I went ahead and used Canva to make a version of the cover of Earthkeepers with some cleaner text design! This version will go live for both ebook and print versions very soon.

This coincides with some minor revisions I made on Earthkeepers that also should go live soon. It's nothing majorly plot-changing--mostly it's just a bit of fixing the prose and a few added conversations to clarify some things. 

It's kinda funny how you can publish a novel and think it's pretty much perfect, and then you come back to it two years later and think "wow this is a mess". #authorproblems

Miscellaneous sketches.

These next few include some expression studies for Terra from my Neopian Times writing. Mostly I was just goofing off with cartooniness.

Terra as a warrior rabbit because I just thought it would be fun.

Here is what the tanaaki from the Azhnarroth Duology look like! (The tail got cut off because I reached the edge of the canvas.) With those two back-swept horns, war tanaaki and their riders need to be really in-sync with each other during the heat of battle, which is why mounted warriors like Fraa are held in especially high regard in Graling society, and why Usi has such clout and her own title.

At long last, the eagerly-awaited sequel to Skydwellers is available as both an ebook and a paperback!

Journey along with girl genius Miette, her tomboy BFF Kieri, and warrior-in-training Yonwin as they unlock some crazy secrets behind their planet... or should I say beneath it!

The past four months of producing this novel has been quite the ride, as you can read in previous blog posts, so I'm very excited to finally be able to show the product of my labors.

Give it a read if you like fun, family-friendly science fiction!

I hung out with my art pupil today and she let me play with her Copic markers on her graytone paper! Fun times were had.

Here's Zuben being adorable.

And then she wanted me to draw a posh rabbit. Why not?

 Here's my (contemporary) design for Terros, the crystalline scorpion guardian of the Earth element from a cheesy old story I wrote in junior high. Despite the story's super cringiness, I still love the idea of a crystal scorpion, and when my pupil suggested I draw it, I couldn't resist. She also said she'd like to see a re-imagined version of the story someday, and I agree that it's not irredeemably bad. I'll have to give it some thought!

Earthkeepers cover WIP gallery

 

It's time for a cover reveal! :)

I worked super hard on this cover and had a lot of fun with it! What a relief to be done! Now all I have to do is wait for my proofreader!

I also like the hybrid painting/graphic novel approach I took with this cover. The background was considerably easier to paint than draw, while the characters were easier to draw than paint. I will likely use this technique for book covers from now on!

Excited for the book yet? :)

For the next art prompt on my Goodreads group, "draw something big", I decided to sketch down a little Earthkeepers environmental concept art! (It's also character design... you'll find out why if you read the book!)

This is Core Control, the home of the Core Hosts. I won't give away too much, but let's just say this is probably the most important place in the world. :)

Why yes, I should be asleep. Sometimes, though, when you live with a high-energy toddler who takes forever to wind down for bedtime, you need a few extra hours to yourself to unwind after she finally crashes. (Tonight I drew her, on her request, Daddy Pig from Peppa Pig eating chicken nuggets and butter. It was a masterpiece for the ages.)

While I'm waiting for my brain to shift to a lower gear, I thought I might as well put together a writing update!

Earthkeepers has been sent off to the proofreader! I finished going through my content editor's notes, and then meticulously picked through the prose, and I think this latest draft is looking really good! The most major changes in terms of plot were giving Kieri a more substantial character arc, and changing part of the climax to help Miette's conflict with Varine come to a more satisfying conclusion. I don't want to give away too much about that, but let's just say I had more fun with robots. This entire book is about fun with robots.

While I thought I was going to work on the cover while the manuscript was getting proofread, I'm very tired from all of this marathon writing, so I will probably give myself a break for a little while and just start on the cover when I feel like it. (That being said, I will definitely start working on it no later than when I make the final edits to the manuscript based on my proofreader's corrections and feedback. I definitely won't delay this novel's release due to illustration laziness, don't worry.)

On another writing-related note, I've also come up with a couple of new ideas for some short Neopets fics, because clearly I have become so emotionally invested in that cast that I cannot stop writing about them despite no longer actually playing Neopets. :)

One of the fics is more of Terra's family and friends playing Neoquest, because that seems to be a running joke. It's also about Terra's and Blynn's friendship being tested, as Blynn gets a little too into Quest Mastering and forgets that Neoquest is supposed to be fun for everybody, and if anybody stops having fun, the group may need to step back and reevaluate how they're doing things. I may or may not have based this on real experiences. (cough)

The other one is a story about Suhel staying with Lexora's family (from Return to Lynwood) for Giving Day (the Neopian equivalent of Christmas), where she helps the Fitchet-Brownings learn that holiday traditions are all well and good, but it is entirely possible to over-tradition yourself and not leave any room for spontaneity or time to just rest and soak in the season. 

I got the idea when thinking about how I am actually not big on Christmas traditions because I don't like being rigidly adherent to an arbitrary system, because I am a renegade like that. To me, Christmas is still Christmas even if I celebrate it completely differently every year. It's all about remembering the Reason for the season. And spoiling children, that's important too. (Also discount Christmas candy on December 26th, let's not forget about that.)

I then realized the initial concept would work well with Suhel and the Fitchet-Brownings, especially since I previously established that she sometimes spends holidays with them. I thought it would be fun to get a look into that scenario. I just think there's something amusing about plunking an enormous, taciturn Werelupe into an Edwardian domestic setting.

I'm not sure exactly when I will get around to these two fics, but they are definitely on the drawing board.

For now, I should get some sleep.

I haven't had much time for doodling lately, but last night I decided to give it an effort! Here's some Earthkeepers sketches!

First, Yonwin! He was super fun to write. He sometimes goes by the nickname "Yon", but Fraa often calls him "Yonnie", much to his embarrassment as that was his nickname when he was little. But you know aunts, you'll always be their little niece/nephew to them. :)

Miette and Kieri couldn't be bigger opposites, but that's what makes them such great friends. :)

Which Earthkeepers character are you?

I hadn't done a personality quiz in a while, and thought it would be fun to see how people match up with the main characters from my upcoming novel!

Keep track of the letters of all of your answers, and tally them up at the end. The letter you got the most is which character resembles you most!

(If you have multiple answers for a question, that's totally okay! It means you're a blend of multiple characters and not very much like any one in particular.)

At a party, what are you most likely to be doing?

A. What party? I'm at home, reading.

B. Making friends with everyone.

C. Hosting.

D. Trying to socialize but feeling awkward.

E. Being in charge of the music.

F. Learning interesting things about people as I converse with them.

Do you like sports?

A. I find them interesting from an analytical and strategic viewpoint... but I'm terrible at actually playing.

B. Yes, I think sports are super fun!

C. Yes, sports are great exercise and a good way for me to challenge myself.

D. I enjoy sports. I may be a little shy, but I like being a team player and using my talents to contribute.

E. I'm not super interested in getting out there and actually playing. Coaching is more my thing.

F. I would not count sports as one of my hobbies.

What wouldn't you do for a friend?

A. Break rules.

B. Be mean to someone else.

C. Anything that's obviously a bad idea, whether or not a friend is involved.

D. Public speaking.

E. Lose who I am.

F. I'm not sure. I care so deeply about my friends that it's hard to imagine putting anything above them.

Which career sounds the most appealing to you?

A. Field researcher

B. Tour guide

C. Teacher

D. Professional athlete

E. Musician

F. Politician

What are your peers most likely to describe you as?

A. Intelligent

B. Friendly

C. Parental

D. Sweet

E. Quirky

F. Adventuresome

Which pet would you want most (or already have)?

A. Pets sound like too much trouble. Maybe a robot?

B. A super friendly dog

C. A horse

D. A cat

E. A bird

F. A racecar (do those count as pets?)

Which of these sounds like the most appealing place to live?

A. A sophisticated city with lots to do.

B. A countryside with lots of room to romp around.

C. Somewhere private and quiet where I can relax after a hard day's work.

D. Wherever my friends and family are.

E. Someplace really unique with lots of character.

F. An RV on an endless road trip.

In a roleplaying game, which job class would you most likely take for your character?

A. Wizard

B. Rogue

C. Paladin

D. Knight

E. Bard

F. Ranger

How would you sum up your fashion sense?

A. Classy and put-together.

B. What fashion sense?

C. Unique and eye-catching.

D. Sturdy and functional.

E. Comfortable and casual.

F. Decked out for an adventure!

What do you like doing when you go on vacation?

A. Visiting sites of historic or cultural interest to learn something new.

B. Having as much fun as possible.

C. Showing my friends around places I've already been.

D. Just going along for the ride and soaking it all in.

E. Checking out the local music scene.

F. Exploring everywhere.

--

Mostly A's

You are most like Miette, the main character of Earthkeepers! You are likely super smart and a little bit of a worrywart. While not the most sociable person, you appreciate the close friends you do have, as they help ground you when you get lost in your own head.

Mostly B's

You are like Kieri, Miette's BFF! You are outgoing and chipper and can make friends with just about anyone. People love you for these qualities, but you may also have a mischievous streak and aren't afraid to bend rules to get what you want.

Mostly C's

You are most like Fraa Stormcleaver, Miette's and Kieri's surrogate aunt! Responsible, hard-working, and warm, you are a powerful presence in the lives of your family and friends, who may look to you for guidance and advice. However, you also know how to have fun when the time is right.

Mostly D's

You most resemble Yonwin, Fraa's young nephew! You may feel shy and unsure of yourself at times, but you have inner strengths that make you a huge contributor to a cause. You dream big and have the ability to make those dreams come true, so long as you believe in yourself.

Mostly F's

You are like Eltas, the mysterious street musician! Your independence and free spirit is very important to you, and you hate people telling you what to do. You love creativity and the arts, and also have surprisingly good leadership skills when called upon.

Mostly E's

You are most like Zuben Elgenubi, the famed Graling folk hero! You are daring and driven, mostly by a love of adventure and expanding yours and others' horizons. Always on the go, always with at least one project in the works, you are a powerhouse of innovation and progress.

I was chatting with my art pupil the other night, and we were doodling, and I ended up doing a bit of concept art for Earthkeepers! 

This is one of the main characters, Apparat Drone Model 473 Alloy, a.k.a. "Zuben". He's a friendly, energetic little fellow who enjoys perching on shoulders and exploring the world around him. Miette and her friends found him lying defunct in a secret passageway, and Yonwin restored him to working condition.

But why does Zuben have the same name as the Graling folk hero Zuben Elgenubi? And where does he come from? The answers will change Miette's world forever.

I'm not super great at mechanical design, but I actually got Zuben's design from a dream I had once about this little arthropod creature. When I started brainstorming about Earthkeepers and Zuben, I just couldn't picture him with anything but that creature's design in mechanical form. I use arthropods for mechanical design inspiration a lot because their exoskeletons remind me of metal plating. :)

Those red feather things are aether collecting vanes. Zuben uses them to collect aether from charging streams, as he and the other Apparats run on aether.

Also he speaks Old Gralish, an ancient form of the Graling language, which is represented in the book by Shakespearian English. When the idea first popped into my head, I wasn't sure how well it would work, but as I kept writing it, I liked it more and more. :)

I'm working on some revisions to the manuscript, and I hope to have it ready to send to the editor by the end of the week!

Update bits and bobs

I've been super busy lately, but things have finally quieted down enough that I could put together a coherent update on various projects! Here's what's going on:

- Last week I finished the first draft of Earthkeepers! I am so relieved and excited to move forward! I think it's looking really awesome and I'm looking forward to sharing it with readers. I think fans of Skydwellers will love Earthkeepers, and people who have never read the first book will be able to enjoy Earthkeepers as a standalone science fantasy adventure.

My next step is to go through the manuscript with a fine-toothed editorial comb and make it look as good as possible before I send it to a story editor. Already I have a list of things I'd like to change about earlier parts of the manuscript based on stuff that came up later on in writing, so during this process I will also incorporate these changes. Honestly I don't think it will take me that long, and I should have it ready for the editor by the end of the week. It's coming along!

- Production for the audiobook adaptation of Thunder Girl is projected to start in February! Benjamin Fife and I are super excited to bring this project to you, and we're hoping it can help introduce a whole new demographic of story lovers to the fun and nerdy world of Thunder Girl. I will keep you updated!

- It's looking like Pixeldust will be getting a blog tour March 8-12! I think this will be a great opportunity for Pixeldust as it will be introduced to relevant book bloggers and their followers. The world of indie publishing is based a lot on convincing people that your book is worth reading, and getting it out there and getting (hopefully favorable) opinions helps readers become informed! 

During the blog tour, Pixeldust will be featured on different book blogs every day of the tour, through content like reviews, excerpts, and author interviews. I will definitely share each of these tour stops as they happen! Right now I'm thinking I will share each tour post daily on my Facebook page, and then after the tour, compile the list of posts here on my blog. I think it will be a very exciting boost for a novel that I worked hard on earlier this year, but released to little fanfare (despite my advertising attempts).

As for what I'll be doing while Earthkeepers is at the editor's? I keep telling myself I'll take a break, but I tried that for about ten minutes and then got bored. So I'll probably do some illustration work, try to watch and work from some art tutorials, and probably put more Neopets fanfic on the blog!

I hope everybody has a lovely holiday season! Take care!