Bao Quyen
Illustrator & Storyteller
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Kroniky Edenu - Bringing Characters to Life
Series: Kroniky Edenu
My role: Character illustration, book overlay & promotional merchandise
01 — Průvodce
The first book, Průvodce, introduces readers to Eden — a world filled with souls, angels, demons, political intrigue and questions surrounding life after death.
For the first collaboration, I created an illustration inspired by the book and its characters. The artwork was later turned into a book overlay and bookmark, extending the illustration beyond the page and into the physical reading experience.
I wanted the piece to feel like something readers could keep alongside the book — a small visual entry point into Nicole’s world and its atmosphere.
From Illustration to PR Products
The illustration became part of the promotional materials created around Průvodce. Seeing the artwork translated into an overlay and bookmark gave the image another purpose: it was no longer only a standalone illustration, but something that could physically accompany the story.
That connection between illustration and the reading experience became an important part of our collaboration.
02 — Poustevník
For the second book in the Kroniky Edenu series, Poustevník, Nicole asked me to take on a much bigger challenge: illustrating all of her characters for the inside of the book cover. Goodreads lists Poustevník as the second book in the series.
This came with a huge sense of responsibility. Until that point, the characters had never been officially illustrated, so my drawings would become the first visual interpretation of people who had previously existed only in Nicole’s writing and in the imagination of her readers.
Creating the Characters for the First Time
Translating written descriptions into character designs meant thinking not only about physical appearance, but also about personality, relationships and the atmosphere of Eden itself.
I wanted the final illustration to feel grand and almost sacred, reflecting the celestial and spiritual themes running through the series.
For the composition, I drew inspiration from Austrian churches and their painted ceilings, where figures appear suspended high above the viewer among clouds and dramatic architecture. I used that idea as the basis for the scene, placing Nicole’s characters floating together in the sky.
The result became a large ensemble illustration printed on the inner side of the book cover, revealing the characters when the reader opens the book.
Visualising Someone Else’s World
What made this project particularly special was the trust involved.
Illustrating an established fictional character is always a collaboration between the author’s imagination and the illustrator’s interpretation. In this case, I was responsible for visually introducing an entire cast for the first time.
From a single promotional illustration for Průvodce to an ensemble artwork integrated directly into Poustevník, the collaboration grew alongside the series itself — and gave me the opportunity to help shape the visual world of Kroniky Edenu.