I've come a long way, and visual artists have supported me the entire time.

Not so long ago, I was a fledgling novelist with one title to my name. I had planned to quit my day job at the time to prepare for my husband and me to have kids. One of us decided to stay at home, and it made sense for me to do so. Still, I needed something to do, and I always wanted to write and release my own novels. This is how Fjorgyn was born, and then Steamtown Chronicles, and now, as I advance as a writer, too many stories for me to keep straight in my head.

My first cover was made by Lesia on Fiverr. She works through image manipulation and is both affordable and skilled. Using image manipulation, she made the covers for Fjorgyn: A Rebel Rises and Fjorgyn: The Deep Below.

Covers for Fjorgyn 1 and Fjorgyn 2 created by Lesia on Fiverr.

After a successful launch, I decided to go in a different direction. I brought in an incredible Japanese artist I found on DeviantArt, who produced the art for the remaining two Fjorgyn books, my first novella (below), and the cover art for the forthcoming Lacrimosa’s Lament. She has since moved on to other endeavors, but has provided me with immense value for my work.

I’m now at a stage where I must produce more. I don’t need only book covers. I need e-book covers, paperback covers, social media banners, branding materials, promotional trailers, bookmarks, and character art. For that, I’m going with Etheric Tales. Folks in a similar position see and feel AI's allure. I can’t say it more plainly, though. AI art… isn’t art. It will never be art.

We must support the entire indie-publishing industry. We cannot let them be made redundant for the sake of substandard “art” that exists only because the companies that made it stole their IP. We owe it to our readers as well to offer them a uniquely human experience, ever-polished from cover to cover.

I understand and sympathize with those who do not have the funds to produce at these basic standards. Cover artists, editors, and audiobook narrators can be expensive. But if you’re asking readers to pay you money for your book, you are setting an expectation that they are purchasing a quality story.

If you can’t reach that necessary standard, there are other ways to get your work out there. Plenty of readers will devour your content if you offer it for free.

If you want to turn your writing into a career, though, you can’t skimp out. Do it the right way, not the convenient way.