This concept came to me in a cover packaging meeting. The book's Editor, Margaux Weisman, was explaining the fantastic story of how this pigeon, Cher Ami, helped in the war effort; it's bravery and doggedness to get to the other side with the messages it would carry. Often in one of these meetings, something will come to me, and I'll pitch an idea without reading anything. If I'm off the mark, I'll be shot down, no pun intended. If the concept is accepted, I'll still read the book to make sure and correct the refining details.