Barry Davis only had two requirements for this cover: one, it had a boat. Two: it had no people. 

In discussions, we clarified that this was a disaster story, but not your typical, strong-man-saves-family-in-an-urban-setting story. This book was deep, dark, and personal.

Despite working for survival, the main character is hit with a series of contrasts: the beauty of his surroundings vs. the bleakness of his situation. The joy of being alive vs. the guilt of surviving his friends in the wreck. His original desire to escape his life vs the desperate need to get back. We utilized the title page to make this heavy contrast obvious to the reader upon opening the cover.

We worked to include the intensity of the situation with League Gothic, a strong, tall typeface that allowed us to have it large and looming at the horizon. The imagery of a landed boat, rusted and ruined, suggests that no one has been here for a long time, and the main character has no real hope of rescue.