Here's the final cover with the type and all in place!

This is, I believe, the fourth cover for the classic novel by Clare Bell (aka  Rathacat)
. . . so obviously I had a lot to live up to, especially the original cover that made me grab the book off the shelf way back, and the last artist, who was quite good. The idea was for it to look almost like a still from a movie (are you listening, moguls? OPTION THIS!) and to sum up the essential conflicts in the book - Ratha's choice with whom to ally. The clan cats she was born to, who have learned to herd animals rather than merely hunting and who are building a society, but who also rejected her and drove her out when she tried to tame fire (he 'creature')? Or the feral Un-Named, some of whom are merely wild animals and some of whom are as smart, or smarter, than the clan cats - among them her mate and father of her kittens?

Can you tell I love these books?!? This isn't just a job, I've been a fan since I was 9 (and that's a long time ago, my friends).

So, some of the thought process. I went into it wanting a single splash of color against a gray background, sort of symbolizing Ratha's spark of inspiration in a dark, dangerous prehistoric world. Nothing against the previous artist - as I said, they were excellent - but their Ratha looked rather demonic. You might have mistaken her for the creature. I tried to make her look intelligent, intense and focused but not like a raging beast. The herding cats in the background are Thakur and Fessran, and I tried to make them distinguishable - Fess is female, Thakur make, and she (running outstretched) is more gracile. The title covers it up but the animals they're herding are a Synthetoceras and a trio of four-toes proto-horses. As I mentioned in the sneak preview my cat Bartleby modeled for Ratha, including letting me shine a tiny flashlight in his face to get the lighting right. Very good-tempered kitty! I also used Clare's drawings and models as a source.

The other covers are up for an Ursa Major! That just . . . . damn, I don't know what to say. Honored. I'm not deluded enough to think I'll win but I DO want as much publicity for the books as possible. It's not a situation of me getting paid more, I just think they're so excellent they deserve as many readers as possible. Spread the love! If you like the covers (or don't, and just like the books) you can go add your nomination. The eligible covers are:

Clan Ground (2nd book) http://www.furaffinity.net/view/3559399/
Ratha and Thistle-Chaser (3rd book) http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4234759/

Personally I like the Clan Ground one a bit better, but that's me. Anyways, here's the message from my publisher regarding this:

____________________________________________________________________


Lew has kindly agreed to post this for me on his account. My name is Sheila Ruth and my company, Imaginator Press, is the publisher of the new editions of the Ratha series books, for which Lew is doing the cover art.

I would love to see his fabulous art get the recognition it deserves. If you love his art as much as I do, please consider nominating the cover art for “Clan Ground” and/or “Ratha and Thistle-Chaser” for the Ursa Major awards in the Published Illustration category.

Here's the link to nominate:
http://www.ursamajorawards.org/nominations.htm

You can specify the artist as "Lew Lashmit aka Viergacht."

Here are the links to the covers, if you'd like to take a look at them:

Clan Ground
http://www.imaginatorpress.com/node/16

Ratha and Thistle-Chaser
http://www.imaginatorpress.com/node/28

Thanks for helping out.
Sheila Ruth
Imaginator Press