Brief Updates and Art!
Welcome back to what is unofficially a bi-weekly blog! There’s not a whole lot to update on this week, so I figured that we would focus a bit more on the cover for Mire of Madness and discuss some teasers for Thundering Skies! What’s that, you may ask? Well, we’re going to find out!
A Maddening Cover!
To kick things off, let’s look at a preview for the cover art behind Mire of Madness!
This cover is the next iteration in my art capabilities and was designed to really emphasis expression on each of the characters. I had to make a lot of improvements to my line art to pull this off, and I think I’ve got a much better handle on doing hair. Expressions are still fighting me just a little bit, especially with Feera, but, overall, my compositional skills have dramatically improved.
As for the context of this cover piece, this focuses on the literal madness that will unfold in the book. Our main villain for this book is Celene, an engineer who has managed to tap into Guardian technology. After causing massive amounts of mayhem elsewhere, she came to the marsh to be alone and work on her experiments, but our heroes get placed on a direct collision course with her. As can be seen in the art, she has access to a full battlesuit composed of Guardian technology, but that’s not what makes her so lethal. Through the power of a magenta and blue gas, Celene can instill hysteria on her foes and drive them mad, and she will use this weapon to great affect against Vianna and her friends.
Vianna’s conflicted and terrified expression reflects a pivotal moment in the book where she is overwhelmed by Celene’s nightmares, something i really emphasized with her clawing at her scalp. All of the misty tendrils, eyes, and shadows are representations of the psychological horror show that they are all subjected to. While Garrin and Vianna battle their demons, however, Feera is the only one desperately trying to save her friend. Will she be able to save Vianna from Celene’s machinations, or will they all succumb to the madness of the mire!
Thundering Skies
Do you hear that rumble in the distance? With Mire of Madness soon to be out, it’s time to begin discussing the FIFTH book in the Harmonizer saga! The fifth book will be… Thundering Skies! In my eyes, this book is the capstone for what I see as the first act of the Harmonizer saga. We’ve built up numerous villains, visited incredible locations, and defeated multiple Guardians! Now, at last, it will be time to address the MAIN villain for the overall series!
In Thundering Skies, Vianna and her friends will venture to the southereastern jungles. Lurking somewhere within the canopies is the fifth Guardian, the dreaded Crescent Warden. Vianna and her friends venture forth knowing just what kind of battle awaits them, but they are all caught off guard when the Steel Legion appears in force at last! Many portions of the jungle have been overtaken by the Steel Legion, and the garrisons they have constructed put Tan’tria to shame. Additionally, they have deployed not one, but THREE of their floating fortresses, and their forces have been given one directive. Apprehend the Harmonizer at all costs! It will take all of Vianna’s wit, cunning, and strength to stay ahead of the Steel Legion, but will she be able to avoid their grasp forever, and is she ready to face the true mastermind behind the Steel Legion’s merciless reach!
As of right now, Thundering Skies is tentatively slated for a March release, but may move depending on how fast it goes. Until then, you can brace yourself by getting caught up on the Mire of Madness and the story thus far!
Conclusion
That’s all I have for this week! I said it was going to be short, didn’t I? As for the next blog, we might have one next week simply because the week after I will be unavailable! Since I won’t have much for next week… maybe we’ll cover the renaissance faire I’m planning to go to! Yep, that’s right! I’m getting out of the house! Send help! So, until next time… cheers!
The Flying Fennec