Frances McKay Illustration

Wilma Tenderfoot and The Fatal Phantom

 
I've just completed my first project with Frances which I'm chuffed about. I'm happy for two reasons, firstly it was a project I got after only an hour of signing up with Frances, and secondly because the book I got to illustrate is such a good read. The work involved black and white chapter headings and some 'clue boards' for Emma Kennedy's novel 'Wilma Tenderfoot and The Fatal Phantom'. This is the third book in a series published by Macmillan.
The first two books are called 'Wilma and the Case of the Frozen Hearts' and 'Wilma Tenderfoot and the case of the Putrid Poison' and were both illustrated by Sylvian Marc.  I hope Sylvian isn't too dismayed at my take on his existing characters. All three books do stand alone as novels in their own right, whilst at the same time there is a rather good narrative arc throughout the series. If you want to read them all, and you haven't read the first two yet, the timing could be just about right as The Fatal Phantom hits the shelves this November.

 
Thanks for reading about the new boys efforts, I will always try to do better.

Tom.

Inkymess

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Behold! Scaredy-dog in pink earmuffs

Cowardly dog, creepy castles, pink earmuffs and booties, girls in in a cape and beret. Exactly the kind a 45-year-old man should be painting. Welcome to the world of Wilma Tenderfoot. Wilma (it says here) dreams of one day becoming assistant to the world-famous (and very serious) detective, Theodore P Goodman. But the last thing Mr Goodman wants is a small and slightly accident-prone sidekick -- especially one with an over friendly beagle called Pickle who keeps eating all the clues.

This is the third of three covers I've just finished for a brand-new Macmillan series by Emma Kennedy. Emma (according to her own blurb) is a writer/actress for radio and television. The first book was originally issued with a cover by a rather brilliant French artist called Marc Sylvain. But for some reason Macmillan have changed their mind and are going with yours truly. Marc is still doing the insides, which are lovely. Don't know when they're out, but will let you know.

The artworks were started with a pencil rough, followed by lots and lots and lots of angry scraping and cursing in Photoshop and Painter. Especially the first one.

John Kelly

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