First and foremost, a SQUEEE of authorly joy! I’m delighted to have art inspired by my words and even more to share the result with you.
This one is remarkable. In Mirage, Book Two of the Web Shifter’s Library, Esen and her friends continue their efforts to save the known universe from itself through mutual understanding and better manners. While any cover hopes to intrigue you, dear readers, this one brilliantly illuminates the depths of Mirage. It pretty much tells the tale without me. You’ll see once you’ve read it.
How did this cover come about? When I, and DAW Books, returned to Esen and her Web after a considerable time, we wanted a fresh look. Styles had changed. The setting was now part of the series, since Esen’s new stories revolve around the All Species’ Library of Linguistics and Culture. Side note: the Library is one of my favourite settings ever. Aliens walk in the door every day. There are multi-species biological accomodations! Did I mention elk?
For the prequel novella, “The Only Thing to Fear,” and Book One, Search Image, Matthew Stawicki created not only great covers, but gave us Esen as Her Blue Blobness.
For Mirage, the evolution continued. For those unfamiliar with the process, a book’s cover is done by the publisher in consultation with marketing and art design teams. An artist might be commissioned or a design done in-house. Typically, the author isn’t involved beyond providing useful descriptions and details to be passed along to the visual creative person(s). For many of mine, I provided a pivotal moment from the story to Sheila Gilbert, my TWO Hugo-winning editor/publisher (never gets old saying that). Sheila has a superb sense of what will make the right cover. Once underway, in this digital age where artwork can be readily modified, I’ll be sent one or more sketches for my opinion and to verify they accurately represent the settings and any characters.
Thus, I’m not the artist. Nope. But I do get ideas. For Mirage, I’d one. On the cover of Search Image, Esen peers at something pivotal to the story. (That happens, btw.) Why not have her peer at “someones” for the next book? I chose the alien I’d modelled in part on the Saiga Antelope and Esen’s newest friend, Evan Gooseberry. Seizing a charcoal pencil, I doodled away, producing what you see here.
I sent a photo of my sketch to Sheila, along with the synopsis of the book (wasn’t written yet) and written descriptions of all involved.
Peering wasn’t the way to go this time. It doesn’t happen as shown in the book anyway, being more an abstract depiction. Was any part of my idea helpful?
Yes indeed. In a beautiful turn of events, Sheila showed the design team what I’d sent and illustrator Adam Auerbach didn’t just create the fabulous work of art you see here, he found a way to visualize the biological problem Esen faces in the story, an illegal genetic manipulation that could end an alien civilization. And oh yes, Evan’s involved. Simply brilliant! (For those curious, the Dear Little Blob will appear on the spine.)
Plus, those eyes?! I’ve written them into my story. Collaboration rules. I’ll admit to a wee chuckle about cool eyeballs on a book released in 2020.
There you have it. Mirage will be in stores this August. If this peek at the outside has intrigued you as hoped, please preorder. (We all love that.) In the meantime, DAW has generously provided five copies of Search Image to giveaway.
Thank you Rob and SFFWorld for hosting!
The giveaway will open at 12:01 AM EST on 1/14 and run through 1/28 (closing at 12:00 AM EST on 1/29). There will be 5 winners, and it is open to US only entries.
Preorder Mirage here: prh.com/mirage
Wow! Totally different style! And the eyes *are* cool.
Thanks!!!