Fan-Created Book Cover for BRONZE NILE

On several occasions, Steven Barnes has mentioned that there would be a sequel to Zulu Heart in 2007, 2009, and 2013. The title of this book would be called "The Bronze Nile" and the setting would be about Bilalistan experiencing its own civil war. Mr. Barnes expressed an interest to include India in the story, describe how slavery will end, and to write a conclusion to Kai's relationships to his family and friends. Mr. Barnes also wants to include a scene where Kai and Aidan travel on the Bronze Nile. In the World of Lion's Blood, Bronze Nile is the name of the Mississippi river that exists in real-life.

Years have passed and the book has yet to be published. I understand that the author may be too busy to focus on writing a single book. The previous books were written to have more than 400 pages! It takes a lot of time and research to continue the story where it left off in the last book. If I remember correctly, Zulu Heart was published in 2003. Unlike for Lion's Blood, a book soundtrack was never for Zulu Heart. It's unfortunate because I would have loved to have listened to then-Heather Alexander's songs.

However, I decided to create my own version of what the book could look like if Warner Books (now Grand Central Publishing) published it and if Don Puckey and Jean-Paul Tipples designed and illustrated it, respectively. I chose "bronze colors" for the text and main body of the book cover. The picture is an artist's depiction of Huck and Jim on a raft travelling on the Mississippi from the book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In this book cover, they represent Aidan and Kai. It may not be a perfect cover, but I tried to make it "appear real". Maybe I should have chosen different colors or reversed them.