‘Book of 19 Nocturnes’ is an inter-genre epic that does not fall into a comfortable category of graphic novel, illustrated fairy tale, noctuary, dream diary, field journal or prose poem, though it has aspects of all of these. It is akin to an illuminated manuscript or a grimoire – a magic book – meant to be read over the course of 19 nights. Echoing the genres of painterly and musical nocturnes, Holyoak’s book is driven by its ambient, nighttime setting – a realm populated with wandering monsters.
The book’s 19 chapters contain reproductions of graphite drawings, watercolours, ink-paintings, and collaged text, most of which were developed while Holyoak travelled (often trekking) throughout Scandinavia, British Columbia and the Himalayas.

Jim Holyoak’s discipline consists of drawing and writing, book arts and room-sized drawing installations. He has attended artist residencies in New York, Mumbai, Los Angeles, Banff, Finland, Iceland, England, the Netherlands and throughout Norway. Holyoak has exhibited across North America and Europe. He lives and works in Nelson, BC.