SOTC Cover Reveal: Artist's Step by Step

I have something really special for you; two somethings really. First, Mirror World Publishing is releasing the cover for my novel Sol of the Coliseum due out in less than one month! There's a link below to the finished product but first, the second something. My amazing cover artists, Jon Guerdrum, has generously given us a behind the scenes look at what goes into creating a book cover. It's a pretty amazing process. Check it out. 

###

Step 1 - Rough sketch:  This was a bit of a challenge as the “look over shoulder” was a first for me and took several tries to get something I was happy with.  I worked with the author and trying to get the image he desired. Adam's note: I showed Jon the covers for Steven Erickson's "Gardens of the Moon" and Bridget Zinn's "Poison" to give him an idea of what I had in mind.

Step 2 - Sketch Concepts: The helm was a key element to the story, so I wanted to give the author a few options on the look for this. Adam's note: My thanks to everyone who voted on which helm they liked best!

Step 3 - Final Sketch: This combines and cleans up all prior sketches to prep for transfer to canvas.

Step 4 - Background sketch: The background was supposed to be the inside of the Coliseum.  This was also something new for me, particularly the crowd and trying to capture depth.  This took a couple tries, but this rough version was the one I liked the most.

Step 5 - Background Sketch Test Fit: I cut out the painted background sketch and laid it over the final sketch to get a good idea of look.

Step 6 - Transfer to Canvas: I used graphite paper to transfer the final sketch to canvas.

Step 7 - Hard Line Sketch: The graphite transfer isn’t permanent enough to remain after masking and washes (a painting technique using a lot of water); because of this I have to “hard line” the sketch to make sure its still there while painting.  In total the lines using my technique are drawn 5 times minimum (rough sketch, final sketch, graphite transfer, hard line, final pen work).

Step 8 - Mask for Background: The foreground is masked off to preserve and protect the canvas underneath.  This allows me to use washes and splatter techniques that would ruin the foreground otherwise.  Watercolor’s key consideration is protecting the canvas, since the paint is transparent there is no going back once it is applied. 

Jon's assistant, Yeti, lends his creative talents.

Step 9 - Background Base Pigment: Base color is applied to the background.

Step 10 - Background continued, mask removed: In this picture you can see additional details added to the background including the crowd.  I removed the stonework mask to get ready for base pigment.

 Step 11 - Opening Base Pigment: Here the base pigment is applied to the opening trying to capture light coming through the doorway.  Once again this uses a “wash” that would bleed into the body of the character if it were not masked off.

Step 12 - Opening continued, Mask removed: Now that the messy parts of the opening are complete I remove the mask for the character and continue on the stone look.

Step 13 - Details: Now I can start the detail work.  Pen is only applied after no paint will ever touch that part of the canvas again.  The black ink will bleed into the paint otherwise.  Typically I Pen the most crucial lines as soon as a I can.   If I screw these up then the piece is ruined, so its best to get them out of the way as soon as possible so I didn’t waist hours finishing the piece just to mess up with the final pen stroke. Adam's note: It strikes me that it takes a lot of courage to be this far along in the process and know that a single pen stroke could ruin the whole thing. That's why I like writing. I can always go back and edit.

Final Step - More Details: Pen and pigment continued to be applied.

And finally, the finished product. The editors take care of adding text such as title and author.

Jon's work station: where the magic happens.

###

Pretty amazing, huh? Another huge thanks to Jon for his hard work and willingness to collaborate on this cover. If anyone's looking for a cover artist, Jon comes with my highest recommendation.

So now that you've seen the dirty work, hop over to MWP's page to see the finished product as it will appear on my book!

I'm Going To Fort Collins Comic Con!

I will be releasing my gladatorial fantasy novel, Sol of the Coliseum, at the inaugural Fort Collins Comic Con on September 12, 2015!

My first novel!

My first Comic Con!

Fort Collin's first Comic Con!

So Exciting!

I've got all kinds of fun stuff coming up between now and then including the release of my amazing cover (anyone want in on that?) and more! 

So STAY TUNED!!!

My Publisher Tells You What She's Looking For In A Query Letter

I have a treat for you! One half of the dynamic duo that is Mirror World Publishing, home to my soon to be released debut novel Sol of the Coliseum, fellow author and publisher Justine Alley Dowsett has stopped by to share what she, as a publisher, is looking for in a query letter. That's right! Query letter help directly from a publisher! How great is that!

###

A good or even great query letter is not going to guarantee publication with a small press or even a larger one, but it goes a long way toward your book being noticed and remembered and that can sometimes make all the difference. The best query letter I’ve ever received came from Elliot Baker for his novel, The Sun God’sHeir. Elliot has given me permission to share his query letter with you, so I want to discuss what makes it so great, so you can have an idea what an editor or publisher, like me, is looking for.

  

Here goes:

Dear Ms. Dowsett and Ms. Damodred,

(Even in the opening line, the author is showing that he has done his research and knows whom he is addressing +10 points.)

It was a pleasant surprise to read your request coming on the heels of my former publisher's unfortunate demise. Thank you for reaching out.

(Here the author mentions how he/she came across this opportunity. Something like this or really anything that creates a possible link the author has to the publisher will help to form an immediate connection in the publisher's mind and therefore make that author, or his book, stand out. +10 points.)

I am seeking a new home for The Sun God’s Heir.

(Direct and to the point. +10 points)

an epic metaphysical adventure with historical underpinnings

(He tells us what it is, the genre and possible target audience. Lets us know immediately if it is something we would be interested in.  And, it is. +10 points.)

complete at 105,000 words.

(This information is actually important. Crucial, even. It tells us how big of a project this is. Whether it's a short story, a novella or a full-length novel. In our case, we only publish full-length novels of 50,000+words, but might balk if it was 200,000+words as we don't have the time and man-power to dedicate to a project that size. No points awarded for this, it should just be included, every time.)

A possible well-worn comp would be Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.

(Negative 1 point for shortening the word 'comparison'. This is a novel he is pitching and he is a writer, so we expect to see full words used. However, I like the comparison. You can't go wrong with comparing yourself to a well-loved and undisputedly well-written novel series. Not necessary, but it helps us to understand again the style and genre of your book as well as a possible target audience for it. )

I have completed the second book in the series along with ninety-thousand words of the third.

(Ok. It's a series, not a stand-alone. +10 points that he is pitching the first in the series and not all three. Obviously if we like the first enough to pick it up, we will probably end up publishing the series, but this way we only have to look at one book at a time. That being said, it's nice to know in advance that there will be more to come. It's good to be upfront about things like that. It lets the publisher make an informed decision and know what they are getting into should they choose to go forward.)

In 17th-century France, a young pacifist kills to protect the woman he loves, unwittingly opening a door for the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian general determined to continue a reign of terror begun three thousand years ago.

(A concise synopsis that captures the imagination and also manages to show a hint of the author's style at the same time. Excellent +20 points.)

Taking up the sword will not be enough. Rene must reclaim his own ancient past to stop the red tide of slavery from engulfing the world.

Joined by a powerful sheikh, his sword wielding daughter, and a family of Maranos escaping the Spanish Inquisition, they fight their way through pirates, typhoons, and dark assassins to reach Morocco, the home of an occult sect that has waited for Rene through the eons.

(A little more information now that we're drawn in can't hurt. He tells us what's at stake, what we can expect, and again hints at genre and target audience.)

Published in July of 2014, I was pleased with the review response the work received on Amazon and elsewhere. http://tinyurl.com/12345

(Both mentions the author's history as well as how the book has been received so far by people who have read it, but doesn't dwell on the details. He also helpfully provides a link should we wish to research it further ourselves. +10 points)

I understand that everything is up for change in a re-publication, but I have acquired the images on the current cover anyway.

(Shows the author is both flexible and helpful and understands the publishing business. +10 points. Since authors and publishers are essentially entering into a business partnership, these qualities are important and it's nice to see them as early as the query letter.)

Attached please find the first three chapters and a brief synopsis. Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you.

(This shows the author read the submission guidelines and has followed them. He is also again polite and subtly requesting a response from us. +10 points)

Cheers,

Elliot Baker

So that's... a lot of points, but the count isn't what's important and neither is following a template. What you need to do is be yourself, use your own writing style and hit all the highlights.  You're a writer. Let your writer’s 'voice' speak for you. If a publisher likes your style of writing and its present right from the query letter, that publisher or editor will be that much more inclined to like the rest of your work also. A query letter is basically just a first impression, so make it count! 

###

A big thanks to Elliot Baker for letting Allie critique his query letter here and a huge thanks to Justine for such an insightful post!

Be sure to check out the Coming Soon page over a Mirror World Press for a list of all their exciting new releases, including my own Sol of the Coliseum coming out next month!