who mysteriously disappeared from their small New Hampshire town years before, leaving her and Elliott’s then newborn daughter, Aster, behind.
When Simone confronts Elliott in search of the truth, he reminds her that this isn’t the first time she’s accused him of being unfaithful, and it isn’t the first time her assumption has been wrong. But when Simone spots Leighton at the grocery store in their tiny hometown, she has her proof. Leighton Prescott is back, and despite what Elliott says, Simone knows Leighton will stop at nothing to destroy the life she’s built with Elliott, piece by precious piece.
Terrified of losing her family, Simone puts Elliott to the ultimate test. He’s left with one last chance to save the marriage he vowed to preserve. But rather than rekindling the love he and Simone once shared, he instead uncovers an unfathomable truth about the woman he calls his wife, a woman that, as it turns out, he doesn’t know at all.
With Good and Joyful Things, Ania Ahlborn tackles the subject of marriage, using her signature brand of brutality to write a psychological thriller that explores the terrifying secrets that can dwell in even the most intimate relationships.
About The Edition
This signed limited edition of Good and Joyful Things by Ania Ahlborn is the first publication of the novel and is presented in three states: Classic, Numbered and Lettered. The edition measures 6” x 9” and includes ten black & white illustrations by John Kenn Mortensen. The text pages are set in Adrian Frutiger’s Apollo and the display type is Warren Chappel’s Trajanus. The editions are printed offset on Cougar Natural and Mohawk Superfine papers, and are signed by Ania Ahlborn and John Kenn Mortensen.
Classic Edition
Pre-orderThe Classic edition is limited to 500 copies, and is the only edition to include a dust jacket illustrated by John Kenn Mortensen. It is a smyth-sewn full cloth binding with illustrated endsheets, and is housed in a slipcase covered in a durable polycotton cloth. The edition is printed offset on Cougar Natural, and is signed by the author & artist.
Good and Joyful Things & If You See Her Bundle
For a limited time, and while supplies last, we are offering 20% off the Classic edition of Good and Joyful Things if bought together with the Classic edition of If You See Her. During checkout, you must have both titles in your cart with the same quantity of each, and enter coupon code “JOYFUL-BUNDLE” to be eligible for the discount. Available only while supplies of If You See Her Classic edition last or until 11:59 P.M. Pacific on Sunday, December 17th, 2023, whichever occurs first.
Numbered Edition
The Numbered edition of 250 copies is a quarter cloth binding with rustic red and black Lokta Batik paper over boards. The paper is handmade in Nepal using bark of the Daphne plant (locally called “Lokta”), which grows abundantly in the Himalayan foothills. Colored with batik wax-resist dyeing technique, each sheet is unique.
Endsheets are Hahnemühle Bugra and the headbands are handmade with cloth. The book is housed in a clamshell enclosure covered in Dubletta with velour lined floors. Dubletta is a luxurious woven cotton fabric with a subtle duo-tone appearance. This state is printed offset on Mohawk Superfine and is signed by the author & artist.
Lettered Edition
The Lettered edition is limited to 26 copies and is a Bradel binding with a goatskin spine from J. Hewit & Sons, and Natural Lokta handmade paper featuring a silkscreened design covering the boards. Nepalese paper artisans hand-craft Lokta paper out of fibers from the bark of the Daphne plant. The clamshell enclosure is covered in Coloretta cloth, a finely woven, two-toned cover material with a subtle yet distinctive color gradient effect. Its color changes depending on the angle of view. This state is printed offset on Mohawk Superfine and is signed by the author & artist.
About the Author
About the Artist
John Kenn Mortensen
John Kenn Mortensen was born and raised in a small town on a small island on the outskirts of Denmark. He is an illustrator, author, and film director. In 2011, he debuted a book of illustrations, Sticky Monsters, which has become an international bestseller. His other works include The Nightmare Factory, The Wrestler, A Christmas Bestiary, and two illustrated adaptations of classic Brothers Grimm tales. He lives with his two kids and his wife in a forest as far away from people as you can come in a small country like Denmark. He also has two pet goats named Billie and Charlie.
Matching Numbers & Letters
A Matching Pre-Order email is sent to owners of our previous publication, Hell House with a designation of 1-250 at 9:00 A.M. PT on the day of announcement. If you did not receive the email, contact us here. If your order is not received before the deadline, your designated number or letter will be assigned to the new owner.
Order Limits
Please be aware of the order limits for our editions. You can read more about this in the Order Limits article on our support site.
Four of Ten Illustrations by John Kenn Mortensen
Published editions may differ slightly from mockups and prototype designs.
Illustrations © 2023 by John Kenn Mortensen.