"The Prime Minister's Secret Agent is a novel about a young woman who, in World War II, becomes indispensable to the Crown as a spy. This image is actually an earlier version of what eventually became the final cover art. The original brief requested a view of the outside landscape as well as the inside of a Scottish manor, but Random House later decided the results (shown here) were a bit too complex. One of the aspects of book-cover work is getting comfortable with the sometimes chafing restrictions. There is often a format to be followed, typography to be accommodated and several layers of creative input from the publisher's side to be honored. Partnering with a smart and talented designer, such as Victoria Allen in this case, can make all the difference in the world in how satisfying the arc of the job ends up feeling."