The cover art for this novel was commissioned especially for this story from Raikoh-illust. The picture is of Grimoire, and is rendered in Raikoh's stylish take of the MLP cartoon style. The detail is accurate, but intentionally emphasized for the purposes of making a nice cover. (You'll understand what I mean by details better by the third chapter.)
Realizing I was writing a major novel, I wanted something more than my usual frame-capture manipulated in Photoshop. I found his illustration, The New Mare, and was taken by it.
Please patronize this talented artist. Visit his web presence here: http://raikoh-illust.deviantart.com
Raikoh has courteously consented to publish his work-in-progress images for the commission. I particularly like the sketch. He was a pleasure to work with and I felt his commission prices were fair. Find his WIP composite here: http://raikoh-illust.deviantart.com/art/Starlight-Glimmer-WIP-597369650
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Thank you for your concern.
I decided to provide friendly content like many authors around FimFiction do by publishing additional "chapters" of marginal and explanatory material, in this case, like the forwards and appendixes in a paper novel. And rest assured, though the first chapter is only 1,400 words, the second one is coming real soon and the word count won't be low for long! I've completed the work—and it is novel length. I'm furiously cleaning up the drafts and working with my pre-reader. For the record, the rule states:
Where can I find Riakoh-Illust? Does her do requests for free? How much did you pay?
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Read the About the Cover chapter for links. I did pay for the commission, but I felt the price was very fair. Raiko was very responsive and created for me an image that shows Starlight as I see her, down to the smirk and set of the eyes, and the interesting burned off areas around her horn, in cartoon form. Accurate. You should have an idea of what this looks like by chapter three. Can't say what I paid out of respect for him and L since I could pay I felt I should help support and encourage his talent. You can always ask if he'll do free commissions, every artist needs ideas, or you could do a $1 patreon contribution which I think anypony ought to be able to afford.
7078515 You are correct. It isn't so much added content but that I had written chapter 22, 23, 24, 23, 24, 25. Oops.
7078536 I do. And Starlight burned it into the fur on her forehead. Wonder what that says about magic and her magic in particular?
This feels like a love story between the author and Starlight Glimmer.
7141135 Starlight is a very interesting character, truly the first well rounded MLP villain. A love story, well... not so much. The character took over, as the best do, and I wrote what she told me. After I publish the final chapter, you might want to revisit this comment and tell me if you still think it applicable.
7042727 Thanks for your concern. After observing carefully for 19 chapters on this story, and consulting the story stats, I am pretty sure what I suspected is true that the first item in the chapter list is used to count the number of story views. (Hovering over the views icon will display a tool tip with the page views.) Putting stuff most users won't read could cause issues with the story popularity (not that this one is super popular, drat it). I am planning on verifying this with the admins.
7141446 You don't have to give "and she lives happily ever after" to a character to be considered too obsessed, too focused, or too enamored of them. The authors that write "badass Twilight" are examples of the too enamored with a character and "she always succeeds in the end" types.
I mean, you just stated that she is the most well rounded villain, but an opinion stated like it is a fact does not make it true. Despite that, I am somewhat inclined to agree, as the season opener was made more entertaining by her antics and interaction with Spike.
I suppose you are trying to fill the gap somewhat between "boohoo I lost my only friend because I couldn't figure out how to write him letters or even follow them out the door" and "I hypocritically use my special talent to take everyone else's away and rule a sort of really bizarre communism allegory". Sorry, that was my "I really hate Starlight" showing.
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No problem with that, and I like what you are saying. If you've followed the story so far (or just go by the show canon), SG is all sorts of broken. It's her alternative view of reality that I find fascinating. Can a character be good and bad at the same time? What is good if not another's evil? I'm like to think I'm exploring that. Thanks for the comment, and feel free to add more.
7172363 Good guess at what's about to happen but you ate the red herring. (This is one of the situations when you really want to turn the page to the next chapter, but stay tuned until Sunday when you'll be able to.). And your deductions would be valid... if... Saying anymore at chapter 25 more would be spoilers. And thanks for the apology. That thoughtfulness is one of the reasons I feel the sense of community here on this site.