Hi everyone. Going to keep this post short and simple for now.

I am looking for a highly talented illustrator to transform my novel into a high-quality graphical novel. Duration of the project should be no longer than 7 to 10 months. I want to release my overall project in segments of around 100 pages each. These 100 pages will consist of around 50 pages of art and 50 pages of text. This is however only an estimation as I will need to develop the style of the novel with the said artist first. For those interested, I have already laid out the story for these 100 pages, (and beyond) although not all of these pages have been completely written down yet. Writing a novel is a continuous adaptation as the story progresses.

This will be an unpaid project; however once I have approved said partner I insist that we sign a 50-50 contract of ownership to our creations, with intent to publish before end of 2005. All financial gains from the novel will then (under contract) be shared.

The Novel: The title of the novel is Tarot of the Damned. It takes place in a fantasy world and is ultimately a story about manipulation, religion, love and betrayal. The market for the novel will be ages 16 upwards. It is an adult, fantasy horror, and the illustrations will play a big role in having the readers fixated as they crave to read further and further. Believe me, I hope for the settings and creatures you will be required to draw, to be some of the most inspiring and interesting creations seen for quite sometime. I have spent nearly a year to develop quite a unique story world.

As you can understand, this is not a full-time job, but I am always very professional and picky (and although I always allow artists to have a great degree in freedom) I will want to work hard to make every page 100% correct.


Here is a little extract (unedited)

“The Church does not believe in God. It believes in the destruction of Him. Gods all feed on belief, but when a God is so real and so sick that he is knowingly and justifiably feared, then religion is no longer a blind faith, but a cursed bane. When the Askeori rose to free his Father from his prison, it was not out of love or a blind faith, but out of a knowing fear. In front of him the sun burned hotter than ever, even though the day was almost dead. Light gleaming of unsheathed daggers and polished helmets as a few men dared to scout ahead. They could hear Him? Thinking. His poisoned heartbeat sucking like a mosquito through hairy skin, always searching, probing, reaching out further and further as it pricked defiantly for warm blood below a sea of human skin.
Behind him the ocean swelled. Darkness followed the Askeori longboats, small clouds building up behind them as the air carelessly thumped on his back. It quickly seemed to get disapprovingly colder and colder, as his Father sucked the life from the earth. The Askeori continued to row. Their eyes seemed to swallow the cold, burning flame-red in the premature dark as the night spread at a determined pace. His own eyes turned wearily, watching, waiting. From ahead, seagulls shifted across the lazy sky. Even the animals were fleeing in anticipation, their rapid beating of fully feathered wings humming noisily across the gray, expanding clouds as they frenetically fled like an angry, smoked-out swarm of honey bees. Some animals instinctively knew when to flee, others would never give up. The noise filled his ear. Shadows raced across the ocean beneath the fading sun, rain soaking his flapping cloak while the hot sun burned on his face.”

If anyone is interested, please send me a few sketches to the following two addresses (please use both.)
[email protected]
[email protected]

I will then give those interested a bigger sampler portion to read and ask him/her to draw the scenes out with relevant instructions, so I can make my decision after careful consideration. I would like the artist at the end of the day to give an alternate view of the world and story. I know there are some very talented people out there. This could turn out to be a great adventure for those who are interested and it definitely will not be a waste of time. You will become my sidekick, brother and partner on this project.

The limits of the project could be endless as it could easily turn out into a film or game 1 day.

Thanks for your time.
Jacques
South Africa