Mike Maihack
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Moonlit Spiral: Mollusca Publishing House
🕑 Added 2025-04-23 15:19:02 +0000 UTCToday is World Book Day!
In the spirit of that, I'd thought I'd share some more concept art that I created for my next book, The Moonlit Spiral*, which also has to do with (dot dot dot) BOOKS!
A good chunk of the first act of TMS takes place in a generations-owned publishing house whose primary specialization has been in printing Treasureographies: Personal accounts of adventures written by famous treasure hunters. As interest for treasure hunting has diminished in recent years, the Mollusca Publishing house is now struggling to make ends meet. It's just one of the things that propels Rion, the main character of the story, to leave the comforts of his home city of Dahl and off on his quest throughout the region of Helix.
The shop's current owner is Henry Mollusca, Rion's adopted father. He's mostly influenced after Jim Henson's The StoryTeller and the book shop owner from The NeverEnding Story. He doesn't look much like the latter, but that is the vibe I wanted to give off. Murf, his pet Woolly Lop, was especially fun to include in parts of that first act. I must have a thing for creatures with wide, surprised-looking eyes.
Rion's room is in the basement of the publishing house so he's got a ton of living space, although he does have to share it with a good chunk of storage. It made his room fun to draw, but was also designed this way for a particular sequence in which he has to chaotically run around the entirety of it.
And Rion is really quite content living in a publishing house/book store! He loves reading. He love learning new stuff. And he loves that he's safe from any possible dangers. This is important so his leaving those comforts holds some weight.
And there you are! Hope you enjoyed one more look into the visualization of this upcoming graphic novel and definitely the one I'm most proud of thus far. I even plan on sharing the entire first chapter here once we get closer to a publishing date. That won't be until a still undetermined date next year, but at least something to look forward to. Until then I'll try to sprinkle in stuff like this about it from time to time.
Don't forget to read a good book today!
❤️📚
*This title might be changing! THE MOONLIT SPIRAL was always sort of a working one that sorta got stuck and then I got used to. I might gage interest in an alternative with everyone here in a cover process post coming up real soon.
Comments
Mike Maihack
Thanks for the great feedback, Craig! It's a pretty unique story. Crossing my fingers it resonates with a few folks out there. 🙂
Mike Maihack
Thanks! This book is already attached to a publisher (Candlewick) but definitely agree to holding on to one's IP.
Sparky
I think this is the path illustrators must tread - my suggestion is high quality POD for the first run. E-books for the 2nd. At least for an America run. Hold onto your IP. I know an acquaintance on FB that researched POD (possibly a mutual one). This is so charming.
Craig M. Hinch
Wow! I love this so much! Such detail and with the colours, Rion’s home is so warm and inviting! I can look at all the details and imagine curling up in the rooms and relax. Living in a publishing house and bookstore is a dream of mine. Rion can have his adventure, as I’d be perfectly fine staying put. I can also empathize and sympathize with Rion with regard to small creatures precariously breaking his stuff, for my family and I have been fostering three kittens, now about six months old. One in particular likes climbing on my stuff, including my Supergirl statues. Wooly Lops are cute and remind me of a mashup between Aunt May’s Ms. Lion and Orko. Inspired by Henson’s Storyteller and The Never Ending Story appeals to my inner youth, and adds another dimension of adoration for your work. That you’d share some of the finished work is an honour, thank you in advance. Its current title is already a good one, bringing a sense of wonder as it can be asked what a moonlight spiral is, and sparking curiosity in exploring this world. I can’t wait to give you my money and read this adventure of exploring Rion’s world with him.
Wendi Hamilton
Love reading the Why? about your characters! Looking good! Love the cute snail shell at the roof point!
