I am offering a free, signed copy of The Kingdom of Malinas, by me, to the winner. It doesn't matter whereabouts you're from, I'll post it to anywhere. The book is a young adult fantasy and has had some pretty good reviews. If you want to know more about the prize click here: [link]

All you have to do is draw a character from the book. To really get to know the characters you can download the ebook [link] But I will also give some character descriptions. Obviously, if you've read the book you can draw whoever you like. If not, you can choose from the characters below:

Sorrel: Main character. 16, boyish looks. Thin, with short dark hair and a single small star-shaped birthmark under her right eye. She wears simple clothing (bearing in mind that this is a typical fantasy story, with a medieval-type setting) and a wide leather belt around her waist. She has a broadsword, but no scabbard. She's stubborn and wild and fiercely loyal.

Gaeshi: Looks 16 but is much older. Had thick black hair and eyes which are all black - they show no white at all. He can turn into a dragon and is Sorrel's guardian. He's very servile. Also has a sword.

Corrinus: Main bad guy. Adult, but age not specified. He has pink eyes and wears a hooded robe that covers him from head to foot. He hates the light. He keeps many blades under his robe, and has a wooden staff that he uses in the story to bring stone dragons to life.

Sloane: Male, in his 40s. He has dark straggly hair and wears a dirty red bandanna. He had tattoos covering half of his face. Also wears a short leather jacket that is ripped from fights he's been in. He's a thief and will only do something if there's something in it for him. Sloane's tattoos are never actually described in the book, but given the setting of the novel I'd say it would be almost like Celtic tattoos.

Winter: A huge white wolf with striking amber eyes. (Female)

And... Millicent: Beautiful but evil! Has shoulder length blonde hair and steel-grey eyes. She's sly and deceitful. She would be wearing a really expensive looking medieval-type dress, to show how powerful she is.

Additional info about skin tone/hair: Sorrel is pale skinned and she has dark (not red, although artists like giving her red hair for some reason!) hair which is thick and wild and kind of a mess.

Gaeshi: Probably a little darker skinned than Sorrel but not massively tanned or anything. Black hair, also thick, probably quite long.

Corrinus: Very pale skin. He's almost always got his hood covering his head so his hair probably wouldn't be seen.

Sloane: Swarthy skin tone, kinda dirty looking. Not much of his hair is seen under the bandanna, but what is seen is dark and straggly - not curly, but not particularly straight either. And shoulder length.

Millicent: Long blonde straight hair. Warmer skin tone

And I think that will do! To enter, just draw your pic in your own style and drop me a note. I will fave all the entries (if I get any!) so I can look at them all together.

I will also post (with your permission) the winner on my website, as well as a couple of runners-up.

1st prize: Signed copy of The Kingdom of Malinas, promotion on my website, and a short story of anything you like written by me.

2nd prize: Promotion on my website, a short story of anything you like written by me.

3rd prize: Promotion on my website and a poem written by me.

I wish I could offer more, but all I can do is write! If anybody would like to donate prizes that would be great.

Deadline: 05th July 09