I’m ecstatic to announce that we’re going to be able to use Theodore Gudin’s gorgeous painting La Bataille d’Ouessant en 1778 for the cover of Valley of the Shadow, which releases in September! This is the one I really wanted, but I hadn’t been able to find a licensable print-quality image anywhere and was about to give up and settle for another painting I wasn’t really happy with.
Enter my totally amazing designer, Marisa Jackson, who found an image of the painting that’s suitable for print. And better yet . . . not only is the painting in public domain, the digital image she found isn’t copyrighted! We can use it for free!!!
But the best thing about this painting is that not only does it work well to illustrate Carleton’s raid on British-held New York Harbor that opens this volume, but also, since the battle depicted occurred less than a year after the naval battle described in Valley, it’s completely period correct.
Marisa’s schedule is totally slammed right now, but she promised to get to work on it in April. As soon as we have the full front, we’ll post it here, so be sure to check back. And if you haven’t caught up with the series yet, now’s the time to do it! On the sidebar you’ll find hot links to the series that go directly to the listed retailers.
