The Wizard King - Sneak Peeks

Hello Internet world. As you may have noticed, Mirandamayer.com and the blog got a bit of an overhaul today. They were combined into one. It needed it. It's funny how something looks suitable and good for a bit, and then all you want is to change it.  I wanted something a bit lighter and brighter, especially for the launch of my newest book, 'The Wizard King', which will be launched in January at the Wizard World Portland Comic Con.

This month, we had a killer photo shoot up at the Timberline Lodge. This cool vintage building was a 'New Deal' project in the thirties, organized to create jobs during the great depression. They employed a great number of brilliant artisans and skilled craftsmen to assemble this impressive building, and today it stands as a testament to craftsmanship and forward-thinking.

The exterior of the lodge was portrayed in the movie 'The Shining' -- depicting what was called The Overlook Hotel in the movie.  It does not have a hedge maze, nor is the interior even remotely like what was shown in the film.  The interior is extremely rustic.  The lighting has the quality of that of an great old manor, with bright, white light pouring into darkened interiors, bouncing off the rugged textures of wood and stone, giving, at least in my view, an old-world castle type of light quality, something like the old oil portraits. It was what I was looking for.

With a great team of people, from photographer to hair and makeup stylist, we tramped up there with our lovely models and took a series of beautiful shots.  I will post some examples of them (ones we are not using for the book cover).

Model Robyn Wodiuk takes a rest on some of the many heavy-timbered
structures about the lodge.  The setting is modern compared to the
look of the cover. But none of that will show in the cover.

Model Robyn portrays the sweet, graceful Ynith.
All elegance in a white regency-style round gown,
and a seemingly endless swag and rumple of shawl.

The outdoors are cast in the white light of
snow.

Robyn in all her elegance.

Model Breck Warren portrays
the somewhat sinister character of Arnsword.

A lovely photo, in spite of the modern trappings.

All men should aspire to wearing cravats.

The lovely Ynith/Robyn.

This image was one of my favorites of the shoot, but it was unsuitable for
the cover, there are no winter themes in The Wizard King. I just
wanted the lodge's lovely lighting. But I love this photo, regardless.

The Wizard King is a Fantasy Romance novel, a sort of alternate world with Regency themes.  The costumes were made by Stephanie Johanesen of Mount Hood Creations (Robyn's beautiful gown and accessories), and Breck's costume was created by Morgan Shanafelt, who also styled the hair and makeup for this photo shoot.

Photographer was Julie Savage Lee Photography.

The final cover will be revealed when the book is released.