We’re very excited to share this first look at the cover for Patricia Briggs’ latest Mercy Thomson novel, Night Broken! This the 8th volume in popular series from Ace books. Each of which has sported a stunning cover from signature artist Dan Dos Santos. Dan was kind enough to share some preliminary sketches and his thought process.
Dan: “The Art Director and Editor felt the image looked too much like a classic ‘Fantasy’ novel.”
“The image was far too New Age, and also posed the marketing problem of nudity.”
“I quickly worked up an alternate version of the first sketch, without the coat and a slightly different pose. This received approval, and so I went about booking my usual model.” [Interview with the real-life Mercy.]
“Despite it’s initial rejection, I still liked the trenchcoat, and was convinced I could portray it in a way that looked more Urban than Fantasy. So I decided to give it another try. After the photoshoot, I created a few additional comps for the ADs consideration. Ultimately, the coat was rejected again. Everyone felt that the look was too much of a departure from how we typically depict Mercy, and also covered so many of the tattoos that the covers have become known for.”
“With the final comp completed and approved, I went about my usual process of painting the image.”
The original art is oils on board, 16×26 inches.
