Richmond’s local standout on the process of cover creation, Elves, & More! (Released September 2026)

Hello, everyone! I’m proud to present a Question & Answer I conducted with Jessie McMurray, the wonderful and extremely talented artists who’s illustrations you see on the front of The Timeless Ranger series and more into the future!

Enjoy the interview and check out Jessie’s portfolio of work here: https://www.jessiemcmurrayart.com/

And follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessiemakesart/

1. Hi Jessie! Thank you so much for the opportunity to interview you about your work as the cover artist and book designer for The Timeless Ranger series, but also your creative career in general. Let’s start with your origin story: what led you to become an artist in the first place and how has that journey led you so far?
   
   Hi! I would say I’ve always had a strong interest in making art. I absolutely loved Powerpuff Girls and Pokemon growing up, and I wanted to be able to make my own stories when the TV was off! I really never let go of the interest, it’s a form of escapism for me, as well as one of the few times I can really enter “flow state” (IYKYK).
   
2. One of the reasons I sought you to work with on The Timeless Ranger series is because we worked together on a pierce called The Skies of Dovhain (which will be shown below), and what drew me to first reach out was this wonderful portfolio on your website (link) and Instagram (link) that showed this real affinity for and approach to Fantasy art. You’ve done several great covers for other authors in the genre and there’s a real depth to your rendering of the fantastical. How do you view your work as an artist in the Fantasy genre? What do you enjoy about it?
   
   That’s so wonderful to hear! I am really thrilled that as an adult so many people are coming back to the fantasy genre, I really never left it. I would say that I view my work as ever evolving – I think my ability to create narratives within my art is what’s most important to me. I never want people to look at what I’ve made and just think “what a pretty picture.” I enjoy the story-telling aspect most of all.
   
3. Before we discuss working on The Timeless Ranger series and its main character Shylilias, the time and era we’re in needs to be addressed. As an artist who cares very much about her work, and the work of other artists, and her clients, and everything that goes into the “business” of your craft, it’s obvious that AI is being pushed everywhere now in almost every venue. How have you responded to this shift that is affecting every medium, and despite the obvious challenges it presents, do you see a hopeful future for yourself as an artist in this new paradigm?
   
   I actually love this question – I am a steadfast optimist.
   
   I do think that technology changes the way we create and interact with art. That being said, I do not see Al art “replacing” human art. When I’ve done art markets, even my digital pieces people have less interest in since it wasn’t “hand painted.”
   
   People are looking for soul and emotion in art, and “Al art” has none of that. It will always ring hollow. It may get better at imitating, but it will never be true creation (and it will always be theft). I am optimistic that people will always want humans creating art.
   
4. You’ve helped me bring to life the Dharvan ranger Shylilias, who stars in The Timeless Ranger series as its protagonist across three different stories, and for these stories you created these gorgeous covers our readers can view below.
   
   
   
   Although this was a collaboration, you performed the magic. What was the process like for creating these covers? What were the challenges? And was there anything new you tried or learned in the process of completing them in terms of technique?
   
   Thank you, that’s so kind! The process was super fun! I’ve never created so many covers at once so that in itself was a challenge for sure. I found it really compelling to show the growth of the character throughout the series. I don’t get to do that all at once typically so I was actually thrilled, it was super fun getting to try so many different ideas at once!
   
5. What advice would you give authors when it comes to working with an artist like yourself? What do you look for (or avoid) in a prospective client?
   
   I would say that I tend to prefer more organized clients (fortunately that’s the only kind I’ve seemed to run into)! I think it’s also important for both author and artist to be flexible, especially in the developmental stages.
   
   Oh and having good communication is a must! If I am drawing something and you’re not into it, better to let me know sooner than later, you know?

Looking to read The Timeless Ranger series? Pick up the books here!