Background: I commissioned several international artists to draw characters from BEACON and CATALYST based upon a few paragraphs of text. I chose a diverse array of styles for this assignment. From comic book to abstract, children’s fairy tale, and hyper-realistic, I wanted each of them to be able to express themselves in their signature styles. 

“You know he’s not in there, right?” said a voice she knew very well, scaring the hell out of her. She yelped in fright, spinning to look behind her. Katie’s Jeep Cherokee was parked right next to her Lexus. Katie herself, with her big brown eyes and pixie haircut, stood by the hood. Jo had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t even heard another car crunching up the path in approach. Katie’s dark auburn hair shone in the pale light of an overcast afternoon, every hair looking perfect even in the slight breeze. Jo found herself thinking Katie looked amazing today. She opened her mouth to say so until Katie moved. Jo’s face must have softened up Katie somewhat because she walked up and hugged Jo. Jo started crying again. The two women held each other for a while, Katie patting Jo softly on the back. Katie was a little taller than Jo. Jo’s head fit nicely on Katie’s shoulder.

Katie is Jo's friend and ally in Newark, Ohio. She is a funny, warm, silly person that the reader instantly falls in love with.

Artist Ben Kinkead has captured Katie's openness and strength in his profile-pic style interpretation.

Anca's portrait shows her fun and quirky nature in her work.

Gonmuki shows her strength and Mudokonabe captures her curious spirit.

Next week: Gideon

Background: I commissioned several international artists to draw characters from BEACON and CATALYST based upon a few paragraphs of text. I chose a diverse array of styles for this assignment. From comic book to abstract, children’s fairy tale, and hyper-realistic, I wanted each of them to be able to express themselves in their signature styles. 

She was perched on a slender branch with a careless grace, both legs dangling freely in the air. Her hands held the branch on either side of her, and her posture was slightly hunched. She was thin and tall, looking like a model except for her long gray hair. Her face was unlined and young, full pouty lips and eyes that wanted to laugh at everything they saw. Everything about this woman’s body language seemed casual, but her alert and watchful big brown eyes gave her away. She stood up, brushing the leaves off her loose, wide black pants. Her oversized shirt read “Grateful Dead” with the skull logo. Luna smokes, because it amuses her. She's already dead, so she knows it won't kill her.

Introduced in CATALYST, Luna is a vampire that is as practical as she is aloof. She draws Jo in immediately, and they develop a kind of standoff friendship. 

Artist: Diana Nemesu

​Next week: Katie

Background: I commissioned several international artists to draw characters from BEACON and CATALYST based upon a few paragraphs of text. I chose a diverse array of styles for this assignment. From comic book to abstract, children’s fairy tale, and hyper-realistic, I wanted each of them to be able to express themselves in their signature styles. 

He was tall and stocky, about 6’ 2” with short, cropped brown hair. He wasn’t thin or fat; he had an average body type that looked normal and healthy for his height. He had bright blue eyes behind square black glasses and a long, rectangular face. He was also very solid and unyielding when you walked right into him. That was about as much detail as she could take in before he started speaking.

Artists (in order):

Diana Nemesu has the children's water color depiction. 

Gonmuki has the comic book design.

Mudokonabe shows him in the rugged line art style with the green vest. 

Finally, Anca has the close-up view.

Ethan is Jo's friend and apprentice in the church. There's not a whole lot more I can say about him without giving away spoilers. :) 

​Next week: Luna

Background: I commissioned several international artists to draw characters from BEACON and CATALYST based upon a few paragraphs of text. I chose a diverse array of styles for this assignment. From comic book to abstract, children’s fairy tale, and hyper-realistic, I wanted each of them to be able to express themselves in their signature styles. 

Lee strode out of the cover of the forest and into the moonlight. His short blonde crew cut seemed to glow in the night, his ice blue eyes sharp and alert. He wore a white button-down dress shirt, dark pants, and shiny loafers that glimmered as he walked. He was tall, muscular, and looked like the figure of Adonis incarnate. 

Introduced in CATALYST, Lee is a vampire that embodies pure evil. He lacks Cain's moral code and kills simply for the sheer joy of it. Turned in World War II, Lee always dresses formally. If you see him in the night, you will not live until the morning.

Artists: Ben Kinkead (comic book) and Naveed Anjum (abstract)

Next week: Ethan