Cover Reveal! Phases of the Wayward Moon by Tracey Ludvik

We’re excited to reveal the cover for Phases of the Wayward Moon by Tracey Ludvik. This collection of poetry describes the mystical stages of a woman’s life, slated for release in September.

Cover Design by: Vagabond Creative Studio

Cover Art by: Brady Ludvik, nephew of the poet, works in architectural design, with a B.S. in Architectural Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Brady has also contributed line drawings that express the emotional content of each of the book’s three sections.

About the Cover Art:

When I first saw Brady’s drawing of a long-haired woman in a long gown emerging from a forest, it reminded me of the Eighth of Cups card in the Rider-Waite tarot deck. Drawing from the archetype of the lone traveler, the card shows a cloaked male figure climbing a rocky shoreline while the full moon sleeps. There’s a feeling of escape, of leaving everything behind, of being pulled toward a new life. It’s one of my favorite cards.

The cover of Phases of the Wayward Moon holds similar symbols: night, moon, water, a lone figure in motion. The most obvious difference is that here, the lone figure is feminine. This woman does not want to escape from her home. Instead, she gathers resources from bounty found nearby. Though the moon is partially hidden, the woman is unafraid of the darkness. The edges of her gown melt into the water as if she is merging with it in an exchange of mystical power. She comes from the dark forest and will probably return there to retreat to a place of creativity and learning. It’s an apt introduction to the poems inside, which relay stories of deep experiences with life, movement from innocence to knowledge, and growth in compassion and wisdom.

Tracey selected colors for the cover that have personal meaning. They connect her to her Ojibwe ancestry and to the poems inside that show Phases of the Wayward Moon and their effect on a woman’s life. We look forward to sharing this book with you in September.

—Peggy Turnbull, co-owner and poetry editor for Fresh Water Press