Welltower Lead-in

Here is the promotional lead-in for my soon-to-be-released book, Welltower:

The world is an inferno of poisonous gasses and mutated beasts, some of which used to be men.

Welltower was built to keep them out. Over two miles high, the fortified structure rises over the burning landscape like a colossus: unbreakable, impenetrable, unyielding.

But after hundreds of years the residents have become beasts themselves, humans in the last stages of social decay. The sanctuary has become a prison.

Young Kaehl will travel the heights and depths of this battleground city in order to save his crippled sister. Along the way he will discover his heart as he uncovers the terrible secrets of the looking-glass world that is Welltower.

New Book and Prints

A few pieces of good news.

First, I have a new novel nearly ready to be released. The book is called “Welltower” and deals with a young man struggling to save his crippled sister in a looking glass world. The book will be available in print and electronic editions through Amazon and other vendors. I’ll post here when it is available.

This will be my second published book. The first, The Christmas Orange, is available from Amazon and other vendors and has garnered very favorable reviews.

Secondly, people have been asking for prints of my painting While Mary Sleeps and Deseret Book has asked to license it. Very cool. This will be my first professional print arrangement. I’ll let you know when the prints become available.

All in time for the holidays!

Prophet Returning Home - Final

...And here's the final, my second day of work, pending any chance I get to fiddle with it before the deadline.

Prophet Returning Home

Folks have been asking about my paintings. This is the latest of a 13-painting commission, my first day's effort on a 16x20 inch oil painting. It features a prophet returning home after Christ's departure from ancient America, a reflection on the events recounted in 3 Nephi 11-28. I am working on two paintings simultaneously; this is painting number seven.

Neil Gaiman's Talk

Neil Gaiman's commencement address: Good advice to almost everyone. Nineteen minute video: http://vimeo.com/42372767

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live! Event

Gonna do some name dropping here, so tune out if you're not into it.

This weekend I attended the Spectrum Fantastic Art Live! event in Kansas City. Very much enjoyed spending time with James Gurney and Jean-baptiste Monge and their wives, Kathleen and Margot. Also very much enjoyed meeting two more of my heroes, Scott Gustafson  and Paul Bonner, and buying their books. The place was crowded with great artists in many fields, including Greg Manchess, Donato Giancola, Dan Dos Santos, Mike Mignola, Tim Bruckner, and many others. Great to be able to hobnob with these inspiring, generous people.

Also got more information about TLC Workshop's Professional Art Series, sponsored by the energetic and very able Tara Larson Chang.

These conferences can be very inspiring once you get past the seeing how great they are at only 1/3 my age. Makes me want to do much more much better. Great stuff!

Lasting Products

“The beauty one can find in art is one of the pitifully few real and lasting products of human endeavor.” ― J. Paul Getty.

A good family would have to be another of those real and lasting products; a true work of art and an urgently needed benefit to mankind.

I'm heading to the Getty Villa, a recreation of a Roman villa, in Malibu this morning before taking a plane back to Maryland. Superb architecture and art on the California coast. Free admission, too. Astonishing! It's been a good trip.

http://getty.edu/visit/