About Us​

Dark Story Art is the creative partnership of writer Joseph Soltis and illustrator John Patrick Garcia. Their collaboration began with art commissions for Joseph’s Santa Barbara ghost tour business, where they discovered a synergy in style and theme that sparked a larger vision.
Together, they create comics, merchandise, and animations that merge gothic fantasy storytelling with striking visual design. Their shared mission is to build a universe of darkly inviting stories—rooted in gothic literature, real-world legends, and the dreamlike tradition of Conte Fantastique.
What sets Dark Story Art apart is the pairing of Joseph’s world-building and storytelling with John’s visual imagination. Their work contrasts vibrant characters and fantastical myths against shadowed, gothic settings—developing a style that feels both unsettling and irresistible.

Joseph Soltis is a writer, storyteller, and ghost tour operator whose creative journey was set in motion the moment he was born on Halloween. With a background in Honors English, Creative Writing, and years of theatrical performance, Joseph developed a natural command of narrative that now shapes his gothic fantasy worlds and supernatural storytelling.
As the owner of Santa Barbara’s ghost tour business, he has become known for weaving chilling tales that bridge history, legend, and the paranormal. Inspired by literary giants like Tolkien, Sapkowski, and Herbert, and rooted in the dreamlike tradition of Conte Fantastique, Joseph creates mythologies and quest-driven narratives that explore both wonder and madness.
Resilient, visionary, and deeply curious, he thrives at the crossroads of fantasy and the occult. Whether writing, leading ghost tours, or diving into tarot, games, and gothic culture, Joseph brings a creative spark that invites others to step into the unknown.
Short Bio (Sidebar/Compact)
Joseph Soltis is a writer and ghost storyteller from Santa Barbara. Born on Halloween, he creates gothic fantasy worlds inspired by the occult, dark legends, and Conte Fantastique.

JOSEPH

John Patrick Garcia is an illustrator, graphic designer, and motion designer with a Master of Arts in Media Arts. Trained in Media Arts & Animation, John has worked as a Studio Artist and Technical Designer in the creative agency world, honing both technical skill and artistic vision.
Driven by a love for world-building, he approaches each project as both a craftsman and storyteller. With patience, tenacity, and dedication, John creates art that balances mystery and precision, blending gothic atmosphere with immersive design.
When not designing, John can be found strumming his guitar, listening to darkwave & post-punk music, hiking, or watching anime with his cats by his side.
Short Bio (Sidebar/Compact)
Illustrator and designer John Patrick Garcia combines technical mastery with imaginative storytelling. His work balances gothic atmosphere with creative precision.

JOHN

More Info About Dark Story Art

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K+
Copies Sold
Books
Awards
Best Author Awards 2012

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World’s #1 Best-selling Book

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NYT Best-selling Author 2014

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Best Author Awards 2012

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1986

My First Book

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1992

Released on Store

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1998

US Bestselling Book

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1999

My First Award

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2006

World’s #1 Bestselling Author

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