ARTWORK FROM (OR INSPIRED BY) MY BOOKS
Not everyone loves art in their adult books. Pictures are for kids, those people might say. Perhaps it’s because of my childhood love of comic books and dream of being a comic book creator, but I love when art is injected into the books I read. Which is why there is artwork of some sort in nearly every book I’ve published. Below are a few of the pieces you’ll find when you read my work, and how they factor into the worlds I’ve created. I’ll be adding to this collection as time goes on, so check back for more art and story details.
Meet Raveena Reed
Raveena Reed, stage name Raven Red, was the first character I introduced to my readers. She appears in the novella, The Loveliest Shade of Red, which is the opening story of my debut collection, How To Make A Monster: The Loveliest Shade of Red. A formerly renowned exotic dancer, Raveena suffers an epic fall from grace as the troubles of her past promise to result in far more trouble in the future for anyone who crosses her path.
Those who have read a few of my books may recognize Raveena from other stories. She appears in a handful of my books (I won’t say which because readers have enjoyed being surprised by her appearances), and she is one of the most important recurring characters in the universe I’ve created with many of my stories.
You can read The Loveliest Shade of Red for free in the Free Stories section of this site. But be warned, Raveena’s tale is incredibly grim.
The Unending Pot
The Unending Pot is the embodiment of the expression “Be careful what you wish for.” It was last seen in the possession of one Chef Hubert Jenkins (Chef Hue for short), the main character of my novella, Daily Special. Tired of his moderate success, Chef Hue hopes for more, for fame, fortune, celebrity chef status. On a particularly desperate night, he prays for all the above. And his prayers are answered, though not by the deity he had hoped.
Soon after, Chef Hue finds a pot he has never seen before on his stove. One that cooks on its own, is bottomless, and, each morning, produces a Daily Special that is to die for. Or, in some cases, to kill for... But what Chef Hue and his crazed customers do not understand is that the more they consume from the pot, the more the pot consumes them.
Artwork by Katrina Canedo, @kat_cee on Instagram, a professional speed painter who did all the artwork in How To Make A Monster, most of which, including Raveena, and The Unending Pot, are paintings I’ve hung up in my home.
Memlain-8
“Can I interest you in better days?” – The Pitchman
What would you give to have the substance in this little bottle if I told you it would let you relive any memory from any point in your life as if in real time? When this offer is presented to a mourning Connor Michaels in my grief horror novella, The Fire On Memory Lane, he knows he would give anything to reexperience the memories he had with his dead son. But Connor quickly learns that not every trip down Memory Lane is as pleasant as it seems.
Memlain-8 also appears in my speculative fiction novel, 2222, under a different name and serving a different purpose.
Artwork by Zachary Horvath, @znegative88 on Instagram
Can Hitler Help Save the World?
Of all my books, 2222 is the closest I’ve gotten to achieving my goal of publishing a graphic novel. With 12 full page illustrations, this dystopian, cyberpunk thriller let me tap into the comic book maker I wanted to be as a kid. In 2222, we find ourselves in a desperately overpopulated world, where the dregs of society are forced to live on Satellite Cities, which are manmade islands built off the drowning coasts of countries worldwide. When a group of neo-Nazis threatens to wipe out half the planet’s population with a previously hidden, centuries-old Nazi super weapon called The Reset Button, a group of specialized soldiers are given the ability to go back in time. Their assignment is to bring Hitler to the future in order to stop the use of the weapon he is responsible for. But can Hitler really help save the world?
2222 is the start of another universe I am building. I am hoping to release several other stories set in the world of Satellite Cities.
Lucy and The Pitchman
I had never expected fan art, especially not of this caliber. So I was blown away when I received a message from Malcolm Semmens, an artist whose work I admire, letting me know that he had created a piece based on something of mine he had read. He proceeded to send me this brilliant piece of art. It features two of my supernatural characters: Lucy, a demon cat who prefers human souls to kibble, and The Pitchman, a salesman who can sell you exactly what you need in exchange for your time. This piece was inspired by Humane Sacrifice: The Story of the Aztec Killer. The Pitchman also appears in The Fire On Memory Lane. Lucy also appears in Bug Spray: A Tale of (Love and) Madness.
Seeing my writing brought to life in this way is one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. As a result, Malcolm’s art will appear in future books of mine. Until then, you can see more of his brilliant creations on Instagram @malsemmensart
