Ali: My questions today are about the cover artwork of the Aldebarian Alliance series. The Lasaran and Segonian covers are very dynamic, how do you feel they express the stories you were telling? 

Dianne Duvall: I admit my book cover preferences have been strongly influenced by the years I worked in the independent film industry. I was accustomed to seeing movie posters that reflected a film’s storyline and—at the same time—piqued moviegoers’ interest. So I wanted the covers of the Aldebarian Alliance books to reflect what readers will find in the new series. And I believe they do a stellar job (forgive the pun).  

Quite a bit of The Lasaran takes place on Earth. Taelon (the hero) is alone and suffers greatly before Lisa finds him, risks much to free him, and shows him the first kindness he’s known in years. So I wanted to cover to reflect his solitude, which it does well. 🙂 When he and Lisa later venture into space, their trip is a very active and harrowing one, as reflected by the battle erupting in the background.

The Segonian, on the other hand, takes place entirely in space. The hero is the fierce commander of the battleship Ranasura. And the heroine is a powerful immortal warrior from Earth. So both totally kick ass. 🙂 They also forge a friendship before they even meet in person while Dagon and his crew race to reach Eliana before her oxygen runs out . . . a friendship that continues to grow once they meet, soon deepening into love. I think their stance on the cover—both their closeness and their ferocity—reflects this well. The book is also full of action, as evinced by the background.