Wednesday Writing — Cover Reveal Journey 2

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Moonlit Landscape with a Gothic Ruin Sebastian_Pether_1810-1844 Wikipedia
Sebastian Pether, Moonlit Landscape with a Gothic Ruin, 1810-1844 Wikipedia

Welcome to my sanctuary. A place where all are safe from the anxiety tied to religion, politics, and other things that get in the way of friendship.  Lest I seem insensitive, my only remark to that, is that I’m writing this post in advance, and I’m terrified of what might happen on the 20th (Inauguration Day in the USA).  Now all political remarks are done.  Come on in and we’ll bask in one another’s positive “light” and spirits.

Cover Reveal

This may not be much of a cover reveal, since I’ve already shared it with a few of the people who hosted the launch of Dead of Winter.  With the first Journey, Emlyn had her back to us, facing the unknown.  With Journey 2, Penllyn, she turns to face us. 

Dead of Winter: Journey 2, Penllyn. Cover by Teagan R. Geneviene
Dead of Winter: Journey 2, Penllyn. Cover by Teagan R. Geneviene

Emlyn’s family never strays far from the apple orchard that is their home.  Occasionally they go to their village, Llyn Coombe.  The next village, Penllyn, is a long walk from home, and Emlyn has only been there a couple of times.  She’s eager to face that adventure.  Little does she know how much lies ahead. 

The second “journey” if Dead of Winter gets us better acquainted with Zasha, a character who was briefly mentioned in Journey 1, Forlorn Peak.  The image below represents Zasha and her white mare, Kiska.  Yes, there’s even a story behind the horse’s name… They didn’t call me the Keeper of Names for nothin’. 

By and large, Dead of Winter is told from Emlyn’s point of view.  However, there are occasions when we will hear from another major character, or from a “watcher” who is introduced in Journey 2.  This vignette is in Zasha’s point of view.  She and a swordsman, sworn to protect her, are on their way to rejoin the rest of their group.  However, they have stopped at a lake — or a llyn as they are called in this story.

From Dead of Winter: Journey 2, Penllyn

Snippet — Zasha

Dorota Kudyba at Pixabay, image altered
Dorota Kudyba at Pixabay, image altered

“The water of the llyn smells odd too, but lake water always does.  A good word never broke a tooth, but name them llyns or lakes, they aren’t as clean or as lively as a running stream, and they’re nothing compared to the sea,” Zasha thought.

Something about that particular llyn was even more unappealing than most.  That it was deserted was no surprise.  The only evidence of anyone or anything having been there in recent days were animal tracks.  She dismounted Kiska, her pure white mare, and stooped to examine the tracks.  It was a wolf, but just one, not a pack.  However, it would have been a remarkably large wolf.

The horse seemed to catch a remnant of wolf scent from the tracks.  She snorted, shook her head, and stamped a hoof.

“It’s alright, Kiska.  The beastie is long gone,” Zasha soothed the mare.

It nagged at her.  There was something off about the place — something otherworldly that encouraged sadness.  It bred the kind of uncertainty that made her itch to look over her shoulder.

Tajín, the swordsman who traveled with her, seemed to feel it too.  He was sworn to protect the Society of Deae Matres in general, and her in particular.  She had seen his intent gaze search from horizon to horizon more than once since they stopped.  His muscles rippled as he reached for his weapon, making sure it was at hand.  Tajín’s name meant lightning bolt, and his speed with a weapon lived up to the name.

The Deae Matres party was supposed to have met in the village of Llyn Crag.  Tajín went there ahead of Zasha while she made the brief visit to her aunt, Osabide.

It was concerning that the swordsman found no word indicating that the Deae Matres had been there.  He also searched the few spots that would have made good campsites.  Tajín found no remains of recent campfires or of protection circles drawn into the ground.  There was no evidence that the group had stopped nearby.

Even more troubling, he said that when he went into Llyn Crag village, women had been strangely absent from the market and streets.  However, he had seen some in their houses taking furtive looks from between their curtains as he passed through the streets.

A wolf howled in the distance, a sad, lonely call.  Perhaps it was the same huge beast that made the tracks.  Zasha turned toward the sound.

***

The rest of Journey 2, Penllyn will release in early February — I’m sorry I can’t be exact about the date.  If you follow my Amazon Author Page (click here) you should get an email whenever a new Journey is published. 

Thanks for visiting my sanctuary. I hope you’ll leave a comment to say hello.  Hugs on the wing!

***

Universal Purchase Links for Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08RBBVRGX

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08R7RH4F5

Link to Kobo sales alternative:  Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak eBook by Teagan Geneviene – 1230004446033 | Rakuten Kobo United States

The Tour for Journey 1 Continues

Pat Alderman at e-Quips — January 2nd

D. Wallace Peach at Myths of the Mirror  January 6th review

Gwen Plano at Blog Reflections… From the Desk of Gwen Plano  January 8th review

Olga Núñez Miret at Author Translator Olga  January 12th review

Mark Bierman at Adventures on Writing  January 12th

Robbie Cheadle at Roberta Writes January 13th review

Dan Antion at No Facilities  January 14th — special Doors

John W. Howell at Fiction Favorites  January 21st — a visit with Lucy & Twiggy

Miriam Hurdle at Showers of Blessings for Journey 2, coming soon

Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie  review

.

Copyright © 2010 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or from Pinterest unless stated otherwise.

 

92 thoughts on “Wednesday Writing — Cover Reveal Journey 2”

  1. I’m enjoying the first journey very much. There’s a photo I took of my grand daughter with a neighbor’s Great Pyrenees that vaguely reminds me of your first cover. I hope at least one of those women peering furtively through the curtains will turn out to be a sympathizer and help our heroines. Looking forward!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi, JoAnna. What a wonderful photo to have. I dug until I found what seems to be the original of the girl in Journey 1. She’s just looking into a brush-filled area.
      I’m happy you enjoyed the snippet, and thrilled that you are liking the first installment. ❤
      In Journey 2, we begin to see what a "tinderbox" Emlyn's situation is — and learn more about some characters. More mysteries begin.
      Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. In my photo, I was hiking with my grand daughter and we ran into some people with the big white dog. They are looking to the right. Someone told me that picture looked like a book cover. Can I share your book cover and my photo in a post just for fun and write a brief review?

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Mary. The model gave me the biggest challenge… When I made the first cover, I had not thought through to the fact that I’d need at least a dozen covers. To my huge disappointment I couldn’t find another pose of her. If I can’t keep a strong thread of similarity in the images, I hope to at least have them feel like a progression. Hugs on the wing.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

        1. Thanks for the recommendation, Mary. I’ve been sticking to free sites. I might have invested, if I realized the obstacle ahead of time… I just didn’t think about all the covers until I got to Journey 2. Although — I should check there, search the photographer’s name. She might have others there. Thanks for the idea!

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  5. Pingback: The Delta Pearl 61 — Light – Teagan's Books

    1. Thanks, Denise. Journey 2 gives a clearer understanding of the surrounding area of Emlyn’s homeland, and the threat it poses to the characters. Gradually more of the Deae Matres group are introduced too. Thanks for visiting. Have a beautiful rest of the week. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. Yeeeessssssss! Fantastic cover for the next one! It shows a wonderful continuity to the cover of the first journey. You are a great multicreative artist, Teagan! Awaiting the content. 🙂 Dont hurry, i will need some more time reading J1 to the end. Have a beautiful week! Best wishes, Michael

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Okay… WordPress gremlins are out of control. They ate my reply to you, Michael.
      I appreciate your feedback about the cover very much. That has been my biggest concern about the covers — having continuity. Thank you. A beautiful week to you as well. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

        1. LOL. The world of Dead of Winter could support new stories. Although the storyline of the prophecies, including “Winter is coming,” will be resolved. The “Journeys” don’t reach to all the countries that are mentioned in Emlyn’s world.
          Although there’s also the temptation to rewrite something for the owl. LOL.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply

    1. You’re too kind, Ms. Frances. I’m not much of a real artist, but I suppose there’s an art to selecting the right parts of images and putting them together. I certainly enjoy it, so I’m happy that you like them. Stay happy and sassy. Hugs on the wing!

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      Reply

    1. Dear Annika, thanks for everything in this comment. I’m happy I could let you meet the Zasha character with this snippet. Thanks about the painting — I thought it had a similar enough “feeling” to the background of the Journey 1 cover. Be well, be happy. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  20. I saw the cover before, Teagan, and I still think it’s perfect. I didn’t read the snippet because I want to read the story as it unfolds. How wonderful that the second journey is coming up! I hope you’re having fun with this project. 🙂 Have a wonderful Inauguration day. It’ will be okay. I’m brimming with hope. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for shining a light of hope, Diana.
      No worries — although the snippet doesn’t have any spoilers. Journey 2 will be a good bit longer than the first one. LOL, but you’ll probably knock it out in an hour. Edits are going well now, so I’m feeling on schedule.
      Thanks about the cover. Yes, someone elsewhere said they liked how Japanese it looked. I was worried that if that was the case, readers would expect a “Shogun” or other Asian themed story. (Since I love Japanese things, I also wondered if my subconscious had sneaked in.) I couldn’t find an exact statement of where that background is, but bases on research of that 1800s artist, it’s probably somewhere in England, but possibly Italy — which fits with my fictionalized, fantasy inspiration. Okay… I’m babbling. Need that second cup of coffee. 😉 Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  23. I can’t wait, Teagan. I know, you can’t nail down the timeline, but I’m counting the days, anyway.

    I love the cover, and I am amazed at how much work you put into getting this all just right.

    Take care.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Dan, thanks for everything in this comment. I really appreciate that.
      You’ll be happy to know that I finished the first round of edits to Journey 2, and am on the way through the next round. In other words, back on schedule. Have a wonderful Wednesday. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. I’m tickled pink that you like the cover and snippet. Emlyn’s corner of her world has changed in recent years. Journey 2 and the snippet give some idea of the perception people from other areas and countries might have of that change. A question for future Journeys is, will that negative change spread to other parts of her world. 🙂
      Stay safe and well. Hugs on the wing!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  35. I had seen the cover before, but now I understand more what i’s all about. And you’ve intrigued me even more with the snippet, Teagan. I can’t wait for Journey 2! Stay safe!♥

    Liked by 2 people

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