I thought it’d be fun to share a little behind-the-scenes story because Yoruba Demon: Kunle looked very different.

Yoruba Demon: Kunle started as a short story I wrote for an anthology supporting a good cause. Titled A Sunday in July, Chapters 1–4 were originally published in that anthology back in April, 2026.

When the anthology was over, I found myself thinking, I don’t want this story to end here.

Little backstory: I have a habit of writing short stories… and then never returning to them. Ironically, writing a short story is much harder for me than writing a full-length novel. (Clearly, I like to keep my characters around for 100,000 words or more!)

So I made a decision: Kunle and Jasmine deserve their full book, no matter how short.

Before I contacted the incredibly talented NelsonXP, I knew how I wanted Kunle to be perceived. He’s a marathon runner, so I wanted his artwork to reflect that sporty, laid-back personality. Someone effortlessly cool. Approachable. Comfortable in his own skin. A billionaire who’d rather throw on a hoodie than wear a tailored suit. ONe who would fly commercial than private. I could go on, but when you read his story, you’ll get it.

Back in January/February 2026, I commissioned NelsonXP to bring that vision to life, and we landed on a version of Kunle wearing a hoodie.

But…

Something about it wasn’t clicking.

Months later, while updating some of my existing character art, I asked NelsonXP to create another version—this time shirtless.

That’s the Kunle I assumed many would want…

Problem solved, right?

Not quite.

Three days before the cover reveal…

I panicked.

I reached out to NelsonXP (again!) and asked for one more alternate version.

Mind you, these revisions aren’t free. 😅

When the final artwork arrived, I was completely torn. I loved the previous and current versions, and I couldn’t decide which one truly felt like Kunle.

At that point, I had also convinced myself that Yoruba Demon: Kunle would be an ebook-only release, so the pressure of choosing the “perfect” cover felt even greater.

With less than 24 hours before the cover reveal, I did what I always do when I’m stuck.

I went to my favorite corner of the internet—the Camaraderie Lounge.

I posted the covers and asked for your help.

Within hours, your votes started pouring in.

And my instincts were confirmed.

You all somehow saw Kunle before you’d even read a single page of his story.

That’s one of my favorite things about this community. You don’t just support my books—you help shape them.

A huge thank you to Jessica Fergusson, Rosemary Okafor, and Lani Leigh for walking through the process with me and offering thoughtful feedback every step of the way.

And an enormous thank you to NelsonXP for graciously accommodating my last-minute requests and bringing Kunle to life with so much care and patience.

But most of all…

Thank you to every member of the Camaraderie Lounge who took a few minutes to vote, share your thoughts, and help me make the final decision.

This cover is as much yours as it is mine.

I can’t wait for you to finally meet Kunle and Jasmine on July 14.

Which cover do you prefer?