Original artwork by Sparkyopteryx.

Very early on in the development of my novel, The Afflicted, I commissioned Sparkyopteryx for bust-style portraits of the eight main characters. She turned in eight very lovely busts, which can be seen here and here. When I actually finally finished it, I approached her to discuss the licensing/usage rights and such (as I intended to sell the novel), and also to commission one more of my personal sona for a sort of out-of-character afterword/credits section. This somehow turned into her redoing the other eight, and creating an entirely new set of nine total for use in the novel.

This is the last page, a sort of bonus ninth portrait of me, the author. Just as the portraits of the rest of the cast were so that each character would have a portrait in the introductory page for his or her chapter, this one is for the afterword, that bit in the end after the story wherein I speak directly to the audience and get all mushy and heartfelt about thanking people for their support and such. Thus, it continues the tradition of every segment being prefaced by an image of whoever is speaking.