Friday, May 3, 2013

Making cover art for my epic fantasy Staurolite: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Four

In keeping with previous posts about how I developed my cover art, I’m showing the path to completion of my latest release, Staurolite: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Four.

To maintain the same look for the series, I’ve held to a similar technique. I begin with a very basic watercolor of the character of Lyra, my heroine. As this series has progressed, I’ve been painting less with brush on paper and more with Photoshop. However, I do like the softness and texture of the watercolor underneath. It adds to the feel I wanted for these covers.


Next, the watercolor image is scanned. It is digitally cut from the background paper and color corrected, before adding to the background. This background required more work than usual, since magical dragonflies, rocks, grass, etc. seemed to be in the wrong places.


Here’s the cover with some of those changes as well as some painting accomplished on the character.

After many more hours and crossed eyes, working on painting and lighting effects, here is the final image. I’m pleased with how the look fits with the others in the series.

Staurolite: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Four by Marsha A. Moore
Genre: Epic Fantasy Romance
Description:
Lyra McCauley, current Scribe of the Alliance, is the only one who can decode magic hidden in the recently retrieved ancient texts written by her ancestors, the first four Scribes. Information in those writings can help Lyra locate the four missing keystones, which will restore power to the Alliance and allow overthrow of the Dark Realm. With peace restored, she and her beloved, Cullen, could finally marry.

Time is short with the Black Dragon’s Dark Realm increasing attacks to avenge the death of his heir. Many innocent lives are lost. Alliance residents are forced into hiding. Magicals and blue dragons follow leadership of the Imperial Dragon and the other three Guardians into battle to defend the Alliance.

While Lyra unlocks the ancient magic, she opens herself up to scribal powers from her ancestors. She alone can fight the deadliest of the Dark Realm’s forces—the cimafa stealth dragons—but at a cost. The energy flux threatens her health and ability to learn where to find the missing keystones. Can Lyra overcome this shrewd tactic of the Black Dragon to decimate the Alliance?


Enchanted Bookstore Legends (series description):
The Enchanted Bookstore Legends are about Lyra McCauley, a woman destined to become one of five strong women in her family who possess unique magical abilities and serve as Scribes in Dragonspeir. The Scribes span a long history, dating from 1200 to present day. Each Scribe is expected to journey through Dragonspeir, both the good and evil factions, then draft a written account. Each book contains magic with vast implications.  

Lyra was first introduced to Dragonspeir as a young girl, when she met the high sorcerer, Cullen Drake, through a gift of one of those enchanted books. Using its magic, he escorted her into the parallel world of Dragonspeir. Years later, she lost that volume and forgot the world and Cullen. These legends begin where he finds her again—she is thirty-five, standing in his enchanted bookstore, and Dragonspeir needs her.  

When Lyra reopens that enchanted book, she confronts a series of quests where she is expected to save the good Alliance from destruction by the evil Black Dragon. While learning about her role, Lyra and Cullen fall in love. He is 220 years old and kept alive by Dragonspeir magic. Cullen will die if Dragonspeir is taken over by the evil faction…Lyra becomes the Scribe.

Purchase Links for previous books in the series:

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Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance: Book One, SEEKING A SCRIBE, Book Two, HERITAGE AVENGED, Book Three, LOST VOLUMES, and Book Four, STAUROLITE.. For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

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