Just thought I’d update any followers out there about what’s going on in the world of Maldene First off my artists- Sasha and Diego- are hard at work on the new Volume 2 cover. Being as Volume 2 is the second half of the first novel, the cover will have some major similarities with the one significant change to foreshadow the plot in this second half of the first book (basically, the castle gets swapped out for some old ruins).

And speaking of Volume 2, what do you have to look forward to in the way of story? Well, it’s all about finding the old ruins of Thïr Tÿorca, the last of the Great Human Kingdoms and see if they can find in those ruins anything that may be of help against the coming war against Miro. Will they find new secrets? Perhaps the reason why it apparently survived for so long outside of Miro’s rule? Whatever it is, everything will end up with one of the more epic confrontations you’ll have read in a while. But that is not even close to being the end, but merely the End of the Beginning (which also happens to be the title of the last chapter).

Oh, and forgive me for the out of the blue cliff hanger in the Epilogue (but get used to it, because there’s a lot more stuff like that to come).

Now let’s get back to my artists. There does exist a full-color map of Maldene. But, as some have told me, the colors are a bit bright and basic, Sasha and Diego said they’d take a crack at giving it the old ancient parchment map accent. As soon s that is done, then look for the full color version of the Maldene map to pop up in some sort of promotion.

Then there is one little tidbit that Sasha is working on. In Volume One, towards the end there is a chapter about The Harbor Of The World. In that chapter is a scene that is already becoming rather infamous. It’s a certain tavern dance scene involving a Lamia as an exotic dancer. Yes, Sasha is going to be giving us our first piece of Fan art of that very same exotic dancer in the throws of dance passion. It should be looking pretty good. And if there’s any readers out there that are also artists of any caliber, then I welcome any manner of fan art for posting on Maldene.com. So, grab copy of the book and start drawing. Who knows? Maybe if enough submissions start coming in then I might hold a contest with a prize.

Well, that’s it for now. More as it comes in.