This awesome painting is called The Evertide by Todd Lockwood, and is the cover art of Todd’s first novel, The Summer Dragon: First Book of the Evertide, just released today!

I preordered my copy of The Summer Dragon and received it right away in this morning’s mail.  I’ve already read the exciting prologue, and can’t wait to read more in this story that author Terry Brooks calls, “A compelling, fully realized story as detailed and exciting as anything since the Pern tales.  A sure winner.”

High praise, comparing this to my beloved Pern books by Anne McCaffrey!  As soon as I heard that, I knew I had to pick it up.  And it looks like the critical response has been overwhelmingly positive so far as well.  For more reviews, and for info on where to get your own copy (even signed ones!), you can see Todd’s own post about it on his Facebook page.

Here is the synopsis from the inside front cover (reproduced from Amazon):

Maia and her family raise dragons for the political war machine. As she comes of age, she hopes for a dragon of her own to add to the stable of breeding parents. But the war goes badly, and the needs of the Dragonry dash her hopes. Her peaceful life is shattered when the Summer Dragon—one of the rare and mythical High Dragons—makes an appearance in her quiet valley. The Summer Dragon is an omen of change, but no one knows for certain what kind of change he augurs. Political factions vie to control the implied message, each to further their own agendas.

And so Maia is swept into an adventure that pits her against the deathless Horrors—thralls of the enemy—and a faceless creature drawn from her fears. In her fight to preserve everything she knows and loves, she uncovers secrets that challenge her understanding of her world and of herself.

I’ve never written a book review, but I will surely be posting something once I finish the book, which I intend to read as quick as possible while also doing my own writing, of course.  I’m thinking this Saturday will be a good day for reading and writing, so it might pop up then — stay tuned!

This is another photo from my own copy, one of the drawings done by Todd and scattered throughout The Summer Dragon at various chapter and section breaks.  He’s also drawn maps and place sketches, because of course, Todd is not only a writer but a prolific professional artist.  In fact, Todd posted a lovely step-by-step “making of” The Evertide cover art on his website if you’d like to see how it came together, and you can also browse his entire gallery while you’re there.  I also posted another of Todd’s dragons in my recent AtoZ Challenge post G is for Glass Dragon by Todd Lockwood, and I expect I’ll share more of his artwork in the future too.

Now, if you’re wondering where my customary Discover Challenge post is featuring more of Neeka’s Story, my apologies!  As I posted about yesterday, I’ve changed up my weekly posting schedule to better fit my life and writing goals right now, so watch for my entry to this week’s Discover Challenge (all about motivation and raison d’etre) to be posted tomorrow, and then continuing each Wednesday for the foreseeable future.  This will give me more time with each prompt and the ability to write longer chapters of Neeka’s Story, as the last few have been annoyingly short, in my opinion.

Thanks as always for reading!  Stay creative!

Image credits:
The Evertide by Todd Lockwood
The Summer Dragon by Todd Lockwood (photo by me)
Inside artwork from The Summer Dragon by Todd Lockwood (photo by me)
Sign of the Dragon by Alvia Alcedo