As I posted recently with as little fanfare as possible, I released Part One of my first novel, The Tropic of Never last month. It’s very “me”: a gay sci-fi epic with a main character, Edgar Locke, thrust into an unfamiliar world full of wonders, on a city-sized ship that shouldn’t exist. Recently, I asked three artists whose work I admire greatly to read the book and create art from it (with minor, but barely minor spoilers). I couldn’t be more honored to have these talented people interpret my words. Here are their creations:

by Nick Fauble

The above is Edgar Locke’s beginning of his passage through The Spikes, interpreted by Nick Fauble, a Portland-based artist and graphic designer. This passage was easy for me to write, because it was a sequence I always knew was coming and I had lots of time for the ideas to marinade in my brain before I typed it out. I’m really looking forward to future collaborations with Nick, do check out more examples of his awesome work here!

This next piece is one of two pieces contributed by Michael Horwitz, another Portland-based artist whose illustrations and tales of his fictional boyfriend Walt Whitman are taking the PNW by storm. Michael chose to draw the orfs in portrait. Who or what are the orfs? Sorry, no spoilers. Follow Michael’s fables of Walt Whitman here.

by Michael Horowitz

When I asked Los Angeles-based digital artist Tucker Cullinan to pick a passage out to illustrate, this was one of two sequences I was secretly hoping he’s be inspired by. It’s the city-sized vessel, the Ceolsige, under construction. Tucker also worked on the BLCKSMTH Star Wars-themed shoot in February, and the Princess Mononoke-themed shoot last year. Click the picture to see it full-sized:

by Tucker Cullinan

This next one, another contribution from Michael Horwitz, was taken from one of my favorite passages to write. While Edgar explores the great vessel, he find the mysteriously abandoned crew quarters, and starts inventing personalities and names for them based on their belongings. This piece captures a lonely moment for Edgar, holding “Graham”‘s shirt over a pillow:

by Michael Horowitz

Last but certainly not least, is BLCKSMTH contributor and frequent photo collaborator Jennie Kay‘s cover for the book. She recently relocated to Seattle, and she’s a crackerjack graphic designer who interpreted what I wanted and made it even better than my imagination held. No small feat:

by Jennie Kay

I’m full of gratitude, and inspired even further by these immensely talented artists. Please check out more of their work in the links above, and if you haven’t set sail aboard the Ceolsige yet, here’s The Tropic Of Never for Kindle.

Anchors aweigh!