Don’t (Only) Judge a Book by its Final Cover: Limited Edition Signed Bookplate options for Shadows of the Fathers
- Crowley Clark
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Designing the cover for Shadows of the Fathers was an involved process. Ultimately, a book cover must align with its genre so it can immediately communicate to potential readers what they are in for. While I could not be happier with the final cover created by Patrick Kang, the alternate designs and runners-up were simply too much fun to cast aside. So now they have new life as limited edition, hand-numbered bookplates.
The artistic direction of these alternates stems from my own childhood loves. Growing up, I was enamored with comic books and James Bond. While people frequently tell me that Shadows of the Fathers plays out like a movie, I have always pictured its next iteration as a graphic novel. Those formative influences shaped my vision for what the book could look like, which is why I commissioned two talented artists to provide their own distinct interpretations of the story.
The first artist to step into this world was the Italian illustrator Fabio Listrani. He is widely renowned for his highly detailed, esoterically themed tarot decks and his prominent cover art for major comic publishers. His unique style is frequently described as visual cultural nomadism because it seamlessly blends Western and Eastern symbolism with surreal and mystical themes. One of his most celebrated achievements is the best-selling Santa Muerte Tarot, though he has also illustrated for major players like Marvel Comics. Given that Santa Muerte plays a direct role in my novel, and that the story features a character who is a self-proclaimed oracle, Fabio felt like a perfect match. His piece beautifully depicts this character, the Brazilian Aurea Barbosa, with her tarot cards.
There is a wonderful symmetry to how this piece came together. My favorite original 007 novel is Ian Fleming’s sophomore effort, Live and Let Die, which heavily influenced the creation of Aurea. When Fabio first presented his concept to me, I could not help but smile at his inclusion of guns and roses. In a beautiful full-circle moment, it reminded me that the iconic rock band Guns N' Roses famously covered the song Live and Let Die, which was originally written as the theme for the James Bond film of the same name.
That specific movie poster served as the direct inspiration for my second alternate design. The legendary artist Robert E. McGinnis was the primary visual architect for the James Bond franchise during its transition from Sean Connery to Roger Moore. He painted the famous Western Hemisphere style poster for the 1973 film adaptation of Live and Let Die, which arranged a striking central portrait of Moore flanked by explosive action sequences, tarot cards, and highly stylized characters. His signature “McGinnis Woman” style forever changed how Bond girls were portrayed in pop culture.
To pay homage to that classic 007 aesthetic, I created the second bookplate design myself. Starting with stock images, I used my iPhone to create custom stickers with a comic book filter and arranged them to mirror that iconic poster layout. While I am certainly no Robert McGinnis, I am thrilled with how the final composition turned out. It captures a pivotal scene from the book with the tower, several vehicles from the narrative, the four horse propaganda, symbolic tarot elements, and main character Hunter Long standing right at the center of the chaos.
My love for comics also led me to the final artist in this collection. Luciano Fleitas is a highly skilled Argentinian digital illustrator and tattoo artist known for his grim, intricately detailed, and fantastical art style. He is the brilliant mind behind the vibrant, chaotic, and darkly humorous cover art that defines the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. Outside of Ian Fleming and perhaps J.R.R. Tolkien, those are my favorite books of all time, and Luciano’s artwork is outstanding.
I also deeply admire Dungeon Crawler Carl author Matt Dinniman as the absolute gold standard for modern independent publishing success. I wanted to infuse a bit of that inspiration into a specific scene from Shadows of the Fathers, which features an unpredictable matchup between protagonist and antagonist with unclear odds.
Because these artists did such an extraordinary job, I knew I had to share their work with the world. While these pieces didn’t become the official book covers, they might be even more special as a limited run of signed and numbered bookplates. To me, they serve as a personal reminder of why I started writing in the first place, which is the pure joy of creating an escape and tapping into the vibrant imagination we all possess as children but sometimes struggle to find as adults. This project allowed me to bring together my favorite book series, my lifelong love for comics (which became the gateway drugs to art and reading), and two amazing independent artists to help share their unique visions with a broader audience.
Supporting the artists:
Fabio Listrani maintains an incredibly comprehensive digital archive featuring his tarot designs, comic books, and pop culture illustration work:
Professional Portfolio: You can view high-resolution galleries of his tarot collections (like Goetia and Santa Muerte), alternative movie posters, and art on the official Fabio Listrani ArtStation Portfolio.
Social Media: For regular updates on his latest sketches, music, and project announcements, you can follow his official Instagram account @fabio_listrani.
Publisher Showcase: His physical tarot card decks and official merchandise lines are hosted directly by his publisher via the Lo Scarabeo Fabio Listrani Collection.
Luciano Fleitas primarily shares his work across two main platforms:
Professional Portfolio: To see his official book designs, concept art, and landscapes, explore the Luciano Fleitas ArtStation Portfolio.
Social Media: To see active updates regarding his Dungeon Crawler Carl comic variants, special editions, and personal tattoo work, check out his official Instagram handle @luciano.fleitas.art.
Signed copies of Shadows of the Fathers with limited edition bookplates will be available through independent and local bookstores, and ten copies are up for grabs through a Goodreads giveaway this month, so stay tuned on where to get yours.
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