When Scott emailed me about illustrating his debut YA novel, Alistair Doolittle , I was in the thick of my master’s. Busy season, but the project felt right. We agreed to take our time so every decision served the story: mood, pacing, and the kind of clarity that still reads at thumbnail size. I’m sharing our process because a first book can feel intimidating. You want art that feels like your story, not just a pretty picture. You want fewer revisions and a cover that stands