Changing visions

Image generated with Adobe Firefly

Books don't appear fully formed, waiting for you to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys), they start as an idea and grow and evolve as you write. Characters are the same - you see them in your mind one way in the beginning, but they morph into what they want to be as you write. My mental image of Crown Jewels started out pretty wholesome, but flaws in their characters began to emerge and, with their growing personalities, came a new look.

For the record, I am not an artist (I don't even play one on TV). What I am, though, is a guy with an Adobe subscription and access to Firefly. Yes, I know, I'm using AI art. Yes, I know, that's a big deal. But there are a few things I can say in my defense. The first is that I admit it, and label all of my AI images as such. The next is that I'm using the pictures for personal reference and not for profit or gain. The last is that, once Crown Jewels is publication-ready, I plan on commissioning an artist to design the cover and any other artwork (say, maps) that I might want to include.

Of course, by then, I'll be done with school and will actually be able to afford to hire someone.