The Cover Revealed

Never in a million years did I think I'd be launching not one, but TWO books in one year's time. What an exciting road I've traveled this year. I've met so many new and delightful people. Some live in other countries but we've found ourselves united through our love of words, books, writing, and history. I've met bestselling authors who have encouraged and inspired me. And even though I'm an "old fart" I must be young at heart, because I've learned the art of blogging, managing a web-page, and constantly continue to learn methods of marketing. My first public speaking gigs were this summer and earlier this past April, I had my first big interview on a syndicated radio talk-show: JOY ON PAPER. 

Never say you're too old to learn something new!  

Speaking of new...

Today I get to reveal the cover art  for Antonius: Second in Command. The cover was done by Jennifer Quinlan (Jenny Q) of Historical Editorial. When we initially put our heads together, we discussed the direction this book was taking, because that would also influence the cover. In this book, Marcus comes into his own, despite his weaknesses. For any man of standing in ancient Rome, position was everything--on the battlefield, in politics, and in society. If you were born into an aristocratic family, you were expected to succeed, to bring honor to your gens (family name), and prove yourself in the "big three": battlefield, politics, and society. 

First of all, I wanted Marcus head-on in the cover-art, as well as in a toga. You'll note that his toga is pure-white. This was the toga candida, which was supposed to be as pure white as possible. Marcus would have had someone (probably Eros) rubbing his toga with chalk prior to donning it. This garment was traditionally worn by any man standing for office. In Second in Command, Marcus begins his political career, so I felt like a toga candida was the perfect choice for his cover attire. Behind him is a legionary soldier, because don't let the cover fool you. This book isn't just about political intrigue. Second in Command is chock-full of action--epic battle scenes, plenty of daring-do, and thrilling escapes. Marcus will also travel a lot, as he will in each of my books. In fact, there will be a brand new map in front, so people can get a feel for distances, locations, and places he journeyed. Lastly, the coin rondel on which Jenny did such a fabulous job in designing actually portrays the real Marcus Antonius. It's an aureus, meaning a gold coin, and is proof positive that in Second in Command, Marcus makes a name for himself.

My hope is that you'll continue with me on this author journey. Should you read one of the books be sure to post a review on Amazon or Goodreads​--also a great help to me. And please let your friends know about Son of Rome and my new book coming out. Kindly do me the favor of sharing this post on your social media pages. It is truly the best method of advertising there is. Friends can subscribe to my website at: https://www.brookallenauthor.com/contact.html

And now... drumroll, please! Here is the big COVER REVEAL: