Cover Reveal for THE UNDERWILD: RIVER OF SPIRITS!

I’m overjoyed to share the cover reveal of my debut novel, THE UNDERWILD: RIVER OF SPIRITS!

This incredible cover illustration was created by Danlin Zhang and the book design is by the amazing Karin Paprocki. I love this cover and design with my whole soul. Danlin captured the world so beautifully, and Karin went above and beyond to create a title treatment that soars with imagination and possibility. I can’t wait for readers to enter the world of the Underwild 🖤✨

And there’s more exciting news…

The first printing of the hardcover edition will feature sprayed edges in light purple with a feather design! This is a limited edition, so if you hope to add this special edition to your collection, make sure to place a pre-order to secure your copy.

If you want to get an idea of what’s in store, here’s a preview of the book…

Chapter One - Nightmares

The river is the color of death. You’d think this wouldn’t be unusual for the Acheron—the long, wide river that flows through the Underworld—but you’d be wrong. The river that divides the Shore of the Living from the gates to the Under-After usually burbles in shades of silvery blue. Today, its waters are too still; its mirrored surface colorless and cold as a ghost. I should know. I’m around ghosts all the time.

Now you’re probably wondering if I am a ghost. I most certainly am not. My fate is to walk amongst ghosts, but to never become one myself. My name is Senka, and I am a Ferryer of souls.

That is, I will be a Ferryer soon. I’m the one and only assistant to Charon, the Ferryer of the Underworld. Well, I’m almost his assistant. Once he teaches me how to transport souls, I will definitely be his assistant. It’s the reason I’m here, after all. Every immortal in the Underworld serves a purpose; each of us is given a responsibility we’re committed to do for eternity.

Charon ferries souls. One day, I will too.

I just need to convince him I’m ready to begin my training.

As the boat rocks beneath me, I tear my gaze from the motionless waters and shiver.

“Senka, are you cold?” A figure shrouded in a cloak the color of spilled ink dips his oar into the death-still river.

Don’t be alarmed by Charon’s appearance. Yes, he’s the immortal who ferries souls through the realm of the Dead and he seems scary, but he’s really a big nerd who likes drinking coffee, reading books, and playing board games on his days off. If you ignore the dark cloak and bone-pale hands and the lightning-blue gleam of his eyes, you’ll notice the other qualities of him that aren’t so scary. Like the necklace I made out of hollowed-out bones painted in a rainbow of colors draped around his neck. Or the yeti-print T-shirt he’s wearing; a gift I ordered from the realm of the Living, with Mortimer’s help, of course.

Mortimer is our friendly neighborhood messenger-raven, the best mail service in the Underworld. Unfortunately, there aren’t many shops down here, unless you want something from Medusa’s Marvelous Menagerie (mostly snakes) or Nyx’s Shoppe of Nightmares (I have plenty of nightmares of my own, thank you). Everything Charon and I own either comes from catalogs Mortimer picks up for us in the realm of the Living, or is gifted to us from the passengers Charon ferries through the realm of the Dead. Pro tip: If you want something without skulls on it, your chances are much better obtaining it from outside the borders of the Underworld.

“Take this. It will warm you up.” Charon pauses rowing and shrugs out of his long, hooded cloak.

I rub the goose bumps from my arms. “No, I’m okay.” The truth is, I’m afraid. Not of ghosts or the Underworld, obviously; it’s the weird stillness of the river. It has never been like this before. I know this sounds cliché, but it feels like a bad omen, like something wicked this way comes. I can’t let Charon know I’m skittish—no matter what happens, I’ll prove I’m ready to become a Ferryer, just like him.

. . . . .

I am absolutely screeching with happiness at the stunning cover and book design for my debut - it is more beautiful than anything I could have dreamed up! And I can’t wait to share the story of Senka and Poppy (and Charon and Mortimer and Mags and Joey, and all the rest) with the world. There are so many characters who jumped from the pages and stole my heart as I wrote their stories. I can’t wait for you to meet them all

Now, I’m going to rush back to drafting book 2

🖤🐦‍⬛✨

Shana

WritingShana TargoszJune 13, 2024cover reveal, writing, books