Art, Magic, and a Valentine’s Treat: February Reflections

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of art proofs, edits, and worldbuilding magic. My Kickstarter is nearly ready for March, thanks to a few character‑illustration adventures behind the scenes, but honestly, the stories behind the art have been half the fun.

Faber came out perfect from the very first sketch, all tall, dark, and handsome, exactly as any man of mystery should be. Danica, on the other hand, arrived with legs a mile long and an Omen orb that needed a few rounds of “less cloudy marble, more mysterious power source.” And Belzbeth… well, my wicked villain is stunning. She was fashionably late, as villains tend to be, but I’m thrilled to reveal her in all her beautifully dangerous glory.

Since it’s February, the month of love, I wanted to give you a little treat. Would you like to see the first few finished character illustrations? You get them before anyone else. My early Valentine to you.

👉 Meet Faber, Danica, & Belzbeth + my newly added map.

And because you’ve been extra nice, you can also read Chapter 1: “Unwanted,” which introduces Faber and the moment everything changes.

On a personal note, February is not only the month of love — it’s also my husband’s birthday, so we’re celebrating a little extra around here. Cheers to warmth, stories, and the people who make our worlds brighter.

It’s going to be a beautiful spring, and I’m grateful you’re here.

Indie Author Spotlight

This month, I’m thrilled to highlight two creators whose talents shine in completely different ways, yet both bring fresh imagination and passion to their craft.

Willa Finnegan — a 14‑year‑old author whose debut Snow Cursed is already turning heads. Her storytelling is sharp, imaginative, and full of the kind of magic that stays with you.

Willa's website

Gene Shanks — a talented comic book illustrator whose bold lines and cinematic style bring stories to life one frame at a time. He’s currently illustrating a cast of characters he and his friends created years ago, finally bringing them onto the page. He also has a humor comic series of short stories — quick, clever reads guaranteed to make you laugh.

Gene's Indy Planet

Whether you’re drawn to icy fantasy worlds or bold comic‑book artistry, these two creators have something special to offer.

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