by Marilena Mexi
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
Marilena Mexi was born in 1986 and lives in Athens, Greece. She studied graphic design and illustration in Akto of Middlesex University - Athens, and she has been working as an illustrator for the past few years for book publishers – magazines and fantasy board and card games.
She is also an awarded illustrator from various CG community sites, and she has been featured in a few magazines from around the world. Her artwork reflects her own personality; it is emotional, romantic and dreamy, and it can touch the viewer’s soul.
In her spare time she likes reading books and listening to symphonic music. Her love for books led her write her own which she illustrated, too. This process has been very time-consuming and difficult, but it also was a journey to the land of dreams.
‘Antara’ is her first illustrated novel, and it includes 26 illustrations,'Ninemia' is her second book and sequel of 'Antara' and includes 15 illustrations.
by Marilena Mexi
Peace and tranquility on the island of Aster, home to both humans and 'merfolk', has long been broken by a devastating phenomenon, recurring every five years. A storm including gusting winds and huge waves mysteriously appeared and eradicated much of the population.
The misunderstandings, suspicion and hate born of this disaster have torn the two races apart, and the peace loving merfolk are now in a never-ending struggle to prove their innocence and restore peace to the island.
On the human side, things are even worse; under the tyranny of cruel king Orestis, the people suffer and all their king cares for is vengeance against the "fish", as he spitefully calls them, executing merfolk after merfolk for just being near his lands. Secrets, intense emotions and strange phenomena will upset their lives forever.
Behind-the-book:
I come from Greece and Greek mythology has inspired me, along with symphonic metal music. Also, my grandfather was a fisherman, and many times he's been telling me stories with mermaids when I was a child, and I adored them. So, my first story couldn't have been anything else.
I started making the illustrations first, while I still had the story in my mind. One day, I decided to write the whole story down and create a book, where the reader could read and see the concept art as well. I had initially created more illustrations, and in the end I picked the best ones to be included in the books. I wanted to create the world of Antara as good as possible, and then describe it as beautifully as possible. I don't want the readers to just read the book, I want them to travel to a magical world, and feel like they are a part of it. For me, writing and illustration are two sides of the same coin. I create a world with my imagination and I transfer that as good as I can to the readers.
~end
Guest post created for October Trix-n-Treatz event by Marilena Mexi, author of Antara
© 2011. All rights reserved.
Visit Marilena:
Book Concept Artwork
Website
Art Gallery
Goodreads
Shelfari
by Marilena Mexi
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
