I often fantasize about what my book covers would look like. I’ve hand-drawn covers. I’ve Canva’d covers. I’ve looked at my favorite books and dreamed. Now, I have two vastly different WIPs, and it only adds to the dreaming that has been going on since before I'd completed any project. Over the years, I’ve put together a “wishlist” of book covers that I love and artists that I've come to recognize. This list only expanded once I became a Librarian (I suspect the list will continue to grow). John Jude Palencar
Combining the artistic rigor of Leonardo da Vinci with the surreal landscapes and creatures of Hieronymus Bosch, fantasy, and science fiction, painter and illustrator John Jude Palencar creates an imaginative artistic world. Throughout an award-winning career that includes paintings for the covers of books by Stephen King and others, Palencar has developed a rich language of symbols and archetypes, which he leaves open to interpretation by the viewer. -- Artsy Editorial
Do you ever pick a book because of the artist? Either you recognize the art from other books you’ve loved or it stands out way more than anything as a piece you’d love to own? Donato GiancolaAnother highly decorated, highly known, and talented artist, Giancola creates both fantasy and science fiction worlds of wonder. His interests include D&D, Tolkien, Magic the Gathering-- works and games with expansive worlds and descriptive imagery (Giancola devotes an entire gallery to Middle Earth and a book of illustrations). My first introduction to his work was again through Sharon Shinn. Her Twelve Houses fantasy series includes magic and knights, kings, vengeful priestesses, and kingdoms in unrest: Though I am less likely to recognize his work by sight as I am Pelancar, I can still find him whenever a new L.E. Modesitt Jr. book hits our library shelf. "I still spend many afternoons visiting my favorite artists -- Memling, Van Eyck, Velazquez, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Mondrian, Rembrandt. I strive to comprehend their complexities and bring that into my work." -- Donato Giancola, Behind The Canvas (2003) I love how he brings such a classical touch to SFF. Scrolling through his galleries, his inspirations are very evident. The chiaroscuro and diagonals that Caravaggio was famous for (though not as extreme in Giancola's work) is exemplified in LORD OF THE RINGS (compare to Caravaggio's The Entombment of Christ); the portraiture of Diego Velazquez can be found in Gandalf (?) (compare to San Pablo), and the depth and shadow in Rembrandt (Anatomy Lesson) could be seen in Giancola's St. Crispin's Day. I can even see remnants of Millais (see Ophelia vs Mermaid- Search Study). It would be my absolute dream to see his stylistic take on my characters and worlds (which are less Euro-inspired)! John HarrisAnother Science Fiction staple, British painter, John Harris started illustration book covers in the 80s. He’s since illustrated for Asimov, Ben Bova, Ann Leckie, John Scalzi and more. His works explore the theme of space, space travel, expansive worlds and realms of realistic and faraway places. I noticed his work, but fell in love with such landscapes on the reprinting of Ben Bova’s Grand Tour books. His sense of scale and detail is breath takingly immersive. To get a better sense of his work and the scale of it, check out Beyond the Horizon-- The Art of John Harris. "Whatever marks I make, I have to hold in my mind the essence of the feeling that arises with the image that's being called upon to be created. That immediate juncture when I make the very first mark, it has to be saturated with the feeling. after that, it almost doesn't matter. I can do almost anything as long as I can remember the action and look at the mark that came from that action inspired by the feeling that was first generated." -- John Harris (Beyond the Horizon) Adekunle Adeleke and Slava Fokk
Adeleke is a Nigerian artist and illustrator that specializes in blending black portraits and African Ankara patterns into a surrealist creations. Check out his Wax Series. His use of color combine with the varied complexions of his black models is striking. He's illustrated a number of novels across genres and ages. When the detail of the print takes over (like the Wax Series), that's when his work is the strongest and most Beautiful to me.
Photographer Mattheiu GBI don't know much about this artist; I came across his work as it was featured on AfroStyle Magazine's social media pages, which I follow. But in my vary recent research, I found that he is a French photographer and art director. It's hard to view a more comprehensive portfolio of his work since he doesn't seem to have an artists page other than Instagram. But what I've seen is inspiring. The contrasts of colors, the setting and styling. I don't know much about photography (my undergrad minor was in Art with a focus on fine arts rather than photography), so I don't know how involved he was with the concept. But these images would look absolutely stunning if adapted to Cave Stars.
0 Comments
I'm in the middle of editing my manuscript, drafting my query letters, and browsing Querytracker and MSWL for agents that could possibly take on this project. I am living it now as opposed to back then. When did I know I wanted to write a novel?Short answer is: I didn't. had a ton of unfinished stories. I had a fanfiction that I'd written from start to finish (about 30 chapters). I had binders and bonders of poetry. But I never once thought that I could write a novel. Never attempted it, but saved all the snippets and scenes of possibilities. Until college. My first nerve-wracking short story submission resulted in a publication. That singular moment made me believe that I had a voice as writer that people wanted to read. I casually wrote, building upon an idea I had, but never finished. This project grew and grew, and with it, so did I. I researched how to plot chapters, how to craft stories. I took so many things from my Writing Popular Fiction class and Horror and Suspense (where I read Stephen King's On Writing). I wanted to do this writing thing right. But there is no right way to be a writer. I found myself trying to emulate the writers I read about and the writers, like Stephen King, who shared their ways of writing. I found that plotting was not for me. It slowed me down and pulled me out of myself. I finished my first novel manuscript in 2019 after the city closed down because of a Polar Vortex and I'd written it all without an outline. At 135k words, it was dense. I spent a year editing it and then, in my excitement for having finally finished something, spent the next year querying it to 35 agents. In hindsight: it sucked. I've heard many authors say that your first draft is for you. It is for you. It's to show you that you have done it. You've some how managed to push and pull that hard and heavy block of marble up on that pedestal. But its not finished. You still need to chisel and chip away at that block, forming it into the creation that you will eventually feel confident putting out into the world. That querying experience made me shelve that manuscript, but it showed me that I could write a novel. I'd developed my own way to writing, researching, learning, and creating. Stay grounded!This Facebook memory could not have come at a better time.
As I finish up my thousanth round of editing to the same manuscript I shelved back in 2022, its easy to get excited once again and charge on ahead. Its easy to let my mind wander to piggy's (?) over-confidence. It doesn't help much as a librarian, reading about how X has just signed with Y and to expect [insert books] in the coming year. I want that to be me. And so does every other writer out there. In the writing groups I float in, there has been a lot of talk about the steps to writing a novel. Despite having started the MFA track while I was in undergrad (had the opportunity to do a dual program of English Literature and get my MFA, but decided to opt out of it for various reason, one of which was having to play “catch up” because I started my major late), I never really learned the structure of actually writing a novel. In Introduction to Popular Fiction (one of two writing classes I got to take before dropping the Dual program) outlined the typical novel: Beginning. Middle. End. The structure varied depending on genre. So… how does one actually start writing a novel? That question— and the concept of not knowing— really surprises me. My first thought after seeing it pop up so many times was “easy…. Just write!” and, though there were a few similar responses to mine, the more technical replies made me turn inward and examine my own writing process.
![]() There are a myriad of structures of various lengths and breadths. What's my process? I was an Art Therapy major before I pursued English Literature and writing during my time in Under Grad. Writing is like a lump of clay. Its already there, shapeless and blob like. There is a vague vision. Sometimes no vision at all. You work the clay, playing around with it, feeling a shape take form beneath your fingers. When your done moving the lump around, it begins to resemble something. The more you work the clay, the more of that something you have until the sculpture at the very end. Its not perfect, but its there. All that's left is to define it, fire it, polish it, check for any imperfections. Display it. I finish my draft of The Path of the Cave Stars (I have no idea which draft this is... I lost count somewhere after the 4th revision). I am now refining it-- running it through a Text To Speech Reader so that I can hear my words out loud and make further edits as I follow along. Once that process is over, I’ll seek 3-4 Beta readers and shift gears to another project while that's being read. ![]() As writers, the onslaught of ideas are constant. So is the stopping and starting of various projects! So, how do you get around this? How do you stay focused on your WIP? I am a part of multiple writing groups and forums, and my answers to these remain the same: Progress Journal. I began my Progress Journal in 2019. Until then, I'd never done one. I didn't even know what one was (I thought it was a blog, to be honest). There were various Progress Journals posted, and they were created in various ways. But for mine, I bullet pointed all of my projects at the time (projects, to me, were documents that had more than twenty pages to them). For each of those, I listed the word count thus far, a summary of the plot and how far I'd gotten into the story. I had 10 projects! Eventually, I narrowed it to 3 (some make Progress Journals for each project. I used 1 journal to track my 3) From there, I collected my notes on those three projects, tracked any questions that came up while writing. Any problems I had and how I worked them out. I tracked mile stones like finishing my first draft, edits, and Beta reading troubles. I can see how I solved a problem and problems I've yet to find solutions for. I can look at the information I've collected and find a use for them or scenes I've scrapped but are suddenly relevant again. I've even set goals for myself (you know how much I love goals). Its kept me focused and accountable. With my Project Journal, I was able to finish the first drafts of two out three manuscripts! So, how do you make a Progress Journal? Just as there are various ways to organize one, there are multiple ways to create one.
If you are having trouble getting started on a Progress Journal or just don't know how to structure it, check out the WIP journal on Etsy. I was gifted this journal, and I must say, it is very detailed! I am not a linear notetaker, so a lot of the detail in it pulled me out of my focus. I would say this journal is great for those who plot/outline their projects. However you organize your Journal, I hope you stick with it! I am 2 chapters away from being done with the edits to The Path of the Cave Stars, the first draft of which I completed in 2021. I'll be taking some time off from blogging so that I can focus on the final chapters. Stay tuned for my next blog post on "Next Steps!"
I ran with the Striders during the summer. I trained with Coach Kilgore and his daughter who I ended up competing against in high school (from teammates to rivals) during breaks and, when we went to college, I visited and trained with them when I came home. Coach always said that we have nothing to prove to anyone else but ourselves when we PR (personal record). I learned to set goals for myself which started with “catch the person in front.” It evolved into “beat my last race.” That's how I measured my success. If I could at the very least beat the person in front of me— and at the very most— beat myself, then my race was a success. In many aspects of my life, I remember my various track coaches and what I learned from my races. ![]() But I can't do that with writing. At least, I have not found a way to apply it. It's easy to do with sports where your successes and wins are determined by a point system or timed on a clock. There is a set of criteria that must be met. It's measurable. Art is different. Art is subjective. In the eye of the beholder. One person’s art is another's trash and vice versa. Some artists create masterpiece after masterpiece, while others create one or two notable works in their lifetime. Most were only recognized after death. Writing is no different. I struggle with Imposter Syndrome. Something I never had while running track. Every accolade and publication, I think of as a fluke. It will never happen again. My work is just not that good (this isn't me fishing for compliments or my lack of confidence in myself). It's simply feeling undeserving. Feeling doubtful in my abilities because, unlike with sports, there isn't anything measurable with art… …or is there? My Goals: Goal 1: get at least 1 publication a year. With the exception of the four years I was in Grad School, I’ve been meeting this goal. See Publications Goal 2: submit 150 queries and aim for 100 rejections (QueryTracker tracks no-responses as rejections. As of the writing of this post, I’ve had 60 confirmed rejections) It's still not enough for me, and I don't think it ever will be.
--------------------------
|
AuthorWriter, Reader, Author, Dabbler, Journeyer, List Maker Archives
April 2024
Categories
All
|