Characters: Tarun

Meet Tarun, the boy at the centre of The Jar of Dreams. This board has draft sketches and illustrations, short passages and behind-the-scenes glimpses into Tarun's back story.

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· Last updated 5mo

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Beautiful Book Art

This beautiful book art is a painting by Kalyani Ganapathy. In the very early days of writing, receiving a sketch or painting in the post from Kalyani was such a highlight of the week. To see worlds and characters that I was dreaming up, come to life through her skill was such a joy. This painting never ended up in one of my books, but it still hangs on my wall and always brings a smile. #painting #bookarts #amreading #thejarofdreams #indianpainter #indianartist #artwork #liveyourdream

a painting of a man floating on top of a blue surfboard in the ocean

Character Development

Tarun and the Water Spirits Illustration

Love this illustration of the scene where Tarun discovers the water spirits in the ocean of Zalpaz. #charactersketch #amreading #thejarofdreams #sketch #characterdevelopment #novel #writing #bookart #fantasynovel #illustration

two people are standing in front of an abstract painting that looks like trees with orange and blue leaves on them

Character Illustration

Book Illustration - The Valley of Himanda

Just like many of the other illustrations from Kalyani, her use of colour to bring this scene to life is magical. This illustration is of Tarun and Ishkari trying to escape the Hekati as they pick their way through the rocky maze of the Valley of Himanda. #charactersketch #amreading #thejarofdreams #sketch #characterdevelopment #novel #writing #bookart #fantasynovel #illustration #illustrationoftheday

a drawing of a man holding a box of oranges and an animal standing next to it

People Illustrations

Elements Of The Story

Tarun - Early Illustration

This early illustration of Tarun isn’t quite right but I love the colours that Kalyani uses and the cow is a definite keeper. One of the great things collaborating with talented artists is that there are always bits of magic in every round that adds to the visual elements of the story. #charactersketch #amreading #thejarofdreams #sketch #characterdevelopment #novel #writing #bookart #fantasynovel

a drawing of a person carrying a box of oranges on his head and hands

Early Illustration of Tarun

This is a very early illustration of Tarun by Kalyani Ganapathy when we were playing with ideas that would bring Tarun's personality to life. I love the colours in this, something that Kalyani is incredible at. It just didn't look or feel like the Tarun that had been in my imagination for the last 10 years while writing The Jar of Dreams. While this will not make it into the book, it is so much fun working with artists like Kalyani and experimenting. #amreading #characterillustration #thejarofdreams #charactersketch #sketch #illustration #workinprogress #booklovers #behindthescenes #writingfiction

the jar of dreams book cover with an image of a woman floating in water under a full moon

Mergui Archipelago

Iridescent Light

Dark Ocean

Inspiration Illustration

Calm Waters

Tarun and the Water Spirits of Zalpaz

This is one of my favourite original scenes from the book and I love this early illustration by Kalyani Ganapathy. When all seems lost and the world that he knows is crumbling around him, Tarun stumbles across the Water Spirits of Zalpaz. This scene was inspired by the beauty of the Mergui archipelago in Myanmar, where I was lucky enough to be in the early 2000s. One night, we were anchored in calm waters and the dark ocean came alive with bioluminescence. I dived in and felt as if my body and spirit were entering a new realm, one filled with iridescent light and peace. #amreading #characterinspiration #fiction #newbook #inspiration #illustration

an artistic painting of two black birds with red and green feathers on their heads, one bird is curled up in the shape of a snake

Malakhiim Steals Tarun’s Dreams

A sneak peek at the illustration of chapter one. Malakhiim, the dark djinn steal Tarun’s dreams while he is sleeping. In their place Malakhiim plants a dark mist of fear that will take control of Tarun’s mind if he does not find and defeat the dark djinne before the month is out. What do you feel or think when you see this? #characterdevelopment #characterinspiration #illustration #books #bookworm #booknerd #sketch

a pencil drawing of two people, one with short hair and the other with long hair

Twin Cities

Early Years

Character Inspiration

Book Worms

The Dreamers

Mist

Sketching Characters - Tarun

Tarun is a young dreamer from the great twin cities of Xhadur and Hymez. He wakes one morning to discover that his dreams have been stolen by the evil djinn, Malakhiim. In place of Tarun's dreams, Malakhiim has placed a dark mist of fear. Tarun has thirty moons to find Malakhiim and reclaim his dreams before the malevolent mist of fear takes over his mind and spirit forever. Join Tarun on his epic adventure through the mystical lands beyond the city walls of Xhadhur. I hope this tale helps you to discover your dreams and you travel with Tarun in search of his. This sketch was by the very talented artist Kalyani Ganapathy who I collaborated with in the early years of writing The Jar of Dreams. #characterdevelopment #characterinspiration #illustration #books #bookworm #booknerd #sketch

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