Two years ago when author Megan Cutler asked me to design the cover art for her first book, I knew there was a chance I could be doing art for future installments of the series. It was a little nerve-wracking, making sure I provided something that satisfied, but it was a delight to revisit vector work and stretch my artistic wings.
The first and second covers were simple and straightforward. We worked out a vision and I did a few sketches, easily reaching an end result we were both happy with. The third book was a bit more of a challenge.
I drew three or four drafts, each not quite what we wanted, though it was difficult to put a finger on what exactly needed to change. There were ocean ripples of every size and shape, a version with a lot of sparkle and some kind of Aurora Borealis effect, and one with a swirl which was close, but not quite. Eventually Megan hit on the right word for what we really wanted: a whirlpool.
A whirlpool of souls.
I jokingly mentioned Disney’s Hercules as a point of reference, asking if we were too old for Disney references to be relevant. The answer, of course, is certainly not; Disney references never stop being relevant or appropriate, and it put us on the path to the final version of the cover, which was a delight to draw.
And now, in less than a month, it will be live on every major e-book retailer.
Here it is: Sea of Twisted Souls!
It’s been sixteen years since Damian departed the island. Sixteen years since he broke his promise to be there when Morulin needed him. Now an adult, she’s ready to take the reins of rule from her father, but he has chosen to pass his position to her brother instead.
When Damian reappears without warning, Morulin isn’t interested in making amends. She’d rather spend her time with the enigmatic Pilgrim, a dimensional traveler with plenty of stories to tell. That Damian seems to loathe him only makes his company more appealing. But she can’t ignore her stepfather’s strange behavior, especially when someone attempts to assassinate the island’s new heir.
Damian insists the Pilgrim is responsible, but Morulin isn’t convinced. Could he be trying to frame his new rival? Or has something more sinister come to visit their island paradise? If Morulin’s family can’t heal their fractures in time to solve the mystery, they might lose their beloved dimension-hopping home.
Sea of Twisted Souls will be released Tuesday, April 5th, and is available for pre-order on Amazon.
Not familiar with the series? Island of Lost Forevers, the first book in the trilogy, is now on sale for just 99 cents.
You can pick up the whole series at the following retailers:
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes and Noble
Kobo
DriveThru Fiction
And if you’re curious about Megan, you can see more of her work and get a glimpse into her life at http://megancutler.net.
I’m traveling this week, so my blog will resume normal updates next Tuesday.
Happy reading!
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