WillowRaven Yearbook Project

featured artwork: Courtesan

She is a Drow Courtesan, her favorite adornments are rubies, gold (down to the real gold dust on the tips of her pointed ears), and the most luxurious silks made. Only the richest men or women can afford her time, but never forget she's a Drow Elf ... She's sure to have plenty of hidden, deadly devices on her person or close at hand, so be sure not to tempt her nature. 'Courtesan' (c) 2016 - a WillowRaven personal vision.

I'd like to create an annual yearbook...WillowRaven style, featuring personal visions and insights as to what inspired each artwork (and how sometimes something else entirely turned into the final creation). I'm inviting authors to submit short stories (just for fun and exposure) to accompany the artworks. My favorite commissioned book and album cover artworks will go in, too.

Plans are to have enough work by September or October to gather the best of the year. I may include some of my favorite older works, before this creative idea got in my head. In November, I'll compile the best into a book to be printed and made available for purchase (though I don't expect many sales since this is more for creative expression and exposure than for profit) here on my website, as well as through Amazon, other online retailers, and at the MidSouthCon or book signings (if I attend).
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A hard truth most people outside this career path face and may not know is, though I may create enough commissioned work each year to fill a coffee-table art book, as any freelance artist who does this full-time can confirm, I'm so busy marketing & promoting myself as an artist to continually ensure a steady stream of clients and income, I run out of time to create my own, personal visions. Creative-types have a NEED to express our joys and expel our demons through our art ... It's our way of coping ... It's our therapy.

We are driven to turn our craft into a career, accepting commissioned jobs to tell the client's story. Such commissions don’t allow much time for us to tell our own stories. The reality of a terrible need to eat once in a while and provide for family AND to feed blood-sucking bill collectors, personal expression continually gets put on the back burner. The reality of life must take precedent. Courtesan is a perfect example; she's the most recent 'personal vision' I've done ... That was Christmas 2016 ... It's October 2018 at the time of this post See the problem? I haven't even had time to update my YouTube vidfolio since the end of 2016, which also needs updating.

With support from subscribers, I could allow myself time each month to do some personal artwork. With each new personal vision, I'll post it on this page (secured so only subscribers can see before publication), alerting my subscribers that there is a new writing challenge available. Afterwards, authors can submit potential short stories (again, just for fun and exposure). Submit anytime between the time of posting and November 1st. Along with each new posting, there will be a poll where some publishing friends of mine can vote on their favorite story submissions for each piece. I won't be voting to keep things fair and impartial. The highest voted stories will be published. Depending on how many great shorts are submitted, I may decide to have up to three stories per artwork to illustrate how different a single artwork can translate into very different stories. Any visions or editing needed will be approved by the authors before printing and they can request to not be included any time before publication. 

The authors will get credited for their stories in the yearbook and given a short bio including links to their websites and social media pages. I don't anticipate any real interest in the book to those outside of subscribers, since I'm not the reincarnated Leonardo da Vinci, but one never knows. Just the authors getting to meet each other and my having a brag-book on hand to show family and friends is reason enough for me to do this. Anyone else participating should only participate if they feel comfortable doing so for the same reason. If (and this is a big if) the book does get any sales, proceeds will be re-invested into buying copies to donate to Memphis libraries, hospitals, and clinics (anywhere someone might pick it up and flip through it).

​Send WillowRaven questions in regards to story submission guidelines via form or Twitter button on the right.

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Help me have the time and means to create and publish an annual art book consisting of my artwork, my inspirations, and some stories, which will be available in print, both hardcover and softcover.

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Seven tiers available for monthly subscription. Each higher tier gets everything in the previous tiers, plus their own tier.
Hawks - Raptors need to subscribe the full year to receive any rewards over Osprey level. ​Tweet me with questions. @WillowRaven

Ravens:$1

Ravens get a monthly shout-out/thank you  to my 63K+ followers on Twitter, which will help them build their following.

Owls:$5

Owls get what Ravens get, plus an interview on my blog about their craft, which gets repeatedly promoted on Twitter for several months.

Ospreys:$10

Ospreys get everything the lower tiers get, including a PDF copy of the book.

Hawks:$20

Hawks get everything the lower tiers get, including an artist-signed, paperback copy of the book.

Falcons:$50

Falcons get everything the lower tiers get, including an artist-signed, paperback copy of the book and a signed print of choice.

Eagles:$100

Eagles get everything the lower tiers get, including an artist-signed, hardcover copy of the book and a signed, framed, wall-print of choice.

Raptors:$200

Raptors get all the lower tiers get, plus a paperback copy of each book  still avail. for distribution, signed by WillowRaven (and authors, if possible).