Wow! The first full cover done for me by an artist, and IT IS AMAZING! The image, itself, is in the section of the site covering Trials, but it’s just utterly captivating to look at.
Ralloonx is a real treat to work with on commissions – very kind and giving and just amazingly talented. Her nightly updates and excellent communication were essential to creating a look for the character that was exactly what I wanted! I couldn’t be more pleased! I look forward to working with her more in the future! As far as the detail, it’s mind-boggling! I mean, there is stitching the banner, the clothing, lights in the eyes, texture on the cloth – just completely and utterly over the top!
As far as my own progress, The Fallen is ready to go out – all of the editing is done (FINALLY). Trials is proving a bit sticky. I’ve finished all of my editor’s comments save one – more development on the love story near the end of the book. In preparing for that, I did a little examination of the book’s structure and found that the chapters were, in some cases, 30 pages. I’ve been reading another book that seems to think that ten pages is about a good chapter length. I don’t know if I’m there, but I did go back and increase the number of chapters from 20 to 26. This was actually fairly easy, since only a few chapters were “monsters.”
I may not get Trials ready to go by the end of the month, because I want to spend time with it. This really completely awesome cover makes me want to polish it a bit more (no fair having the outside look so cool if I still have problems between the covers). Beyond is basically marking time, with the exception that I’ve started reading it aloud to my dear wife. It’s getting good points on emotional impact! 😉 So, even if I take a bit of a detour to plus up Trials, it will probably be okay. Just as long as when I get “caught up” on reading Beyond I can actually start writing on it again. That would be perfect.
And the blessings flow like water, my friends. See you in the future,
JTL