Smalltown Tales

A beautifully illustrated book of ghost stories, written and illustrated by film artist and screenwriter Iain McCaig, depicting daily life in Smalltown, where Lake Wobegon meets Norman Rockwell, with monsters.

Smalltown is a special place. Think of it as Lake Wobegon or Norman Rockwell, with monsters. These 12 illustrated short stories are introductions to the people and creatures who live there.

The ghosts Frightwood and Po—who we discover on a petrified park bench floating on a rock through space—are our guides. Meet the Smalltown vampire, the Sirens in the Sound, hear how the Bell-Ringer finds an apprentice and Albert Moon falls in love and discover the story of the First War of The Worlds.

Written and illustrated by renowned American artist, author and film maker Iain McCaig, creator of the iconic designs for Darth Maul and Queen Amidala for the Star Wars franchise, and who has worked on many successful films, such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, this is a beguiling, quirky collection that will delight and captivate.

Iain McCaig divides his energies between a lifelong love of storytelling, and a passionate belief that everyone in the world can learn to draw. McCaig has worked for over 40 years in the entertainment industry. Many of his creations have become pop-culture icons, like his cover for Jethro Tull’s Broadsword and the Beast or his Star Wars designs for Queen Amidala and Darth Maul. He has created art for games, from LucasArts’ The Secret of Monkey Island to Respawn’s Titanfall, and for many films, among them Terminator 2, Interview With The Vampire, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Hook, Peter Pan, Charlotte’s Web, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Disney’s live-action The Jungle Book, and the ongoing Star Wars movies, as well as designs for the Star Wars: The High Republic graphic novels, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme parks. In his spare time, McCaig writes, produces and directs, and wanders the land encouraging people to draw and tell stories. In 2008, Palace Press published Shadowline: the Art of Iain McCaig, a combination of 28 years of McCaig’s commercial and private artwork, a mini-course in how-to-draw, and a fictionalized expose of his creative process. In May 2008, Spectrum Fantastic Art gave McCaig their GRAND MASTER Award, and in September 2021, the Concept Art Association honored him with a LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Award. Based in British Colombia, Canada.