I have lunch with artist Todd Lockwood every other month or so. He lives down the road, is a fun guy, and we always have great conversations. About life. The world. Politics. The publishing industry. And our aspirations to be published writers.
During these visits, Todd always shows me what he’s been working on. I think he is a great artist, one of the best in the business, and I love getting a glimpse at artwork others won’t see for at least several months.
Last time Todd showed me this:
It is the cover artwork for Neverwinter Wood by R. A. Salvatore. It’s gorgeous. Love the green palette, the fight scene, and the statues in the background. This has been my computer background for the last two months and I couldn’t ask for a better one.
Ironically a month ago, I moved my browser to the right hand side of my screen, showcasing on the left side only the gnarled, wild tree. I saw immediately what I wanted my cover to be for my own novel The Dark Thorn—if I have to go the self-publication route. Since then Todd and I talked about it and he has finished it. I hope to show that art sometime soon and get your input about cover layouts and fonts.
As you can see by the artwork above though, it is of a better quality than the cover image Wizards of the Coast has put out there online for Neverwinter Wood. I think the final cover won’t be as dark as it is right now.
Fingers crossed, at least!
