Author-Created Memes

I created this meme in 2022 following the publication of The Kheld King. In 2021 when I published Sordaneon I didn't need a meme or graphic to publicize the book. I would just post the cover (which is such a cool cover it did the work on its own) and say fun stuff.

The addition of The Kheld King, and thus the creation of a series, persuaded me to begin creating my own graphics.

Let's face it, hiring an artist would have hit the pocketbook.

I have a background in art and graphics. Not much of a background, granted, but I took graphics courses toward a B.S. in Professional Communications and spent a few working years using Photoshop to design things like airport brochures and What Milwaukee County Does For You flyers. Modest skills but good enough for making book memes. The first meme was simple: Two books side by side. I think my slugs at the top are especially fine. That Dorilian inherited a god is pretty much the essence of Sordaneon and the entire series. And Stefan inheriting a throne is the very definition of The Kheld King.

So far, so good, right?

So when The Second Stone was published I did this one...

A god, a throne, and Hans making an appearance on the scene. Hans thinks he's there to accomplish something, though he's not quite sure what. There was even room at the bottom to put a little teaser about whether anyone—which could include readers, I suppose—wanted Hans in the story to begin with.

Placing multiple books on a meme was fun... and challenging. My books' covers are beautiful (art by Larry Rostant) and I think they are the best visual marketing for the series. Putting the covers up in order serves to show story progression. Glittering Sordan when the Triempery was in its prime (or at least still close to it). Gloomy Stefan looking at Stauberg and the Wall and knowing both are beyond his reach. Hans and Arne sailing to Sordan and the hope of a fresh start. It's all quite thematic.

But of course the series continued to grow and things got more complicated. By 2024 there are four books and my limited skills are getting seriously challenged. After all, I'm using Canva. The free version. I'm frugal about some things. Anyway, this is what I came up with after The God Spear was published.

You will notice the change in color scheme. I wanted The God Spear cover to pop. The first three books are taking a back seat to a major uptick in series direction. Also, the series is getting autumnal, the death of empires, and I love foreshadowing things like that. Hey, when you have the author making her own memes, you get what you get.

But the meme clearly states what's going on: Dorilian is changing... and has been since the very first book.

Which brings us to this year's version...

I may have reached the limit of my admittedly limited skill... or perhaps I will discover I can do anything... because five books is a lot to put into one amateur-level meme! I kept the background color because it played well with the The Walled City's cover... but I may yet play around with that. Icy. Isolated. Because the story is narrowing, coming to a point. And that's where Dorilian stands, in the crosshairs of destiny -- but he may not be there alone.

I look forward to making next year's meme. Six books! The entire series on one small placard! How will I do it? I have an idea....