The covers of my novels are based on The Bayeux Tapestry, an embroidered illustration of the events leading up to the conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy, and ending with the battle of Hastings. The cloth was embroidered by Saxon women in England circa 1070 and is currently housed in the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux, in the city of Bayeux, Normandy, France. Historians believe it was commissioned by Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, Earl of Kent, half-brother of William, and star of my trilogy, Domesday Tales.

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I have always been fascinated with the tapestry and, while considering the cover of A Domesday Tale, I was looking at the section of the tapestry  that shows William, Odo, and Robert sitting together in conference after arriving in England in 1066. I thought to myself, "There sit three of the main characters in my novels!" And so...Evren Bilgihan, my nephew, publisher, and illustrator, and I combined thoughts and talents to construct the cover of my first novel. I found a character in the tapestry who looked extraordinarily like my main character, Simon, and we worked from there. The tapestry is under copyright, therefore my covers needed to be slightly edited so we would not be fined for using the exact images.

 

The top images on all three of my covers are almost exact reproductions from the tapestry. The bottom images are replications of scenes that have been heavily edited to include representations of my main characters and a crucial scene depicted in the novel, all the while keeping to the style and spirit of the tapestry.

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Evren was too busy with work and school to illustrate my second novel so he recommended I contact and work with Catherine Haverkamp, an illustrious artist residing in Tennessee, to draw the cover of A Plague of Devils. Though she was not familiar with the original tapestry, I believe Catherine did an astounding job of illustrating the scenes and my characters especially down to the intricacies of the stitching! 

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Evren continued with his hectic schedule and again I needed to find another artist. I am a member of the British Medieval History group on Facebook and through the group I have made many amazing friends. I remembered that one of my newer friends is an artist, so I contacted Matthew Ryan, and found that not only is he an artist--he is a historical illustrator and has done much work concerning the conquest of England. He is extremely familiar with the Tapestry and it took him a mere six weeks to create the magnificent cover of the last book in my trilogy, A Web of Tyrants. I especially love the laughing horses! 

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Evren is the digital designer of all my novels, and the illustrator of the brilliant cover of my young adult historical novel, To Beg Our Cousin The  King! I hope Evren will be able to draw the covers for my future young adult novels. Matthew Ryan will be the illustrator of all my future adult historical fiction novels. I am overwhelmingly thankful to all my artists for their exquisite talent and illustrations! Enjoy!

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