This is a companion volume to The Arrival, comprising 50 pages of my preliminary sketches, research materials and commentary on the evolution of this project. It was originally part of a special boxed edition of The Arrival produced by Hachette Australia in 2010, and by other publishers internationally (further information, visit the Hachette site), and is now available as a stand-alone volume. It may be of particular interest to other writers, illustrators, graphic novelists and visual literacy educators interested in the trials and errors – and successes – of a sustained narrative project, especially one without words.