I Got Gorgeous Gift Art from Meus_Venator ...

[eisht]

...and I'm gonna squee over it.

It was such a lovely surprise to log on and find a whole set of art for 'The Unsuitable Slave' .

The detail is incredible, the depiction of the dark war-torn world they live in and of course the seemingly commanding and confident warrior Prince Jensen with the quietly courageous and oh-so insecure Prince Jared. I just love the colors, the images that were chosen and of course the way it was put together. She is so talented in her manipulations and graphic detail. The art post includes this PDF/PUB cover, a header, chapter banners and snatchable icons - and they make the story look like -woah this can't be mine!  But it is, and I am so flattered and honored and feel so loved all at once. You really have to go take a look here  where it is all proper size (mine is sized for a small screen) and give meus_venator the love she deserves.

(More pretties --->)

The art also gave me the opportunity to step back and look at the past year - because I started to post The Unsuitable Slave, in WIP in August last year and it seems like a lifetime ago. I am a different on-line animal thanks to the support from the people who read and comment and 'participate' in my fic and I am so grateful for it all.  I was writing to challenge myself and had agreed as a dare with a friend to put it somewhere 'public'. I had written House of Broken Souls and was reasonably succesful at hiding in my corner, despite being found by a few encouraging souls - I'm looking at you buttercup22, cheebles,firesign10 who were such great cheerleaders (and if I missed some of you, I apologize). I thought well hell, I may write some more.. . and Unsuitable Slave was born.

 I remember the first time meus_venator showed up in my comments for The Unsuitable Slave, almost exactly a year ago and suddenly I felt very, very visible. Soon after, a couple more turned up. It was scary as hell, because the plot for Unsuitable Slave was long, complicated and very dark in places, and I was determined to stick to it. Well, she kept showing up and along with sylsdarkplace  she offered practical advice and I gradually became more relaxed. I remember being TERRIFIED the day I posted my nastiest chapter and I didn't want to look at the reaction I got (I'd never seen any of the kink/dark comms at this point). But I did, and the relief when it was still encouraging feedback was unbelievable. In fact the relief at being accepted despite what I write was incredible, and it probably changed the way I participate on LJ ever since. So, I didn't want to just say thank you for the great art but for the support I've had from the her and from sylsdarkplace   and every beta who has put up with me, each reader who ever encouraged me by commenting on my fic. It all means that I'm still here, still writing, still enjoying it .. and posting out to comms with it too.

And jumping up and down over pretty , pretty J2 Art ...

((HUGS)) to meus_venator for reminding me of all that in such a great way.

So, yeah, there's that.

~~~

Comments

[meus_venator]

Isn't the interweb just an incredible place? You never know who you might meet and who might creep into your heart. It's been a spectacle ride reading your glorious fic and getting to know you. Not quite two years ago I discovered the whole existence of this fandom and slowly found my way around. I never in a million years ever thought I'd be doing J2 art or writing.

I remember when I first found your journal. I had been following a link to find one of cheebles fic and found her comments on your journal and though hmmmm slave!fic I HAVE to read that. I think you were on chapter 12 or something when I first dropped in and what a ride! And you tortured me as beautifully as you do Jared as I waited with baited breath for the next chapter to be posted. I stood in awe at the twists and turns of the story and thought Ahhhh here is a like minded gal and if she's brave enough to post slave!fic I should be too.

It's funny about reaching out, you always get more back than you give. And you've given me so much support and help and encouragement and laughs that sharing some pretties with you for your marvellous effort seems the least I could do. (( HUGS BACK)) and here's to more great fic and art to come!
♥

[anniespinkhouse.livejournal.com]

It's been a great ride hasn't it? The internet has become an essential little luxury for me - it connects me to great people so many miles away! I'm hoping the muse never leaves us. I want to grow old disgracefully and shock people when I'm 90 lol.

Now, returning to staring at our boys ... :D

[sylsdarkplace]

I can't call the internet a luxury anymore. It's a necessity for my emotional and psychological health. The encouragement and support I've gotten from readers and other writers -- especially the two of you -- has come to mean so much to me!

Your friendship means the world to me, and you've made me a better, braver writer. Long live TOE!

The artwork is as always awesome (love that font!), and I hope it draws more readers in because The Unsuitable Slave is a favorite. Awesome art for an awesome fic!

[anniespinkhouse.livejournal.com]

Aha, so true about needed emotionally ((hugs)) Such strong friendships with such a small electrical signal - it scares me sometimes how that is even possible. How did I ever manage without it? and you are real people (I think, believe, hell if you're aliens it doesn't really matter) on the other end. I certainly wouldn't haven't written so much and creating definitely makes me a happy TOE member.
Receiving pretty art - oh yeah definitely a boost too and I have had a few really heartening responses because of it already. Again, it's wonderful when someone 'gets it' with my fic because it makes me feel a little less weird and a bit more like someone who likes to dabble in my own little alternate worlds. (Like that isn't odd at all. LOL)

[jenilees.livejournal.com]

Wow! That is lovely art! I haven't read the story yet but yum! I want to now...LOL

[anniespinkhouse.livejournal.com]

Isn't it great? I don't know how she does it. She has an ability to 'see' my scenes, just as I did when I was writing - to translate that into art with limited stock images is incredible. I can't draw a pair of curtains ..and my graphics are limited to shade changes in GIMP and text on pics in paint ... I can't imagine how you artists create such wonder, in any medium.
I have been so blessed with all the artistic talent for all my fic, whether reverse bangs, big bangs, or simply inspired by my off-the cuff stories. If anyone had told me two years ago that I would not only have written 3 novel length stories and a bunch of short stories but also that talented artists will have illustrated them - I would have scoffed.
Isn't fandom inspiring?