Spirit Shear coming soon

The blog title says it all.

Sketch of the cover

Edits on the book are coming along nicely but I definitely need to step up my game with the illustrations! As in, none of them are done yet! And I still haven't plotted out what they'll be! With 30 chapters so far I think I'll need at least 15 plates PLUS a new map! And these illustrations are going to be more scenic than the last time so I've got my work cut out for me.

I love the draft of the cover though. It's got me buzzing. It's very James Bond-y. It started out just as a sketch on the side of my draft copy. It gives a nod to the cloak that Gemmy gets when he's on Rheza. The knockout figure is the rune for mysticism (which literally translates to Spirit Shear... hence the title of the book).

Cover Book 1

I think the figure matches well with the cover from the first book. It shows a kind of evolution of Gemmy. The figure on the cover of Book 1 (right)  is very uncertain and is caught off guard by the lighting strike over head. He's off to the side, the lighting bolt literally chasing him away from centre stage. However, Book 2's figure is centred, poised, powerful and ready for battle. He literally has the power of electricity in his hands. He's still holding back, waiting on the defensive instead of striking out. Not totally a man of action yet, he's slowly coming into his own as a warrior?

Having a visual for the cover has given me a boost and I've had some great feedback about the first book that's really ignited my imagination again. I'm hoping to take some of that and put it into the second book (and then... a second edition Black Star with a whole new cover?).

My next post will likely becoming from my new workshop! Moving house and there will be an office/workspace where I can create. Whoop whoop!

Enjoy!
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