I love a good historical mystery and this series I've doing covers for by the author, Tessa Harris, have been providing me with great subject matter to illustrate.
The first book, The Anatomist's Apprentice, established the look and has done very well in sales. I conjured up Sherlock Holmes and Charles Dickens for that cover, which has the doctor walking through iron gates into the murky London streets on some mission of skulduggery.
This latest book, Shadow Of The Raven, takes place in a different period, the 18th century, but continues the use of a scientist / crime solver, using his wits and whatever scientific tools that were available at the time.
I was given direction that the hero was to be seen carrying a lantern in a tunnel of trees. Turns out, there are several tunnels of trees, mostly in Britain. I chose an ancient yew tree tunnel, much altered and added an abandoned mansion on the far side of it. For a mansion to be abandoned in the 1700s, it would have to be considerably older, so I chose to create a ruin from the Elizabethan era.
Many layers of thought and design went into making this image, one of which was the overall book design, with accompanying type. The book was intended for the "trade" market, which has a bigger face with different proportions and usually a more sophisticated, literary look. Through trial and error and also frequently checking out my first cover for design, I managed to work out a dramatic image that lets the reader into the story, as opposed to bashing him or her over the head with a more obvious illustration.
The main character, a doctor, is seen investigating a dark and gloomy tree tunnel, with something no doubt horrible to be discovered in those forgotten barrels...
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