Inside-the-Scenes “The Alt-World Chronicles” Art: Esme’s Summono

Today’s the day when I can finally share with you the artwork I’ve spent months preparing. (I have 70+ of these! No generative AI was used, but I did spend countless hours searching through free-use stock photos and drawing/painting in my Sketchbook Pro and other art programs — huzzah for my iPad, Apple pencil, and the gallons of chai that got my through this process!)

Why did I spend so much time on art? I wanted something to offer just to my newsletter folks — that’d be you — that gave a special, inside glimpse into The Alt-World Chronicles. Since I’m a visual person, artwork seemed like a fun way to go. Each month, I’ll be sending you a different piece of artwork that goes along with a particular character, plot point, world-building element, etc., and I’ll share a little bit about my creative process while I was writing that part of the book.

I hope you enjoy!

First up…

Esme Arriving in Bubbly Light to the Sanctuary

When I was first figuring out the whole summono spell system, I wanted something a little different from a lot of portal fantasy. Bright light pulling people from one world to another is pretty typical, but I wanted to add a twist on this because I always knew the Bermuda Triangles would be an access point for how this magic draws people into the Sanctuary. (I said that as free of spoilers as I could.) So, one day while I was cooking, I was trying to figure out how to add some kind of water element to the summono magic that brings Esme into the Sanctuary…

And that’s when I looked down at the sauce I was mixing and noticed how the oil and water were not mixing, instead creating really weird bubbles and streaks. I took a picture of this, tweaked the colors to be more teal, and I’ve used that photo as a base in my art/covers for Book 1 ever since. Inspiration really can come from anywhere! Thank you hoisin sauce.

For this particular picture above, I again used the picture of those bubbles and duplicated it like a thousand times. I also used other bubble pictures to add clearer bubbles in the forefront, and I put my model behind it all. Also, those are my hands! Add some magical swirls and purple overlaying her eyes, and you’ve got Esme being summoned into the Sanctuary for the very first time.

I’d love to hear what you want to see next! Chances are good I’ve got something to go along with whatever you want to see…