Authors Electric

I started with this, drawn on a sheet of scrap paper, copied from a photo of a stuffed fox. I scanned it into the computer. Before I adjusted the contrasts, you could see the type showing through from the other side. Then I opened the ink sketch in Photoshop, took out the white background of the scrap paper and added a dark background layer. Coloured the drawing, added a title and a screamer. This is only a try-out for the front cover. I can't do the complete one until I've finished laying out the interior and know how thick the spine will be.      I used various photos for reference, sometimes using the 'eye-dropper' tool to get an idea of what the colouring should be.      I was so pleased with the result that I hailed a passing brother. "Cop a butcher's at this," I said.      He came, he looked. A long silence. Then, grudgingly, "That's pretty good. Come out of it."      He took over my chair. He over-laye...

Although I had a Science Fiction play broadcast on Radio 4 many years ago, I’ve not really ventured there since. I’m so much more at home in fantasy – problem with the plot? Invent something magical to circumvent it. For one of the Divide books, the US politically correct police objected to Agrimony, a teenage female elf, going off for the day with Squill, a middle-aged male pixie, so I had to invent something – and quickly! This is what I came up with: “Well,” said Squill, “I came to Tiratattle for an interview, and I’m delighted to say that I am now in charge of an advertising department. I’ve been looking for a face to launch our latest products, and Agrimony fits admirably. She’ll be famous, and she’ll earn a lot of money.” Agrimony had gone quite dewy-eyed. “She’ll need to be kitted out differently, of course – jade is the green of the moment in Tiratattle, and I can just see her – jade tunic, jade trousers – maybe even a touch of lime here and there.” Tansy scowled...