The House of the Sinking Sea

When you sleep, it starts to wake.
Deep in your dreams, it quietly waits,
For those that seek and hope to find,
The hidden house that outlasts time.

Pre-order the book

I have many things to show you,
Monsters rare and fair.
Shelves stacked high with secrets,
Some of which I’ll share.

Maps of lands long forgotten,
Except by an inquisitive few,
Some special people search them out,
Who knows, one might be you.

I’ll show you the hidden staircase,
Behind the hollow wall,
It’s dark and steep and not used to feet
So be careful not to fall.

There are castles made of candles,
That melt and disappear,
But they leave signs for those
That read them right,
So we know that they were here.

You can meet your dreams forgotten,
And ask what they’re about.
Why some nights go on forever,
And the daytime gets left out.

You will meet Plants that talk
And books that walk,
And bottles that fit the sea.
You will hear a bird that sings our histories,
And of things that are yet to be.

There are Three silent sisters dreaming,
Although they never sleep,
If you’re quiet and very still
You will hear worlds turn beneath their feet.

And when you greet the morning,
The house will sink back beneath the waves,
But you and I will know it’s there
Hiding in between the days.

It’s important you remember,
The places you’ve been shown,
Because if you forget,
Then all will be left,
Is a house of salt and stone.

Take the house home
Cover of The House of the Sinking Sea: a gothic house above the waves, its roots reaching down into the dark water

Pre-order · Publishing February 2027

The House of the Sinking Sea

A lyrical, illustrated picture book about a hidden house that wakes when you sleep, and sinks beneath the waves when you wake. For readers of all ages.

Choose your edition

Pre-orders ship on or shortly after publication. Checkout is handled securely by Shopify. Prices in Australian dollars.

The Curiosity Shop

Treasures on their way

The house keeps odd little things. A few are being made and will arrive soon. Leave your email and you’ll hear first, before they surface.

The Sinking Sea enamel pin

The Sinking Sea Enamel Pin

On its way

Mr Stacks, a walking tower of books

Mr Stacks

On its way

Books That Walk collectible box set

Books That Walk

Box set · on its way

Bottles That Fit the Sea collectible box set

Bottles That Fit the Sea

Box set · on its way

One email when the shop opens. No spam.

The Author

Between somewhere, and somewhere else

Born in the UK to an English mother and Lebanese father, Mark grew up between worlds, never entirely belonging to either. That sense of in-between has shaped a lifelong fascination with story, escape, and the wonder of elsewhere.

After a degree in Fine Arts, Mark worked as a professional double bassist, touring internationally with artists including Ryan Adams and Grammy winner Matt Hales. A career in advertising and marketing followed, living and working across Africa, Australia, Russia, China, North America and Europe, quietly collecting stories of people and places from the edges of the world.

Send a Message

Wriggle Rooms

People started calling them Wriggle Rooms, and they proved to be flawless messengers. You simply had to think of the person, hold their image in your mind, and somehow the creature would find them.

A Wriggle Room, the small creature that carries messages between dreamers