The message dropped into his inbox, just like something out of a novel.
Within a few minutes Cape Coral artist Chad Beatty realized the words were not a joke. A piece of his art, "Mediation," made the cover of a book published by St. Martin's Press.
St. Martin's associate designer Jeanette Levy spotted the work, which depicts a spiral staircase that leads into the sky and abruptly ends, on the American Science Fiction Association Web site.
"It's a nice piece," Levy said. "I was especially drawn in by the colors initially. It's atmospheric and interesting without being so specific that it wouldn't work for a collection of short stories by a range of authors."
The book is called "The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Sixth Annual Collection." Levy said the cover art can make a difference in how well a book sells once it hits store shelves.
"We definitely take cover art pretty seriously around here, always trying to make sure that our work looks good, communicates the content effectively, and hits the appropriate demographics," she said.
Beatty, who also designs outdoor spaces and Web sites, was surprised when Levy contacted him.
"It's more of a fantasy image," Beatty said. "But it's good. I didn't expect it at all."
The book has a June 23 release date and once it hits store shelves, Beatty can walk into a bookstore and find his work staring back at him. He got a paycheck for his efforts and gave St. Martin's Press permission to use the image in other promotions.
"I was pretty excited, because illustration is what I enjoy doing," Beatty said. "To have a book cover fall into your lap, without marketing - I was pretty excited about that.
Beatty gets to have a debut of his own with the book cover on June 26 at Howl Gallery in Fort Myers.
Owner Andy Howl has seen "Mediation" and knew the piece was unique.
"I loved it," Howl said. "It's sci-fi, but in a subtle way."
Howl said that unlike Beatty, he wasn't surprised that a major publishing house had an interest in his work.
"Just excited for him," he said.
Book Signing Event at HOWL Gallery, Friday June 26th 6-8pm
