Category Archives: Art Gallery

BYWAYS: Behind the Header

December 4, 2017Art GalleryArt: Book Covers, Book 01: On Your Marks, Series: BywaysC. J. Milbrandt

Byways Entries

On Your Marks. I love the Byways header, which features some of the magical, mythical creatures inhabiting Libery’s wild places. It adapts its hues to suit the setting. It shifts like a Changer to show which brother’s story you’re holding. (You noticed that, right?) AND, it blocks a good portion of Hannah Christenson’s cover illustrations. So I thought you might enjoy a peek at unseen things. Over the next several weeks, I’ll show you what’s going on behind the scenes. Continue reading BYWAYS: Behind the Header →

BYWAYS: Creatures

November 27, 2017Art GallerySeries: BywaysC. J. Milbrandt

Firebirds. While many of the creatures found in the Wilds will be familiar to readers (unicorns, griffins, etc.), many more are unique to the Byways Books. Like firebirds…

Firebird Nest

Zane walked into the middle of a bird powwow. Long necks. Knobby knees. Pointed beaks. Firebirds stood as tall as a grown man. From their high crests to their trailing tail feathers, the firebirds burned with an eerie blue light. Jovan noticed that the great blue birds dipped their heads to Zane, as if bowing to a prince.

—Byways #6, Into the Hills: A Zane Johns Adventure
Continue reading BYWAYS: Creatures →

BYWAYS: Illustrations

November 13, 2017Art GalleryBook 09: Through the Notches, Series: BywaysC. J. Milbrandt

Every one of the Byways Books includes beautiful full-color art by my illustrator, Hannah Christenson. Here’s a sampling from Book #9, Through the Notches: A Zane Johns Adventure.

Byways 09, Interior Illustrations

BYWAYS: Behind the Header

November 6, 2017Art GalleryArt: Book Covers, Book 02: Aboard the Train, Series: BywaysC. J. Milbrandt

Book 02, Aboard the Train

Every so often, I offer readers a look behind the Byways headers. On a related note, do you recognize the four creatures it features? From top left, circling clockwise, they are a unicorn, a griffin, a dragon, and a phoenix. The topmost animal changes out from book to book. Continue reading BYWAYS: Behind the Header →

BYWAYS: Best Friend

October 30, 2017Art GalleryCharacter: Jovan Johns, Series: BywaysC. J. Milbrandt

Jovan Johns. He’s not one of the three brothers in the race. He’s their second cousin (their dad’s uncle’s grandson) and Zane’s best (and only) friend. Musical and bookish, Jovan bears a strong resemblance to the rest of the Johns family.

Jovan Johns

ART: Tupper Meadowsweet

058 Tupper by muttiy

ART: Ulrica

Ulrica by Raka

BYWAYS: Illustrations

October 16, 2017Art GalleryBook 04: Up the Mountain, Series: BywaysC. J. Milbrandt

Every one of the Byways Books includes beautiful full-color art by my illustrator, Hannah Christenson. Here’s a sampling from Book #4, Up the Mountain: A Ganix Johns Adventure.

Byways 04, Interior Illustrations

ART: Tupper

tupper sketch by lumaris, full

BYWAYS: Behind the Header

October 9, 2017Art GalleryArt: Book Covers, Book 07: Across the Line, Series: BywaysC. J. Milbrandt

Across the Line, header

In the seventh book of the Byways series, Ganix lands in a mess of trouble when he decides an enslaved magician needs a friend. Our scampish hero takes his usual talent for mischief to a whole new level—jailbreaks, manhunts, and a secret organization. Continue reading BYWAYS: Behind the Header →