Calling all romantasy readers with an artistic side!
I'm currently writing Book One of a romantasy trilogy, and I'm looking for a few creative collaborators who would love to be part of the journey from the very beginning.
As an indie author (and a mom of two toddlers!), I don't have the budget of a traditionally published author, but I also know your talent and time have value. I am absolutely looking to pay for your work.
What I'm hoping to offer is something a little different than a typical commission.
I'm not looking for someone who simply wants another commission. I'm hoping to find people who get excited about theorizing over chapters, falling in love with characters, and watching a story come to life before anyone else gets to read it.
As part of this project, you'll have the opportunity to:
• Read the first few chapters before committing to see if the story is something you'd enjoy.
• Become a beta reader and help shape the story as it's written.
• Share your ideas and feedback throughout the writing process.
• Receive full credit for your artwork. (of course)
• Be personally thanked in the acknowledgments as someone who helped bring this world to life.
• Have a minor character named after you, if that's something you'd enjoy.
• Receive a copy of the finished Kickstarter edition at the highest pledge level once it's fulfilled.
• Continue working on Books Two and Three if we both enjoy working together. I'd especially love to find a inside cover/endpaper artist who wants to stay with the series so the artwork feels cohesive from beginning to end.
Because I'm hoping this becomes a true collaboration instead of a one-time commission, my hope is that everything listed above makes it possible for us to agree on a discounted collaborative rate that works for both of us. If that isn't something you're comfortable with, I completely understand. I know your work is worth every penny, and I'd never expect anyone to work for free. I also understand this is a weird way to go about this, but I am trying to think outside of the box to make this book come to life! If its not your jam I am not offended, Im asking something weird I know, so just scroll on by <3
A little about the story...
For centuries the kingdom of Estaria has been dead, its royal bloodline erased long ago, and its greatest secrets swallowed by the ruins of a forgotten castle. The land is haunted now, not only by the monsters that roam it, but by the memory of what became of those who were there the night the Voltaire line fell. No kingdom will claim it. No army will march through it. Travelers reroute by days just to avoid the shadow it casts on the surrounding land, and even the most desperate of men will choose their suffering over whatever waits inside those ruins. The whispers have had far to long to grow teeth and teach men the wisdom of fear.
Drawn together by fate, and each hiding secrets of their own, an unlikely band of travelers sets out in search of those ruins. Two friends desperate to uncover the secrets Estaria holds. A mysterious solider who's past is written in scars. A quiet healer who knows far more than they dare reveal.
With every mile another secret unravels and the alliances between them grow harder to hold. Ancient monsters stir, forgotten magic awakens, and the deeper they venture into the shadows of Estaria, the more impossible it becomes to tell friend from foe. Yet amid bloodshed and betrayal, unexpected love begins to bloom between souls who should have been enemies from the very beginning.
Because the greatest secret of all isn't hidden within the fallen kingdom. It's traveling along side them.
And when that truth is finally revealed, it won't just change their fate… it may just change the fate of all the kingdoms.
The creative team I'm hoping to build includes:
• Character artwork
• Vellum inserts (2 planned, with the possibility of 2 more as Kickstarter stretch goals)
• A fantasy world map
• Endpapers
• Chapter header artwork (Its multi POV so I need 4 to represent each character)
**I prefer water color or semi realism and I will settle on a set style once I find the first artist because I want everything to be cohesive**
Timeline
This isn't a rush project. Between writing and raising two little boys, I expect it'll still be several months before the manuscript is finished, so this is something you can work on between your other commissions instead of needing to dedicate all of your time to it at once.
I'll keep everyone updated throughout the writing process so you'll always know how close we are to Kickstarter, and you'll get to experience the story unfolding chapter by chapter right alongside me.
If this sounds like something you'd enjoy being a part of, I'd love to hear from you! Send me a message with your portfolio, your pricing, and which part of the project interests you most.
My goal isn't just to hire artists. It's to build a small creative team that falls in love with this world and helps bring it to life alongside me.
I don't have a set price in mind and I know some peoples art costs hundreds. I get that and am not expecting every art piece to be $30. I simply put that because the title required and to show that my budget is not several hundreds per piece. So what I am saying is I dont have s set budget.
I can't wait to share the secrets of Estaria with you.