I'm much obliged to J. P Ashman for giving us this opportunity to host the cover reveal for the revised edition of his debut BLACK CROSS. Here's what Jon had to say about how this book cover came to be:

"The new cover for Black Cross came about due to the unfortunate cessation of contact between my previous artist and I. The original cover did what I wanted it to and it'll always hold a special place in my writing career. However, after a seriously tough year for me personally, a good friend of mine (Taya Latham) encouraged me - persistently for six weeks - to let her run a crowd funding campaign to snag a new cover artist. I'd fallen away from my writing and my muse was dead. I needed an injection of confidence and enthusiasm and she was sure this would work. i was skeptical, but agreed."

"She was right, I was wrong."

"It worked a charm! A feckin' powerful charm!"

"Taya, along with many friends from the awesome online fantasy community - you all know who you are and I love you all - banded together and financially and emotionally supported me in my search for a new series artist. I had three in mind... and one of those contacted me before I could contact her! Win!"

"Pen Astridge, artist to authors such as Mark Lawrence and Graham Austin-King, enthusiastically approached me and offered her services. I snapped her hand off. Not her drawing hand that would be stupid."

"With an incredible level of energy and interest, Pen dived into the new cover of Black Cross, knowing through discussions with me that I desired a character based cover like so many beautiful pieces out there at the moment. She worked and showed me, altered bits and bobs and impressed me. She came up with stunning ideas and projected her and my imagination onto the new cover of my debut novel. Sergeant Falchion came alive!"

"Pen also came up with a gorgeous Black Powder Wars series logo, with crossed cannons and gnomish grenados. Her fonts are stunning and the colours make the cover pop. She's over the moon and threw her all into it. I'm equally as happy, if not more so. We hope you are too!"

"Now comes the cover for Black Guild, the second book in the tales of the Black Powder Wars, which releases soon - ARCs are already out and about!"

"I look forward to seeing this cover in print - the hardback dust cover is incredible - and I look forward to seeing reader photos in the future, both of Black Cross and the books and covers to come! Thanks to Mihir and Fantasy Book Critic for this cover revelation, and to the awesomeness that is Pen Astride, Taya Latham and the rest of you beautiful lot!"

 As you can see how gorgeous a cover, Pen has created for Jon and I can't wait to see how it looks in physical form. I'll be hoping to review it when Jon releases the revised edition and will love to see how he has progressed as a writer. Checkout the blurb for the book below...

OFFICIAL BOOK BLURB: Arcane magic can be a ruinous power, despite admirable intentions.

A mysterious scroll finds its way into Lord Severun’s hands, enabling him to release a dangerous experiment upon Wesson. With Sergeant Falchion unable to forgive himself for aiding the wizard, and desperate factions taking advantage of the devastating aftermath, Falchion embarks on an arduous quest alongside friends and strangers alike. However, even if their attempt to seek aid is successful and the city is saved, they risk revealing a secret that threatens much more than Wesson alone.

From a fantasy world not too dissimilar to our own dark and bloody histories, the beginning of an epic tale is told. Incredible magic is unleashed, allies become enemies; unlikely friendships are forged, and a foul plot is discovered that will shatter the long lasting peace of Altoln and her allies, plunging them into a gritty, brutal conflict that falls far from the fluffy fairytales of old.