Fall 2024: Mysteries of the Material Cover Reveal & Blurb!

Hello, and welcome to my Fall 2024 newsletter! For this installment, I’m going to focus on Mysteries of the Material: the cover, the blurb, and what comes next. Come on, let’s jump right in.

Cover Art

There was no question about which cover artist I would use for Mysteries of the Material. In fact, I booked Kim’s time when she finished The Way of the Wielder, almost eight months in advance. I love her work that much, and I know many of you do, too.

Going into this project, there were two options: focus on Jaslan again (showing her growth from book to book), or shift the focus to Jack. There were benefits (and series-long implications) to both options, so I had Kim sketch out a few possibilities. As you can see, we chose Jack.

Spotlight: Jack!

I won’t lie, I was nervous. I knew the artwork would be fabulous, but the idea of seeing Jack on the cover of this book had my stomach twisted in giddy teenaged girl knots. He’s my cinnamon roll. The otherwise gentle man who would burn the world down for the woman he loves. The character many readers adore, and keeps everyone guessing (even me).

He’s got this constant smirk, and that hair, and those tattoos…

Anyway, Jack is front and center of this cover. He’s wearing dark pants and his favorite black leather jacket, the latter rolled to his elbows to show off his forearm tattoos (cue swooning noises). His head is turned to the right, and he’s staring at a fox mask in his left hand. The other hand is gripping a dagger. His hair is disheveled just a bit, and I tell you what, it’s damn near perfect.

The Vignette

By having Jack be the focus of this cover, Jaslan is—by default—the character in the vignette. She’s standing before a glowing stone building, with her hair and dress blowing in the wind. Around her are both Fire Wysps and embers. For reasons. Don’t mistake her being in the vignette as a sign of her taking a step back. Quite the opposite…

The Background and Edging

Behind Jack is an almost foggy landscape of sea and land. On the right we see a small ship, and on the left we see a volcano. Both are important to this book, and solidify why Jack was chosen as the focus for the cover.

Much like the cover for The Way of the Wielder, the edging of this cover is adorned with floral accents. These are tinted red, and they—as well as the overall hues across the cover—portray a fiery theme, which is intentional.

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So there you have it: the cover for Mysteries of the Material in all of its magnificent, stunning glory. I’m in love with it (admittedly, I sometimes find myself staring at it with a dreamy gaze), and I hope you all love it, too.

The Blurb

Blurbs are the worst. Seriously. I can write you a 172k word novel in six months with ease, but ask me to write a 200 word blurb, and it takes me weeks. Weeks! But alas, they are required for the back cover and other marketing purposes (like Amazon’s book description).

Admittedly, I’ve had this for a couple of months, but I wanted to wait until it was closer to the book’s release before making it public. Now that we’re just a month out, I think it’s time.

For future reference, you can also read this on my website.

The Great Wielders have awakened.

Fresh from torturous captivity, Jaslan and Francis search for their Fire and Terra counterparts. As Jack guides them south, they gain both information and support—and encounter a powerful new foe whose only goal is to help the Idol finish what she started.

While the Great Wielders test the extent of their powers, Jack investigates the Idol’s suspicious activities. Old wounds heal, new friendships bloom, and love grows stronger. But as Jaslan and Jack settle into a peaceful routine and explore the depths of their passion, the Idol sets her plan into motion.

When Jack is sent on a mission to investigate Ironite, he discovers a truth about the Idol that puts more than just the Great Wielders in danger. He and an unexpected ally aim to thwart the Idol’s plan, setting into motion a series of events that help the Great Wielders in their fight—but have disastrous consequences no one expected.

Mysteries of the Material is the sequel to the riveting romantic fantasy novel, The Way of the Wielder. Join Jaslan and Jack as they advance their magic, confront foes old and new, and venture into the unknown.

What’s Next?

Soon, I’ll be uploading the finished manuscript and cover to Amazon. I’ll request a proof, review that when it arrives, and initiate a pre-order for the ePub (Kindle) version. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for that (if you’re interested in the ePub version). If you’re more of a paperback reader (my people!), I’ll send out another newsletter the day-of publication with a link to Amazon.

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That’s all for now! Enjoy the cover art (I certainly do), and until next time, be well, and stay creative!

~Sarah