So, working in layers and using my experience in animation, I begin to build the image, and this is the tombstone marker cobblestone street piece I needed for the foreground piece, which would end up on the back cover.
Here's two of the vehicles from the cover, and yes, the cat taxi is a complete homage to the cat bus in Totoro :)
You can order Sam Specter HERE, makes for great family reading for the holiday season!
