Normally this process takes me a solid couple of weeks, days to do each section, but this summer I’ve been hit with quite a lot of time off and I’ve used my time for some much needed drawing!

I’ve drawn “covers” for this book 4 times now to varying levels of embarrassment, but it just shows how long I’ve been excited for this book. There’s a clear vision of yin and yang, differentiating Irwin’s design from Mark’s. On my last iteration back around 2014 I really got the vision that will carry through to the final cover.

So I knew I was doing a direct redraw of the third cover, and with extra practice under my belt, over the last year, studying harsh firelight, this one went seriously fast!

And then… came the frickin’ feathers. I’m not sure why I do this to myself, it’s so tedious and my back is killing me the whole time. But I have two winged characters for some reason, so I must draw them. And yes, I counted them. For the entire Nova’s Love project I drew over 600 feathers!

But now, without further ado: the cover of The Shadows book 4: Nova’s Love

As Mark and the Shadows return home to celebrate an uncomfortable holiday, tensions rise between his parents. Even though he wants nothing more than to escape the arguments, he’s determined not to be caught in the middle again. It’s this moment Kimberly contacts him, announcing her experiments with the Novas are complete, and she needs his help. Last time she needed his help, he led the Shadows up the mountain on a wild goose chase, resulting in a Shadow’s death. Mark doesn’t trust her, even with the promise that she’s trying to bring Irwin back.

The creation of this Nova goes horribly wrong. He overpowers Mark, hijacking his anger. Driven by violence, the Nova is on the loose, wearing Mark’s face, with all the same powers, and slipping into the Halo family undetected. Mark has to scramble to get back home, find the Nova, and stop him before he hurts someone. But Mark was rescued—in what feels like a hostage situation—by the ASH’s mysterious benefactor.

Exploring the balance of anger and grief, Nova’s Love is a cathartic gut-punch, presenting the impact of anger and its necessity to the healing process. Anger is often perceived as a bad emotion, to be suppressed and masked with blanket forgiveness: “forgive and forget.” When in reality, toxic positivity can worsen the harm and trauma caused by burying emotions.

For which is better, to let loose your anger or your cry?

I’m beyond floored by how fast I got this cover done! 1 week! That’s insane. Goes to show what we’re capable of when we really plug into a project. This cover also gets a wrap around mural of the wings for the paperback and it looks so good! Can’t wait to show you all the final version. This is just a fraction of the art made for Nova’s Love. So a lot more is still coming!

THE SHADOWS: Nova’s Love is coming December 9, 2023
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Books 1-3 are available on Kindle and Paperback!
Fire’s Hope | Laevatein’s Choice | Halo’s Rag Doll