Writing high-stakes dark fantasy that keeps you on the edge of your seat and up until 3AM. Get my free prequel: www.jwweld.com/slice
Jacob didn't look like this on the first cover
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Hey Reader, With the ARC campaign for Disciple of Sin in full swing, I've shifted my focus to getting my second book, Rebel's Road, ready for its November release. One of the hardest parts of getting this book ready to launch was creating a cover that conveyed the book's storyline in a static image. My artist and I went through many concepts to capture the sense of danger and constant threat as Jacob and his companions are hunted through open wilderness in a Mad Max style chase. Here's what we landed on: This is one of my artist's more subtle compositions. For one, Jacob looks a lot thinner than in the first cover. The past few months have been rough on our protagonist but the journey has not been without its rewards. He's better dressed (courtesy of a certain immortal tailor), weighed down by a wagon full of supplies with gold bars peeking out of the opening. The arrows do double duty, signalling danger and leading the eye to Jacob's face. The wagon he stands in is slanted, representing the unsteady footing the character finds himself in. While not as iconic as the cover of Slice of Sin or Disciple of Sin, it does a great job of signaling what this book will be about: being on the run with danger coming from every side.
Until next time,
P.S. Next week, I'll talk about the joys (and pains) of launching a book in 2026. Featured Story:A brilliant alchemist. A plague that feeds on blood. An ancient pact demanding sacrifice. If you enjoy gothic fantasy, sinister churches, haunted forests, morally complicated characters, and supernatural suspense, step into the shadow.
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J. W. Weld
Writing high-stakes dark fantasy that keeps you on the edge of your seat and up until 3AM. Get my free prequel: www.jwweld.com/slice
Most fantasy settings draw on real world history, popular folklore, and ancients legends to inspire their worldbuilding. While many authors focus on these more fantastical elements, I find a certain joy in grounding my worldbuilding with realism. Focusing on the small details of historical life creates immersion and increases the contrast between the ordinary and the extraordinary. Fantasy, in general, tends to be light on historical accuracy, so I've spent a great deal of time trying to be...
Last month, I received a strange email. A reader reached out to ask questions about my prequel, Slice of Sin. At first, I thought she was running a weird roundabout scam, but the more we communicated, the more I realized she was a genuine fan. She read the prequel short story while over at a friend’s house and loved it so much she tracked down my email to ask me three questions: Why did I choose to write the prequel from the villain’s perspective? Why did I name my villain Sin? And above all,...
Hey Reader, Time flies. We have 104 days until the end of the year and 19 days until the release of my debut novel, Disciple of Sin: I’m excited (and nervous), but reviews so far have been great and I have more coming down the pipeline. With only 19 days left, this is the last time I’ll bring up reading my debut novel for free. The process is simple: Log in to StoryOrigin (or create an account). Apply for my ARC. I’ll check your recent reviews and (most likely) accept your application. You’ll...