I tried to keep the idea of the eyes throughout the series of five books, but the anguish I went through to get it just right.
Take the latest cover for Ten Discs.
First I thought I would paint the seahorse as the cover, but the more I thought about it, the less I liked it.
Then I painted the magpie, a British bird for all my overseas readers. This likes flesh, but is not a raptor. Again I lived with the cover, but then dumped it.
Next I painted the Owl. This gave me what I wanted, big eyes looking out at the people as the reader held the book open.
I feel all you budding authors should be aware of the birthing pains for a book.
Here are the covers as painted. See what you think.


And below the one you can find on the new book
