Tales of Minz: Cover Reveal

Hello and welcome, one and all!

I’ve never done a “Cover Reveal” post, so I’m very excited for this! (I’ll try to contain my enthusiasm and refrain from using all caps and too many exclamation points. Look at that—I used a period. I’M ALREADY DOING SO WELL.)

The second book in my whimsical, satirical fantasy series, Tales of Minz, comes out this October. It’s called A Lamplighter’s Tale, and I’ve had a lot of fun working on it for the past year and a half.

As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, the Tales of Minz series is getting a fresh, new design and layout to match its quirky personality, and I’ve had a lot of fun working on the design for the book’s cover, the artwork, and the layout!

Because I’ve been working on the cover art and design, I also went ahead and redesigned the first book (A Cobbler’s Tale). The result? Well, see for yourself!

(These images aren’t exactly proportional to each other, but the book covers will be!)

The interior layout and design of the Tales of Minz series will include (but not be limited to):

Drop caps (you know, those fancy big letters that start chapters in professionally published books), whimsical series information (and a helpful QR code that takes you right to the Tales of Minz series page on Amazon so you can keep track of how many books are out and purchase them—if you’d like), and, my personal favorite, chapter titles.

If you’re subscribed to my website, you can get a good look the new design and the first couple chapters of A Lamplighter’s Tale in a special (and exclusive) “First Look” post later next month.

If you’re not subscribed—why not? It’s free! (Click here to do so.)

(If you’re seeing this post and/or subscribe later down the timeline than October 2024, and still want to receive the exclusive “First Look” post, please feel free to send me an email, I’ll happily send you the information!)

Please note: Currently (as of posting this), A Cobbler’s Tale is still shown in its original format on Amazon and this website. So, if you haven’t purchased that book yet and think to yourself, I’ll give it a shot before the next book in the series comes out—you might want to wait.

(Unless you don’t care if the first book in an ongoing series doesn’t have the same design as the books after it, then, by all means, go for it! 😊)

My plan is to release the updated version of A Cobbler’s Tale leading up to the release of A Lamplighter’s Tale. Once it’s live, the information on Amazon and this website will all be updated as well.

I think that’s all the technical information—now on to A Lamplighter’s Tale and its brief synopsis:

Minz can be a dark and terrible place, filled with terrifying monsters. Come closer, Dear Reader. Let me tell you a story about light and the brave people who keep the darkness and monsters at bay.

Ten-year-old Matt wants nothing more than to become a lamplighter, just like his Grandpa Hal. In his mind, lamplighters had the noblest of trades. They protected people from Vendradooks and other monsters which lurked about in the deep, dark night.

At least… that’s what Matt has always thought.

But when he and his Grandpa Hal travel to the town of Sephar, they land in hot water with an irate government official who thinks all lamplighters are charlatans and fearmongers. Matt’s beliefs are called into question, and he must discover the truth once and for all—before it’s too late.

Do Vendradooks really exist? Or has Matt’s entire life been a lie?

If that sounds like a story you’d be interested in reading, stay tuned for the upcoming “Book Release” announcement post later next month!

Until next time,

Al