There's so many things I love about the picture. The frame of trees, that glimpse of valley - and those small white flowers in the lower left, which are just different enough to leave a hint of uncertainty as to whether they're flowers from this world, or some other.
Cass' backpack was one I described in exacting detail, and just looks so real to me. Writing all over your backpack seems less common than it was when I went to school, but it certainly stamps Cass' personality.
In terms of fonts and layout, I had the general style of font I wanted in mind for many months, and was fortunate enough to find one which worked. Then fought Painter for hours trying to get my preferred colouring effect - which I still haven't achieved, though picking up a light tone of the colour on her blazer ties it together.
This image will lose a little off the sides, when it's trimmed for the book, but overall this is almost exactly what will be printed.
I have no idea whether this is the kind of cover Stray would get if, for some reason, a professional cover unit were tasked with selling a rambling SF diary (now with added whining!) but I think that I would pick this up if I were browsing in a store. The SF elements are subtle and it would be possible to assume that she's heading toward an Earth village - but she still looks satisfyingly out of place, with that quick, almost suspicious glance over her shoulder to suggest this isn't a holiday trip.
Covers are fun.
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