Artist Portals
Sometimes artists really scare me. Their talent is scary enough, usually, but this is a case where I am befuddled.
First off, the below piece of artwork is the cover of a book. It is wholly conceivable that this other writer and I are channeling from the same source in the cosmos. If so, that's pretty damn cool. But the reason I am blown away by the below painting is how eerily similar it is to a scene in The Winter Scion, my now halted sequel to Song of the Fell Hammer.
Here it is:
For those of you who have read Fell Hammer, you'll probably recognize the character standing with the book open. Remember the Dym, up on the mountains high above the city of LOCKWOOD? Remember the dark book of magic in the Dym? Remember Kieren and his dragon Rashykh and their desire for more power? Even though the painting has a gargoyle in it—which Song of the Fell Hammer has as well but in a different context—the resemblance to Kieren's dragon is pretty unmistakable, at least how I imagined it. Eerie, eerie, eerie how similar the visions are to me; there is a scene in The Winter Scion where Kieren steals the Dym's imprisoned book, and looking over the Giant city below knows their time is about to end.
I've known Todd for two years. Super nice guy, fanfrickintastic artist. Perhaps he was channeling my work somehow? If so, he might have to be my personal artist because the man sees into my mind and he deserves to at least get paid for that horror.
First off, the below piece of artwork is the cover of a book. It is wholly conceivable that this other writer and I are channeling from the same source in the cosmos. If so, that's pretty damn cool. But the reason I am blown away by the below painting is how eerily similar it is to a scene in The Winter Scion, my now halted sequel to Song of the Fell Hammer.
Here it is:
For those of you who have read Fell Hammer, you'll probably recognize the character standing with the book open. Remember the Dym, up on the mountains high above the city of LOCKWOOD? Remember the dark book of magic in the Dym? Remember Kieren and his dragon Rashykh and their desire for more power? Even though the painting has a gargoyle in it—which Song of the Fell Hammer has as well but in a different context—the resemblance to Kieren's dragon is pretty unmistakable, at least how I imagined it. Eerie, eerie, eerie how similar the visions are to me; there is a scene in The Winter Scion where Kieren steals the Dym's imprisoned book, and looking over the Giant city below knows their time is about to end.
I've known Todd for two years. Super nice guy, fanfrickintastic artist. Perhaps he was channeling my work somehow? If so, he might have to be my personal artist because the man sees into my mind and he deserves to at least get paid for that horror.
Labels: Artist, The Winter Scion
posted by Shawn C. Speakman | 11:20 AM
20 Comments:
Well, considering Todd Lockwood is a god (nine times out of ten) it's not surprising that he's able to channel your story without even realizing it.
I could totally see this passing as a terrific cover for your novel with just a few slight alterations.
~Aidan
Mightier than the Sword
Aidan: I don't see it as a good cover for either of the first two books in that trilogy; I just see different covers in my head for Fell Hammer and Winter Scion. But I certainly wouldn't cry if a publisher wanted to put that cover art on one of my books!
How goes your own writing? Catching up to my word count yet. *grins evilly*
Heh, not close to you in word count.
I'm at around 29k, just about halfway through Chapter 10 at the moment, so we're at similar places in our novel. I expect mine will run to the mid-thirties, though.
Writing's going really well at the moment, there's nothing like a well recieved excerpt to give you a kick in the pants. Rowan's story is in full swing now and I'm really getting to play around with a lot of concepts that will be familiar with readers, but with my own spin on them. The Irish setting is really bringing back memories of travel, too!
I'm getting a little bit of writing done every day, and Through Bended Grass slowly works itself out with each word. It's been quite a journey so far!
~Aidan
Mightier than the Sword
Good deal, Aidan. Keep it going! Every single day, every single day. Once I finish this chapter, either today or tomorrow, I'll be almost at the halfway point. From there it feels like going south--feels like going downhill. *grins*
On a side note, I might change my book's title to The Dark Thorn. Nice and simple. That sets up the last book in the series title, which I can't give you but would be cool.
Oh, and book three is now titled The Splintered King. Still thinking on book two. The Crimson Fangs? Hmm... gotta work on it.
Right on.
So we have:
Book One - The Dark Thorn
Book Two - The Crimson Fangs
Book Three - The Splintered King
Book Four - Untitled
I like 'em. Particularly The Splintered King. Do you have an overall title for the series?
I don't think I ever asked your opinion on the title of my novel, Through Bended Grass.
Chipped out another several hundred words this morning before work. Chapter 10 is coming along well and evolving in ways I didn't expect it to. Always good fun.
~Aidan
Mightier than the Sword
Aidan: I don't know if I like Through Bended Grass. I'm not sure what it means, to be exact which I guess is okay, but it doesn't seem fantasy-ish enough. I like the phrase a lot though; you know me, I like literary titles!
The overall series title is The Dark Thorn Cycle:
Book One: The Dark Thorn
Book Two: The Kingdom's Keys
Book Three: The Splintered King
Book Four has no title. It barely has a plot, thankfully! Otherwise I'd probably already be thinking of it.
The Kingdom's Keys is almost already outlined in my head. It all happened at once while walking around a lake a few days ago -- the small pieces just started fitting together with new thoughts and it's the right story to tell.
The same is going to happen to the third book too. I can feel it already building. And what I have in store for Arthur, I hope, will knock people's socks off!
I've always been a fan of your titles, Shawn. They always strike a nice balance between poetic and literal. They don't overwhelm, but they still intrigue.
I'm more a fan of The Dark Thorn rather than The Dagda King. I know who The Dagda is, but most people won't, to them it will just sound like another generic fantasy name.
Through Bended Grass is pretty poetic and esoteric, but that's also how I like my titles! It's somewhat intentional that it doesn't sound entirely like a regular fantasy title, which tend to be much more literal, because I'm drawn to titles like The Blade Itself, The Darkness that Comes Before, etc.... Unlike those, however, Through Bended Grass has a direct connection to the plot of the story and will become very clear to the reader as they read on. I like that sort of reward. It helps balance things out.
Of course, I understand that no matter what I name my novel, it will be up to the publisher in the end and I may not have a say. I'd rather have a published novel under another name, but I'd put up the good fight to keep Through Bended Grass.
I've got a few threads of my next novel percolating in my head at the moment. It'll be mostly unrelated to Through Bended Grass, though set in the same universe and will probably have a few overlapping characters, but I try not to let it get too much or else I'll start neglecting Through Bended Grass for it. It's nice that you'll be able to keep using the same characters/world/themes as you move along because it allows you to think so far in the future. I don't have that luxury, however, as Through Bended Grass is a standalone.
~Aidan
Mightier than the Sword
Hey Shawn,
glad to hear all is going well in the writing department. Just thought I'd throw in my 95 cents on the titles subject. As Aidan knows, I think Through Bended Grass is a fantastic name. On your titles I like The Dark Thorn better than The Dagda King for all the reasons Aidan outlined. I'm not sure how I feel about the Dark Thorn Cycle as the name of the series, not in love with it, but then I don't understand it at this point either.
So to sum up my negatives.
The Dark Thorn is okay (better thant the original)
The Dark Thorn Cycle, not a huge fan.
Now for the Good News.
I love--The Kingdom's Keys
and I think The Splintered King is even better!!
Honestly, the Kingdom's Keys sounds like a perfect name for a trilogy, if there's any way you could work that (In my humble opinion) it would be better than the Dark Thron Cycle.
But again, I'm not privvy to all the interworkings of the book, and thats what should determine the name of the books and more importantly the series.
Well i'd like to ramble on, but i'm at work cheating the clock as we speak, so..cheerio
Sean
Aidan: What I like about the titles you posted is their fantasy-ishness (I love making up new words). The words "blade" and "darkness" still have a fantasy quality about them. But your main noun, "grass," doesn't. That's my only grip about the title. Now, if in the novel, one of your characters is talking about a scythe through bending grass as it relates to a retreating army or something, that'd be awesome. Just be readu when a marketing or publicity department points out the noun issue and be prepared with your certain rebuttal! Gotta fight for what we want, ya know?
And personally, I don't think my newer titles have any literary merit whatsoever, just by looking at them anyway. Once the books have been read you'll see how each title has a double meaning. I wish I could make them more literary but it just isn't going to happen. All of my energy is going into the book. *sighs*
As for your next book, it'll be nice for you to not have to create a new universe. You've already made it with Bended Grass. At least that part will be over with. All of my novels in this cycle will be stand alone, but each does build on the last one as the themes get darker and darker. The great thing about it is I've already built the universe, how magic works, the history behind it all, so now I can just sit back and play and have fun.
Sean: Thanks for your advice on the titles. It means a lot. Yes, you are right in that The Dark Thorn cycle has a multiple meanings behind it and that's what I chose it. I'm pretty much fixed on that as the series title, much like Jim Butcher could never get away from The Dresden Files. The Splintered King is a good solid title, I think, and The Kingdom's Keys came upon me in a rush yesterday once I realized what is at the heart of the second book.
I knew I had to change these titles. There are simply too many NOUN books coming out, between what Salvatore is doing right now and what Keyes just finished. I thought it wise to reduce the amount of title nouns being used and get rid of the "king" motif I had going on. Wise decision? We'll see if anyone buys The Dark Thorn.
I do know the last book's title: Heliwr. Not sure what book number that will be, but that's it. By that time, I hope, no publicity department will be able to shoot it down, despite how unpronounceable it is.
That's a really good point about the non-fantasyness of the noun "grass." I suppose, however, that that's what I'm trying to go for in a lot of ways. Through Bended Grass is a fantasy, of course, but it isn't a fantasy in the same way that The Blade Itself, The Darkness That Comes Before, Lord Foul's Bane or even The Dark Thorn is (if my assumptions about your melding epic fantasy and urban fantasy are correct.) There are no epic battles, not even close; there is no end of the world at hand, though the antagonist likes to believe otherwise. It's more a story about people, relationships, family and overcoming struggles – with an interesting urban fantasy setting – more akin to White Apples and The Wooden Sea by Jonathan Carrol, Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn or The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay than The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks, The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan or A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin.
From what I've read/know of your novels, the titles you've picked out worked perfectly for your novels, the story you're trying to tell and the style of your writing. I'm not sure that a more typical fantasy-like title, littered with fantasy heavy words like "Fey", "Faerie", "Sword", "Hound", "Spear", etc... would necessarily fit what I'm writing.
Does all this make some sort of sense?
Like I mentioned earlier, Through Bended Grass has a direct connection to the plot of the novel, first appearing in Chapter Nine, Bended Grass and Four Leaf Clovers, so that's obviously a benefit for readers, though I'm not sure if that would be enough to convince the marketing department!
When I say universe, I literally mean universe. The next novel I have planned doesn't take place in Ireland and involves very little of the same themes and plot devices, in fact it's essentially a standalone novel. I just want to leave things open so that I could connect the two in subtle ways, similar to what Stephen King has done with so many of his novels.
The rules will change as other legends and myths come into play, moving away from the Irish/Celtic mythology and into another area of the world. So in many ways I'll be back to the drawing board! I'm impressed you've already got so much planned for down the road, I can't wait to get a gander at some of it.
Gah! Enough rambling from me for now.
Any more word from Ralph?
~Aidan
Mightier than the Sword
Aidan: You asked me if I think what you wrote makes sense. Absolutely it does. As a writer. The problem I foresee is what the marketing and publicity departments are going to say.
You wrote on Terry's Forum this comment about your title:
"I feel it gives the reader a good first impression of what they're about to find inside."
My question to you is what impression do you think people have of your title? Because although I like the combination of words, I get no fantasy impression from the title. In fact, it makes me think of the Saharan grasslands in Africa.
Anyway, I'll drop it. As the writer, you have to do what you think is best and put up the fights you think are important. You survived my onslaught; perhaps you can survive their onslaught. :)
As for Ralph, today is three weeks since he told me it would be "a few weeks." In agent talk, I've come to realize that means months. *grins* But I am okay with that; I have a a lot left to write on the book and it doesn't matter what he thinks now anyway really. Before when I was writing Fell Hammer I was eager for any kind of professional "you are on the right track." I already feel that way with The Dark Thorn so getting affirmation is not as important as it used to be. I'm sure you can probably relate to that in some way.
I am going to update the blog with the new titles, update the Prologue with the edited version and change the title there, and then write Ralph to let him know I've made those changes. He communicates immediately usually, and I'm sure he'll let me know where he stands with reading those first four chapters I sent you guys. Then I'll let you know!
Hey Shawn,
I could be reading way too much into this, as i do everything in life :) But when you shortened the name to Bended Grass, it loses everything. It is plain, boring, and castrated. In my understanding of the title, the prepsition "Through" adds about....well, an infinite number of dimensions more to the title. I wouldn't think you could really abbreviate at it as you can Fell Hammer (which has a good ring to it and still is very unique) or Sword for Sword of Shannara.
I have an odd mental image when I hear Aidan's tentative title. I can't put a firm grasp on it, Its almost as if I imagine your line of sight coming through the "bended grass" wether is physically parted or nature is so kind as for the wind to part the obsruction for you I am not sure, and through this portal if you will, we come into the magic and wonder of another world. lol, pretty silly, I am aware, but the point is, I think there is a power to the name. [i can almost picture the cover art for the book]
Just as in Song of the Fell Hammer, there was power in the name. And it is something unique, creative and diverse that sets it apart. Its hard to believe, but the simple use of the word "Fell" out of context to create its own context really gets my imagination up. That title, rather than creating a mental image, creates a certain "feel" in the astute, or crazy :) , potential reader. There is foreboding in the name, and the use of the word Fell brings to mind the eminet (i spelled that word incorrectly) collapse, or potential collapse that is on the verge of taking place. I thought solidly reinforced int he opening scene when the "peel reverberates...signaling the end of all things" or at least i think thats close to a paraphrase.
Well i look forward to posting this and seeing if my rambling is more rambly than aidan's rambly rambling.
Hit it back aidan and let me know if i at least hit the board with that dart i lobbed at understanding yout title.
[also thats what grabs me about the Kingdom Key's and The Splintered King, they both have a certain "it" factor to them. But that i feel that way may be good enough reason to change them, My tastes seem to vary considerable from teh paying masses.)
last comment by sean
Sean: I shorten most things in my life as I simply don't have the time to be perfect. It's not meant as a slight to Aidan's book.
I realize the word "through" is what makes the title for Aidan's book. After all, the word "through" began one of my titles not too long ago if you remember and Aidan loved that title as well. My problem isn't the word "through" but with "grass." Grass simply has no fantasy connotation to it whatsoever, not for me anyway, and that's one of the things marketing teams look at. The words "thorn" and "kingdom" and "keys" and "king" do; they are words that are not really used in the common fiction vernacular. "Grass" however has the drug reference associated with it, and grass other than that is boring.
In short, if Aidan plans on selling the book in the fantasy genre, he's going to need those types of words or combination of words that evoke fantasy conflict.
Look at Through Bended Grass. What does it mean? Grass isn't hard to go through. Is this book a book that will be easy to read? Grass is boring: there is even a quote about how boring it is to watch grass grow. Will the book be boring? Bended grass can be rebent easily? Do you see where I am going with this? Marketing and publicity departments are going to see that title and think, "There is no conflict, and with no conflict comes disinterest." I've said this time and time again to many people who write in and several times to Aidan: conflict sells novels, but especially in genre and especially for new writers. I'm not talking about battles here; I'm not talking about armies clashing or anything of the sort. Aidan pointed out White Apples as an example for what he was shooting for. Let's look at that title: immediately I'm thinking, "Well, apples aren't white. Why are they white? What turned them white? Is it a mutation? Is it destroying bleach? Is it one of the apples Cinderella bit into? I want to find out." That's what I am talking about when it comes to conflict. Through Bended Grass to me doesn't have that conflict. And marketing people are going to point that fact out fast, perhaps even the editor upon finishing the book.
It takes a title and a cover and a dust jacket summary and a tagline and a 25-word synopsis -- all must contain conflict. Through Bended Grass doesn't have conflict to me. Through Gardens of Stone has immediate conflict due to the well-known reference to the cemeteries of World War II and placing that title on a fantasy-looking book would draw interest immediately, at least for those who know that reference.
I'm not trying to be a kill joy. I love the title too because the three words together work awesome together. But as for what they mean to the unknowing reader, editor, marketing department, etc., it lacks what a title needs to sell. And whether we like it or not, publishers are in it to make money and they aren't going to jeopardize sales because writers want a certain title on their book.
Just look at Terry's Ard Rhys of Shannara trilogy as an example of that. The marketing department said no one would understand what Ard Rhys of Shannara would mean; they thought it boring and irrelevant and meaningless to the reader. They were right. And that's why Terry was forced to change it to High Druid of Shannara, where the immediate connection to the genre was. Do we like Ard Rhys of Shannara better? We sure do. Was it the right choice to change it? Yup.
Just get ready for the battle to come is all I'm saying. Needs for defense are:
Aidan needs a defense better than, "Well, in Chapter 9..." Marketing teams don't care about Chapter 9.
Sean, you need a better defense than "It sounds right." :)
Todd Lockwood is amazing. Simply Amazing.
If he were able to crawl into your mind, it's possible that his paintings would be exclusively used for Steven King covers... ;)
Great picture though. Too bad the rest of the world didn't get to read Fell Hammer.
-Mark
Jax: I simply don't think that Fell Hammer is a good book anymore. It's the novel I cut my teeth on, as they say. Greg Keyes had five such novels before he broke in, and he is even not that high on his first two published books, believe it or not. Everyone has a learning curve, and I think Fell Hammer was part of that curve and nothing more.
That doesn't mean I won't take aspects of that book and build a better book and a better series with it. I already know what I want to do with the story in a different setting that makes more sense, but that is a long way down the road, I think.
I'll be posting my ideal artists list for who I'd like to see do a cover for me. Should be fun!
Aidan & Sean: And before you get your panties in a ruffle, I'm merely being the objective reader here. I'm not picking on either of you at all. I think what both of you have to say is valid; I also think I come off as arrogant and presumptuous at times. But publishers don't think like readers or writers; they are in it for an entirely different reason. Just know I'm not basing my opinions on assumptions but rather on experience gained over the years and having already run the gauntlet once before.
And I hope my comparison / contrast of White Apples and Through Bended Grass makes sense. haha It was off the cuff.
Shawn,
I know you well enough that you're playing devil's advocate with regards to the whole title issue. I'm happy to have you speak through your experience even though I don't always like or agree with what you have to say.
I suppose if there's one thing you've taught me, and I've heard from many other published writers as well, is that nothing matters until you've written the novel. If I ever get to the point where marketers are a reality in my life (and I would surely like to get to that point) then I'll worry about them and their crazy ways. For now, however, all I can say is, "damn them."
I agree with a lot of what you're saying - especially the conflict sells novels, which I've been trying to make my mantra as I write - but there are also a few things I don't agree with. The major one being that I don't really want a "fantasy" heavy title for my novel, nor do I think it needs it.
Marketers may like all of their novels to have names that ring true to Fantasy readers, but I feel that in some ways that would severely limit the audience of the novel. Having a strong female protagonist will, in theory, draw a lot of women to want to read my novel; I think those women (and some men, as well) would much prefer to be seen in public reading a novel called Through Bended Grass than a novel called The Sword of Nuada. The novel I'm writing strays far enough away from epic fantasy, and closer to stories like those from Jonathan Carrol, Graham Joyce, Tim Powers, etc... all of whom, though generally considered Fantasy, are often found also in the fiction section of bookstores.
Of course, that'll be for the marketers to decide, and I'm surely no marketer.
I've got a lot of time before I will have to face them and their arguments - which will admittedly be the exact same ones you are preparing me for now, all of which are very valid - and by then I'll have a solid rebuttal ready. Through Bended Grass has a strong connection not only to Rowan's story, but to the Fey World and the legends of our own world. I'll dig out my sources tomorrow and jump online to talk to you about them sometime soon. I've wanted to compare notes for a while now.
Your White Apples argument made perfect sense, no worries there.
For now I like Through Bended Grass because, in my mind, it draws an ethereal, magical image to mind. Nature in general makes me think of Faeries and the poetic twist on the phrase strengthens that connection. I think something like that will stand out in an agent/editors mind more than a more standard title heavy on "fantasy" elements.
I didn't mean for this to go on so long! I certainly don't have any hard feelings (my panties are unbunched as ever), but I certainly enjoy the challenge of debate such as this. Opinion on my title seems to be split, so there's no real telling who's right and who's wrong until those said marketers finally (hopefully) get their hands on the novel!
I don't want to continue to hijack your comment section, so feel free to respond back over on my blog if you feel like it.
Hope writing's going well. Mine's been quite speedy lately! Finished Chapter 10 in two days and have already got a start at Chapter 11, so I'm feeling really good about things at the moment.
I'll be sure to send out good thoughts and hopefully Ralph will get to your work sooner rather than later! Though we all know that there's no 'sooner' in this industry!
Thanks for the challenge,
~Aidan
Mightier than the Sword
Aidan: It will all work out. That I know for sure.
I like Through Bended Clover, but that's just me. Clover is supposed to be lucky, but how lucky is it if it isn't standing up tall and being pushed to the side? hehe
Now let's get back to writing!
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