Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I read a lot of books as a child, and I have trouble remembering which came first. I can remember reading Alice in Wonderland when I was about six, and trying to beat my sister to the finish. Since she's three years older than me and had already started, I skipped a fair bit! I also remember reading Black Beauty around this time. Poor Ginger! From then on it was all animals and magical things. My reading habits haven't really altered much.
How do you approach cover design?
For my first book, Orion's Kiss, I had a very firm idea in my head of what I wanted. However, lack of funds and the necessary artistic skills limited my ambitions somewhat. So I figured out what I could do, figured out what I wanted to do, and actually the finished product wasn't too far off what I wanted. Since this is an Aekhartain book I knew I needed stars, magpies and a big feather, for my things-with-wings. I then realised buildings in the background would be a good marker for an urban(ish) fantasy setting, and since this was Freyda's tale then I needed a blackbird. As for the font and the colours used, I just went with what felt right to me. A little dark and brooding perhaps, but with a hint of lightness. I was so pleased with how my magpies turned out, and how the O of Orion circles them.
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