M. L. Wang
patreon
Writing & Life Update
🕑 Added 2024-11-10 17:42:14 +0000 UTCHi Patrons!
I hope you’re all doing okay and taking care of yourselves.
As I predicted in my last update, life did get weird around my traditional book launch, which also happened to fall right on top of the US election. I actually found out the election results the same day I found out Blood Over Bright Haven was on the Today Show and had hit the New York Times Bestseller list. So overall, a very tonally confusing week for me.
The writing I did get done during October before the absolute madness hit was on a side project rather than Gunpowder Magnolia. So, two things relevant to the posting schedule on this Patreon:
I’m going to try and get back on track with Gunpowder Magnolia after missing a couple chapters, but given all the distractions, I’m not sure how fast I’m going to be able to get that train moving again.
I might post a rough chapter or two of the new side project in the coming weeks to patch some the gaps in the posting schedule. Hopefully that’s fun for everyone.
As I write this, I’m also realizing that it’s been forever since I’ve shared pictures of Sulu! I’ll find some cute ones and have those posted ASAP.
Again, I hope you’re all doing as well as you can be, and I’ll post again very soon!
Comments
jennifer levene
I have a Sword of Kaigen question! Is there a chance it could be adapted into a movie in the future or is this an absolute no? I think a movie of this book would be ICONIC
M. L. Wang
Thanks for the questions! The spellograph illustration on the cover is by Elvira Pawlikowska and the design is by Aarushi Menon. I was lucky enough to have significant input of the cover design for the re-release. I like to think this is because I already had a proven track record of designing covers that move books, but maybe the team was just being nice when they took my pages of notes into consideration. The layout with the arches was the most eye-catching of several they pitched to me (originally with a different color palette and different illustrated elements inside the arch). It was my idea to incorporate the spellograph inside the arch, which I’m pretty proud of as I think it turned out beautiful. I also got to pick the final color palette from several options. We decided to do colored edges after the cover design was finalized, so matching the red elements on the cover was the obvious choice, though this was also something the teams was nice enough to run by me. Re: the audiobook, Moira Quirk was my first choice of narrator by miles, so I was beyond excited that she was available. I’m glad you like her reading!
Thom Arata
So questions about Blood Over Brighthaven, maybe you could write a short post about these questions. How much say did you have on book design? The cover, the red edging, who did the art work. Overall it's a very beautiful book. The choice of who read the audiobook, the voice fits so well to the story. Lastly yes please Sulu pictures please, the gif of Sulu pushing the cart is so cute.
