It is always an exciting time – the first sight of the cover to a new book is the first tangible sign that publication can’t be far off. I am always excited when I see it for the first time (see my previous blog about this) and even more excited to share it with the world.
It has gone through come iterations since the theme of the book was first developed (as you can see from all the thumbnails in the header). Originally, I had thought of using scales as the most familiar symbol of justice. It was Jonathan and Clare, my great friends and amazing photographers both, who came up with the idea of using a bird of prey and supplied the image of the beautiful barn owl that now adorns my front cover. To take a look at it in all its glory, go to my website where both the full ‘spread’ (the whole cover as it will wrap around the finished book) and the front cover are now published).
It would never have occurred to me to use an owl but, once I saw it, I simply thought “but, of course!”
Owls are highly symbolic creates in many cultures. The ancient Greek’s placed an own on the shoulder of Athena, goddess of wisdom and justice, eastern cultures see it as an ill-omen and in the Celtic myth of Bloudeuwedd , Lleu avenges his own death at her hand by turning her into an owl. It really is a perfect choice for Balance of Betrayal.
Balance of Betrayal is about justice, redressing the balance from the crimes of one man but it also a hunt. The book starts with a hunt, in fact, a chase through the forest to catch and kill a stag, but the real hunt is one of stealth. It is the skilful and silent entrapment of a man who has brought about the fall of the kingdom through his actions. Staval, like Bloudeuwedd, must be made to pay for his actions and Dale Ronas, like Lleu, will use covert means to bring justice for those under his command.
The book comes out in April – I’m doing the final review at the moment – and it is really wonderful to see the proof copies, complete with the wonderful image. Now all I have to do is resist the urge to re-write the book in order to weave the owl metaphor into the text. If I do that, the book will never be finished!
Cate Caruth is the author of the Bremmand Chronicles. To buy her books or learn more about them, go to www.bremmandchronicles.co.uk
You can follow Cate on Twitter at www.twitter.com/catec23
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