I like to find “Easter eggs’ in movies and as such I provided one for the first book of the Aetherstorm Chronicles. If you click on the hardcover edition for book one, you will find the unabridged edition that has thirty or so more pages. The story is a little darker with more erotica and … Read more“Easter egg” for Book one (The Power Within)
After escaping the dark tunnels of Egypt, Tesla found her new life as a Lieutenant of the Ministry anything but easy. All around her, supernatural threats were on the rise, as an ancient evil returns to threaten the existence of the Ministry of Psychical Defense and possibly humanity itself. Caught in a web of schemes, … Read moreBook 2 of the Aetherstorm Chronicles is released!
As I am approaching the 3/4 finished mark of book two of the Aetherstorm Chronicles, I have added a new character. She is an inventor who is working to create new tech for Ministry of Psychical Defense. Topsy is a dwarf from Svartalfheim, who barely managed to escape from that realm before the Aetherstorm consumed … Read moreMeet Topsy Woldthane (Character Card)
As the story arc between Tesla and Erebus changes in book 2, so does its tattooed appearance. Can’t wait for you to read about the changes and why they are happening.
Another spoiler from Book 2. As the plot moves along, I have added some cool details to the Airship Divinity. It is actually a flying aircraft carrier and the concealed deck is actually a flight deck. The Ministry thought that this unknown part of the airship was a weapons system of some sort and it … Read moreThe Firebat Fighter (Designs and Concepts)
Since book two has several scenes with this airship, I had to sketch it out to keep track of where everything is. I needed to be consistent and having a drawing also helps as a reference. So here are the basic designs that I have.
A very common pose for novel covers and game cover art is to feature the main character posing with a firearm, often a pistol. A pistol is usually used to convey that the character is armed and dangerous and has intent to shoot. In promotional art it is used to make the work look more … Read moreFirearm poses and ideas (Tesla St. Vrain)
Another setting is “Western” steampunk, which overlaps with both the Weird West and Science fiction Western subgenres. One of the earliest steampunk books set in America was The Steam Man of the Prairies by Edward S. Ellis. Recent examples include the TV show and the movie adaption Wild Wild West, the Italian comics about Magico Vento. I couldn’t resist taking Tesla to the Wild West o … Read moreThe Old West in Steampunk
Some new art and a teaser of book 2. Tesla had just left the airship Divinity when the siren sounded out. The alarm was an ear-splitting wail that rose to a peak and then ebbed before rising again, undulating like a wave. The akh navigator had given her consent to assist the team with the … Read moreKeep the sun at your back
I am starting to experiment with ideas for various book covers for book 2 of the Aetherstorm Chronicles. I really like how the details of the town came out in this one. While this piece is not the “one”, it fired my imagination a little.
I’m still in the process of writing book two but I have found that stepping back and doing some art sometimes helps. So there is a bit of a spoiler here as I’m obviously taking Tesla to the Old West. In this image she is wearing her MPD uniform but I have given her a … Read moreConcept art for Book 2 of the Aetherstorm Chronicles
The bridge of the airship Divinity. Appearing near the end of book 1, the airship takes front and center at the beginning of book 2.
A small preview from book two…. Von Voss looked back at Dante. “So, the matter concerns vampires. In what context is this to our objective?” “Twenty years ago, a Voodoo priest known as Doctor Skin made a pact with the Nosferatu in New Orleans. In exchange for providing them a fresh food source and promises … Read moreThe Nosferatu, a spotlight on evil
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When I first started designing Tesla’s outfit, I choose from steampunk designs that I saw on the internet. However, as I began writing the book, the outfit simply didn’t work. After all, what woman would want to run off into battle wearing something like that. In the early 1900s, wearing such an outfit would of … Read moreThe original idea for Tesla’s wardrobe that I trashed
Tesla was repulsed by the headline and started to look away when a street train came from behind on the avenue, startling the seething crowd as steam erupted from its undercarriage. The spreading white mist flew out in all directions as the train came to a stop with a resounding hiss. It was relatively short … Read moreThe Dauntless (Blueprints)
One of the hidden, underlying themes in Book 1 of the Aetherstorm chronicles is addiction. It may be an addiction to power or to a substance but the effects that it has on the characters and how it determines an outcome has always fascinated me. Although it is mostly visible in the character of Shylocke … Read moreThe hidden symbolism and concepts in the Aetherstorm Chronicles, Erebus
The concept of the “ghost-walker” is one of the first concepts for my main character that was developed. The actual term comes from my days of being a tour guide for a ghost tour. The guides were called called ghost-walkers in a tongue and cheek sort of way. However in my book it is a … Read moreThe hidden symbolism and concepts in the Aetherstorm Chronicles, the Ghostwalker
As a writer creating a steampunk universe, how do you make an airship that is something extraordinary? My concept was to make it originate from antiquity, an ancient vessel that was able to travel in the space that exists in-between the various worlds of existence (known as the Aether in my book). I additionally linked … Read moreThe Secrets of the Airship Divinity
I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for symbolism and foreshadowing. Perhaps it is my love of mysteries that fuels these ideas but they are a large but hidden part of my fictional work. Today I will be discussing the concept of Quintessence as it applies to my story. In my story’s universe, quintessence the physical manifestation of magical … Read moreThe hidden symbolism and concepts in the Aetherstorm Chronicles: Quintessence
Here it is, my personal map of Sanctuary Seven, the secret underground base of the Ministry of Psychical Defense. Hidden in a vast cavern below Frankenstein’s castle, it is the location of several scenes in the Aetherstorm Chronicles.
So, I really liked this image for the cover until I decided to go with a dark blue theme. Still, it is a great pic of Tesla. The pose that I used for the cover came from this piece.