Hey all! First, let me give a quick cap of how I'm doing. The book's been out for almost a month, and here's my deal.

Sales: 10.
People who want a copy and have placed an order: 4

Not too bad, considering its all self-publication with no money spent on advertisement Big thanks to the following, sorry I don't know all your names and last names!: Christian Westervelt, Amanda, Julie Kaer, Jared Diamond, Lin, Timoy, Rick aka Antriarc, Stev Dellatore, Angie Dellatore and Scott Burns!


Anyhow, time to make a contest announcement! Since I'm nearing completion of the Cassandra Cycle, a 5-story compellation that will get a bonus 3-4 stories to assist it, I realized I need another person to draw cover-art. Well, I've got a tentative Volume 2 artist in ~Dreamesque, but that isn't going to be done for a while, I'm afraid. So what's next? Well, here's the outline.

The task: Draw a picture of Cassandra Retholden. This picture can involve other Tales of Emor characters, but MUST feature Cassandra. Shade is also a welcome sight. This picture can be of her at any point in her life, from her first appearance in "Cassandra's Tale" to her final moments in "Pillars of the Kingdom, Volume One: The Forming." This picture MUST look good in 6x9 format as well as blown up and should be in color.

The catch: I'm not providing description. This is YOUR vision of Cassandra, not mine; you will have to know her character in and out by reading short stories on her (three of which, Cassandra's Tale, Cassandra's Training and Cassandra's Trial, will be provided for your perusal) and/or by reading my full-length novel.

First place: Your picture, IN COLOR, on the front cover of a professional-quality short story anthology. A free, signed copy of the book. A mention on both the first page's cover-art credits and in the contest thank-yous. In addition to these, [link] will feature your work in its fan-art section.

Second-Fifth place: Black and white pictures inserted throughout the book itself, along with the art being featured on [link].

Beyond: Your art will gladly be featured on [link].

The due date: December 15, 2005. The book itself should be completed and published APPROXIMATELY, but not exactly January 1st, 2005.

Just send me a private message here when you have something, and thanks for entering! In addition, please remember that I will be judging this and I am impartial, but my say is final. Thanks and great, great luck!


-Jesse Pohlman
[link]