Part two of my series about preparing a novel for launch.

In part one, I revealed the full map of Obrion.  As cool as the high-level view is, the close-ups are a lot more fun.

In Set in Stone, book one of the Petralist series, all the action takes place around the remote quarry village of Alasdair. Here’s the first glimpse of the excellent illustration Jared Blando produced to bring Alasdair to life.

Alasdair is a simple village in the mountains where they’ve quarried precious white granite for generations. Connor is about to turn sixteen, and longs to take his father’s place as Ashlar, the one who beats the stone to dust prior to shipping it downriver.

That dream will never happen.

Connor is one of the rare commoners cursed with a mysterious power. Its connection to his family’s vocation is surprising, and is but the first glimpse into the dangerous world of Petralists and Guardians, Builders and international intrigue.

If your only tool’s a hammer, all you have to do is make sure every problem is set in stone.