Jun 17, 2025 by Cathryn deVries, in Thoughts and Ramblings

One of the cool things that happened during drafting was a subconscious dovetailing of each of the main characters around how they deal with fear. Fear is the motivating emotion for Jayden, Nettle, and Colony Commander Tun–particularly the fear that there’s not enough.

This scarcity mindset is in large part responsible for the mess our world is in, and I’m so pleased this theme undergirds the story, just like it’s hard-baked into our culture. I’m certainly not immune, so exploring responses to it through my characters was very cathartic!

Now to the ART!!! I love how my artist @alfibunneni has captured my characters. Here you also see what you'll get in the actual Kickstarter exclusive full-colour eBook! (They'll be B&W in the print versions!!)

Jayden comes from the bottom of society. He has clawed his way up to the next level through a combination of grit and talent, because he’s determined to rescue his family from the horrible conditions they live in. He’s afraid that if disaster strikes, they won’t be regarded as important enough to warrant support, and the more well-off will be prioritised–and able to pay.

(Doesn't he look cocky?)

Nettle, on the other hand, lives in a place of abundance. The valley provides everything the rebels need, and no one is in want. They’ve had to work hard to get to this stage, but they are a community that cares about each other. Nettle’s problem isn’t that she doesn’t have enough, but that she doesn’t want to share it with outsiders she's not sure she can trust.

(I love the attitude in her pose!)

Now, onto the villain!

Colony Commander Tun was born into the elite and thinks he’s entitled to have anything he wants–even at the expense of others. Not that he sees it that way. In his mind, he’s creating a prosperous colony–but he’s only thinking short term and in dollar signs. Although his actions in the book make him look arrogant, the same fear of scarcity underlies all his decisions. He's blind to it though.

(These two pieces of art were created by Adrian on Fiverrr. I haven't got the @alfibunneni versions yet. Stay tuned!)

Then there’s Flint, Nettle’s brother. Sunshine in human form. Unlike the others, he is not ruled by fear. If you’ve seen the movie ‘Inside Out’, when I tell you he’s got Joy at the helm of his emotional control panel, you'll understand what I mean. I love how he provides a wonderful counterpoint to the other characters.

There's one more character to unveil, but I'll save her for another time! I can’t wait for you to meet them all!

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