Development process - Cover Design for Old Ghosts
Written by Rashida Murphy
Old Ghosts by Rashida Murphy is set during the final years of British colonial rule in India. The novel follows Princess Chandni and her family after their failed escape from their kingdom. The Maharaja is killed and the Queen and Chandni are captured by a bandit, remaining in captivity for decades. As India moves toward independence, the memory of the missing royals slowly fades from collective consciousness. The story explores identity, loss, violence, resilience and historical memory.
My visual approach focused on expressing Chandni’s inner world. I illustrated her holding an antique box from which a landscape emerges. This symbolic element suggests how her past, the lost kingdom, captivity and trauma, continuously unfolds around her, becoming an inescapable emotional environment.
Chandni’s gaze became central to the composition. I aimed to convey restrained sorrow and emotional weight without overt dramatization. Her expression reflects both vulnerability and quiet strength.
To reinforce the atmosphere of the narrative, I chose a palette of desaturated earthy tones, evoking time, erosion and memory. A subtle worn texture enhances the sense of fragility and lingering scars.
The final cover preserves the initial conceptual symbol while refining composition and visual hierarchy to achieve clarity and narrative focus.
Moodboard
Refined Sketch
Moodboard
Colour Test
Final Cover Design
Development process - Cover Design for Bloodwood
Written by Karleah Olson
Bloodwood is a multi layered narrative set in the karri forests of southwestern Australia. The novel interweaves three storylines that gradually reveal their connection: a young girl found alone in the forest, a woman seeking refuge in isolation after a traumatic experience, and a young man who returns to confront his family’s past. The work explores loss, violence, inherited memory and the deep relationship between landscape and identity. The forest does not function merely as a setting, but as an active presence that shapes the characters’ destinies.
For the cover, I illustrated a eucalyptus tree positioned in the centre of a dense forest, stretching upward toward the light. The tree struggles to break through the surrounding foliage, becoming a visual metaphor for the female protagonist and her resistance against male oppression, as well as her attempt to reclaim autonomy after violence.
The strength and resilience of the tree symbolise perseverance and the possibility of healing that run throughout the narrative. Just as its roots remain grounded while the trunk rises, the character carries her trauma yet continues to seek light and transformation.
In terms of colour, I chose a palette of desaturated earthy tones, maintaining visual coherence with Old Ghosts. This decision creates an aesthetic dialogue between both covers and reinforces the emotional connection between the stories. The final composition balances symbolism and atmosphere, allowing the landscape to function not only as a background, but as a central narrative and emotional force.
