Images
Below is a collection of images from FEAR OF THE SKY and its sequel, THERE REMAINS AN EMBER. Click on an image below to see a full-sized version, as well as what I think about it. I'll add to this collection periodically, so come back soon to check out more.
Fear of the Sky Images
This image got Iko just right. He has all the right physical characteristics, looks hungry, and isn't exactly happy. Given that he lives in hiding from the dragon Mizur and almost never sees his beloved daughter, that's how he should look.
The memory of watching the dragon Azoch kill her two young sons and husband will forever torment Zerah. But only those closest to her understand the depth of the grief buried beneath her obsessive hunt for a dragon-killing poison. I saw the grief and anger in this picture, and she looks as described in my words. My sister, Nichole, was generous enough to make her eyes green, as the original image colored them brown.
This was a very challenging image to create. Describing the inhuman Makus to the AI generator to get a good image took a lot of trial an error. I would have preferred it to look more like a painted portrait, like Iko and Zerah, but never quite got that result. In the end, you can still see who Makus is: a brute physical presence who isn't here to play, and there may be a hint of sorrow behind his giant purple eyes.
I loved how the image of the dragon in the moon appears slightly supernatural. Given that Fear of the Sky's dragons are part of an evil god's scheme and the story is paced by moon phases, this cover concept was perfect to me.
Behold the world of Fear of the Sky. Once great, now brought to ruin by dragons who've come out of nowhere. The crumbled Roman architecture perfectly represents the once-thriving culture brought to its knees. Given that the dragon named Mizur rules over the ruins of Jynsomn, this image could very well be from the novel's first chapter.
Another image of Jynsomn.
This map of Anuthura, where most of the novel takes place, took me countless hours and revisions to craft. If you've never used Inkarnate.com, give it a shot. It's easy and cheap!
The larger of two species referred to as "wretchers", ukori stand between seven and eight feet tall and are particularly fond of human flesh. There were several good pictures of these imposing villains, but, in the end, this one was my favorite because of the style.
Everything about this wreg is perfect except for the odd weapon its holding. But I liked it so much I had to keep it. These smaller wretchers keep close to the larger ukori. Alone, they aren't much of a threat, but in groups, they can be quite dangerous.
There Remains an Ember and Extra Fear of the Sky Images
Jun is the protagonist of There Remains an Ember. I'm hesitant to say much about him yet. But know that he's very protective of his young sister and doesn't have a great relationship with his parents. This is the second "official" image I've generated of Jun, as he's now a little younger than I'd originally planned.
Ismene is Jun's love interest in There Remains an Ember. She's a bit of a rebel who isn't great at biting her tongue. That's all I'll say for now.
Almaera was one of the first people to reach the uninhabited (by people at least) continent of Indolyn. What did she find there? And why did she live in the Thymoran Archipelago for fifty years after she arrived? You'll have to read There Remains an Ember to find out!
I loved this image generated of one of the early locations Iko visits in Fear of the Sky. The fog and the silhouette of the dragon definitely put out the vibe I wanted to convey when he first comes over the mountains and sees the northern reaches of Anuthura.
The castle built near the center of Thymora is very near Mount Rekka's peak, making it one of the last places you want to be if and when the volcano erupts.
This might be my favorite "unofficial" image for Fear of the Sky. In the end, I didn't use it because (tiny spoiler) there is no scene in the book in which Zerah confronts a dragon in a field. That being said, the image was always supposed to represent what Zerah wants more than anything: a chance to exact revenge on the dragon who killed her family. She rarely considers what that revenge might cost her.
Azoch is the dragon we see the most in Fear of the Sky. The wretchers want to sacrifice Cas to Azoch, and Zerah is looking to kill her. My issue with this image is that her eye is too small.
A creature called an arcanotaur serves as a sort of tertiary villain in Fear of the Sky. I was going for a purely wild animal version of a minotaur - something you might learn about in biology class. I liked this image, but I could never get an AI depiction of the creature's entire body to look right, and that's what I was always after. Maybe the future will bring something that works for me.
This tropical landscape may not seem like much, but it captures the vibe I want for the Thymoran Archipelago in There Remains an Ember (at least until things start falling apart). Developing "mood art" like this for writing has proven to be one of my favorite uses of AI.
This image would be perfect if her chin was less narrow. You'll be reading from Almaera's perspective in addition to Jun's in There Remains an Ember. She's a water-breathing marikano, like Makus in Fear of the Sky. In fact, she came from the same lake! How did she end up on the other side of the world on an island, you ask? You'll have to read the book to find out!
Jevan Tarboris is an interesting guy. He leads a theocracy on the remote island of Thymora but hides his lack of belief in their god. This is his working image, though it's almost certainly going the way of the dodo. Since I created this image, the people of Thymora have shifted into more of a hybrid culture that has less of a direct resemblance to Pacific Islanders.
Jun and Elina were young newlyweds in the initial plot of THER REMAINS AN EMBER, but since then, I've replotted and erased his wife altogether! Sadly, that means this picture, which I liked for the character I'd originally planned, is obsolete. I did reuse her name, though.
In There Remains and Ember, Almaera sometimes sketches the creatures of the Thymoran Archipelago. This is (tentatively) her sketch of a creature that plays a significant role in the novel: a garguril. These beasts' fire-resistant skin and brute strength make them worthy opponents to the archipelago's dragons.
Almaera's sketch of the Thymoran Archipelago's alpha dragon, Ichor.
I love this image, but the style wasn't quite right for me. Like the other cover concept featuring Cas, this one wasn't helped by the fact that the generator wouldn't give the girl curly hair.
There are a couple of reasons I didn't run with this image. The first issue is that the little girl in this picture would be Iko's daughter, Casiena, so she should have curly hair. The second issue is that before I edited this with Canva, bats surrounded the dragon, which doesn't fit in my world.
I preferred the painted look of the dragon in the "official" cover concept, but I always had a soft spot for this one. My biggest problem with this is that I've seen a lot of covers that have a very similar feel. I can't say I've seen many with a design that looks like the other "Dragon in the Moon" depiction.
Sometimes, I look at this image and wonder why it's not the one I like to use to represent my work. It has a creepy, supernatural vibe, and I love how the dragon is peering down on the helpless mortals from the moon.
I went for a vintage look in a few of the cover concepts, just for fun. Iko's prayer in Fear of the Sky begins with him doing everything he can to silence his physical senses, hence the blindfold. But Iko always prays in a safe place, and I didn't want to give anyone the idea that he blindfolded himself with a dragon overhead.
Ultra-Vintage.
Dragons? Check. Erupting Volcano? Check. Monster-filled tropical archipelago? Check.
This is one of many concept images of the world from FEAR OF THE SKY'S sequel, THERE REMAINS AN EMBER. I'll post them interchangeably. It's only unofficial because the book is still a work in progress.
Note:
Most of these images are AI-generated, and I'm often asked which AI generator I use. I think all of them were generated with Bing's AI image generator. If you have any questions about how I prompt, feel free to reach out!