(This is the art underneath the dust jacket on the hard cover.)
I'm not sure I've talked here about why there are two covers?
When I was first discussing cover ideas with Little Bee Books I suggested this composition, to mirror book 1 (and because it works really well with Sunati going to space and Austen having a dramatic haircut.)
This idea was originally approved - and then someone in sales I think veto-ed it, for reasons I don't fully understand (they thought it was a bad idea for the covers to be too similar to each other??)
I was asked if I had any other cover ideas.
I sulked a bit at the thought of not having mirrored covers. Then I drew the most self-indulgent romantic thing I could think of, and sent that in as my second cover idea.
They approved that cover, and I drew it - and looking at both cover options, I am much happier with the almost-kiss cover than I am with the above. It doesn't have that satisfying "oooh it matches" feeling, but it turned out really well, I think!
And then I was told that they could put this art underneath the dust jacket for the hardcovers, and I was very happy to get both of them :D