Halfling

My new YA Romantic Fantasy amazon link http://tinyurl.com/qftoasz

Halfling is my foray into Fantasy and I’ve enjoyed building Deyna a world. On this page you’ll find places from the book, character photos, facts about Zidaran an

d Valayan life (both keeper and wanderer), and my amateur artwork, both

Zid was inspired by this picture of Petra in Jordan. The whole city is built into the walls of a canyon system.

Here’s a rough floor plan of the top level of Morlor’s Palace in Zid. This floor is reserved for state bedroom’s and Morlor’s audience and living quarters. The library which Deyna frequents is two stories. The second story is on this level, as well.

A Valayan soldier from the front, wings out. I am drawing some concept art for Halfing. My process involves drawing the figure on paper, then manipulating it on the computer. This illustration is before color has been added.

A Zidaran soldier from the front wings closed. I’ve colored this one in. He’s in Morlor’s colors, pale green and black with a crescent moon emblem to symbolize the Zidarans’ worship of Radia, the moon goddess. Morlor’s colors were inspired by Maleficent from the original Disney version of Sleeping Beauty.

drawn in pencil and computer aided.

Places: Zid the Capital city was built after the chaos of a civil war in which the enemy could fly and then populated by flyers. Zid is a city with sophisticated ideas for the mostly candlelight and wagon Zidara and Valaya. It has indoor plumbing and a system of skylights that pipe sunlight deep underground.  In an arid desert climate, wells provide most of residents water.

Morlor’s palace follows the contours of the canyons and many room placements are dictated by opening in the rock above. The palace uses a system of skylights and mirrors for light on many levels, even underground where the servants’ quarters reside. The too level shown above is for the King’s Coterie or visiting dignitaries and their attendants. The palace has plumbing and there are bathrooms for each of the state bedrooms, but they are not indicated, with the exception of Deyna’s first bedroom and Morlor’s living quarters.

More places to come!

Deyna, after some manipulation in paint. Also sans wings, as yet.
The consummate survivor, Halfling is Deyna’s story.

Ahran, sans wings.
Ahran’s story is more similar to Deyna’s than she knows. His is loyal to a fault for good reason, but he is deeply empathetic. At the beginning of Halfling the two traits are at war with each other.

People: Ahran is the Captain of the king’s guards and his foster son. King Morlor saved his life and Ahran is deeply indebted to the man.

Deyna: Since childhood, Deyna has lived on the fringes of her Valayan wanderer troop. Surviving by her wits is second nature to her.