New Tattoo - unieaglecorn

Behold! The Unieaglecorn tattoo!!!

The Peel family crest if ever there was one!

I just got inked with this bad boy and I'm so pleased with how it's turned out. There have been a few changes to the design since it's first incarnation.

The original design

First the band is different. I had a chat with Erik, my tattoo artist and realised that while the geometric pattern was indeed Pictish, it's not instantly recognisable as such. People tend to associate swirling knots and circles with Pictish style.

So I redesigned the band with a more organic spirals. But, I wanted to maintain a structured pattern. So, I brought the idea of the triskelion into the band and each swirl intersects with two others to form a triskelion. It gives the band the beautiful flowing shape but also keeps the mathematical beauty of triangles.

The second update is to the unicorn. This was partially inspired by the work I did on my cover for The Kelpie's Heart. I tidied up some of the lines. Also, the original Celtic knot in the unicorn's tail had some sharp edges that I got rid of. I won't lie, I added them because I wanted to make the unicorn look butch! LOL But, it just looked messy and cluttered.

Keeping the look true to Pictish style was far more important. And, I like the flourish and swirl at the end of the tail now. It also has some Pictish war paint across it's face giving it a tribal look. I think it makes it a much more complete figure and it relates better to the eagle.

I think it all hangs together much better and, as it's permanent, I think it fits in well with my others and it really means a lot to me. I'm so happy with the way it turned out. And, even better, my family and friends gave me money for my birthday to get it. So, it's kind of completion of a journey for me. *sniff* Now, fly my unieaglecorn! Fly!!

If you're curious, here's how the original idea came together.

Hope you enjoy!
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The Kelpie's stripes

I had a few other ideas for the cover of The Kelpie's Heart that I've now had a chance to take out of sketches and into a reality. They're not necessarily right for the children's market but I definitely enjoyed making the art.

The first is one of my favourite scenes from the book and of Scotland. Just an image of the rolling hills in Scotland on a moonlit night. The wee silver pendent with a celtic knot heart motif engraved in it wending its way through the hillside like a silvery river. There's the faintest watermark of an important rune from the book just under it. Giving a bit more depth to the blackness. It's a lovely image but it's a bit too Twilight Saga for me.

The next is just a fun image. I don't think it would work as a cover at all. I just love the flat panel drawings of the characters. The Kelpie is my favourite but Ash and Ana are dynamite as well. The stylised swirls in knock out really create fun silhouette type figures. I also love Eopa's nasty little tongue. Just a bit of preview of her real self.

I think I cracked it with the first cover, personally. It's still my favourite. But there's definitely something alluring about the image of just the kelpie's face on the silvery sea-green back drop. What do you think?

Hope you enjoy!

‽

Buy 'Black Star' or 'Spirit Shear' on Amazon in the UK and US
Check out Themo on Twitter and Facebook

Beginning Book 3 - Emersus project

So, The Kelpie's Heart has flown the nest. It's as well drafted as it can be and a friend is having another proof of it. I'm sending out agent queries as well.

While I sit on my hands and wait for the rejection letters to roll in, I need to keep my head and hands busy. I started the outline for the Emersus Project book three ages ago. And now I'm making my first crack at a draft. I might even do it during NaNoWriMo this November.

As I ramp up to the writing I'm doing some drawings of the gang when we pick up with them in Book 3.

The gang - ballpoint pen and colour pencil

Gemmy has turned 16 and starting his last year of school with Sem, who is a year older. She's kept her long golden locks from the end of book 2. But, true to herself, she's died a streak of her hair bright pink. And, sticking with function over form, has cut a fringe in the front so it doesn't get in the way of her playing sparrein.

Mhteli is back and as lethal as ever. He's embracing his Rhe'zan side and has let the top of his hair grow long with close cut sides. It adds to him looking every bit as ferocious as he is.

I'm so happy to see these guys again and I feel like I'm catching up with old friends as their faces come into view.

This October I'm going to reread and edit books one and two into a master version. I've learned so much since writing that first novel and I want to go back and give it the benefit of my experience. So, when book 3 comes out, I want to publish a remastered version of 1 & 2 with new illustrations for the first.

Whoop! So, what this space folks! More drawings of Gemmy and crew coming your way. And keep your flippers crossed for The Kelpie's Hearts as it wings its way to agents!

Hope you enjoy!
‽

Buy 'Black Star' or 'Spirit Shear' on Amazon in the UK and US
Check out Themo on Twitter and Facebook