Books Covered by Tobias

"The Age of Wonder"

In a rare moment of self-improvement I have decided to read more this summer. So, in addition to reading Tim Keller's excellent treatise The Reason for God (Dutton), I have also finished The Unwritten Rules of Baseball (Harper Collins) and But Wait... There's More! (Harper Collins). The latter two (which sport my handiwork) were absolutely fun, well-written reads. In fact I wish there were more chapters in each of them.

One of my favorite projects of late was for Random House (Pantheon): Richard Holmes' The Age of Wonder. Jonathan Sainsbury originally assigned this project to me last year before his departure and I finished it up under the direction of Brian Barth. All books bring a certain level of satisfaction when you get the finished product in-hand. But, some more than others. This is one of them.

Last week I got a kind note from one of the art directors at Random House about the design of the Holmes book and told me that he would send me copies, which he did. I could not have been happier when I opened the package. The folks in Random House's production department did an outstanding job in overseeing the printing and finishing. The jacket has a nice texture to it. I will have to find out the process. The title type was spec'd with a matte gold foil which works so nicely.

But in keeping with my determination to become more literary this summer (I should have joined with my kids in the reading contest at our local library), I am reading The Age of Wonder. It is an absolutely riveting read about the fusion of Romanitism and science in the eighteenth century. Part history, part science, and part biography, Mr. Holmes has constructed a story that reads more like a novel than nonfiction.

Instead of ineptly trying to explain more about it,  I would recommend today's cover story in the NY Times book section and this interview with Mr. Holmes. Considering the number of pages and the rate at which I read this may last me until Christmas. But, it will be worth it.

Little Bee

Great new cover from Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich.

Zoomii Virtual Bookstore

The site touts it as "a 'real' bookstore with Amazon prices and Amazon selection." Regardless if it meets that claim, Zoomii is pretty cool. It shows bestsellers on virtual bookshelves, arranged in sections like you would see at your local bookseller, covers face-out. There is also the option of searching by title, author, etc. Nice idea.

Kimberly Glyder blogs

Kimberly has started a nice new  blog about her amazing work. Be sure to check it out.

Check Out

• Five images the New York Times didn't want you to see.
• Retro General Mills cereal boxes at Target.
• The $50 Logo Experiment (Disaster)

Review: Billings 3

For a solo designer (or at least this designer) the absolute worst part of being a freelancer involves anything to do with billing. It would seem logical that sending people letters requesting they send you owed money would be satisfying. But, inexplicably, it is not a fun task. For the last ten years I have used a quasi-professional accounting application (MYOB) to fulfill my billing obligations. It has the bells and whistles that would light any number-cruncher's fire: ledgers, graphs, and journals galore. But, for this numbers-adverse right-brainer, my only need and interest is to send invoices to clients and to mark 'paid' upon receipt of funds. And yet, MYOB offers so much more. Too much more. And, I think it has been the overly-complicated nature of the software that has prevented me from invoicing more consistently. Billing has been an activity of neglected dread.

This has now changed.

Chip Central

I hadn't been to Chip Kidd's site (goodisdead.com)in quite some time. The celebrity king of covers has a blog (Journal), links to his writings and an extensive library of his covers (Work). The Work section can be viewed by year, title, author, or randomly. Whichever way it makes for a good site to go to for a little visual inspiration.

We Love Books Book

Earlier this winter, as I've noted before, four of my covers were included in a book exhibition in Paris which featured designers from all over the world. Today I received my copy of the show's book in the mail. A few thoughts:

First, this was a huge honor. Out of the seven  US designers, I am the only one from outside NY. It is a little funny to read: "États-Unis / New York" for the first six entries and then "États-Unis / Davisburg, Michigan". Not only is it a little funny, but a little daunting. I am totally grateful to the show's curator and directors for including me. To be honest, and I'm not trying to put on some false humility here, I'm not sure why I was asked to be included. The other designers included here are top-notch and for me to be listed next to them is a little embarrassing (Michael Beruit, Paul Sahre for example). And I can think of a dozen other designers who I would included before me if I wasn't me and was the curator (like Henry Sene Yee, Peter Mendelsund, Richard Ljoenes, to name just a few). But, alas, I am totally honored and grateful. I wish I would have sent in some different covers now. I wish I had a few of my newer pieces to include, but nevertheless it is what it is.

One caveat about my biography. It makes me sounds like a pompous wannabe. I am, in my own mind at least, a wannabe to some extent. But, I really don't want to sound like a pompous one. What I submitted was something along these lines: 

"...he has even had the privilege of having some of his covers show up on the New York Times bestseller list...".

 Since the book was published in France it has both the french and english translations. The latter came out this way:

"He produces 100 covers a year, particularly for the New York Times bestsellers."

Ugh. No, not particularly for the New York Times bestsellers. That's the other six US designers and the Art Directors of New York who were featured speakers and participants (Kidd, de Wilde, Gall, Carson). They design bestsellers. I am lucky when that happens. Eesh.

Nevertheless, it is inspirational to see all the great work from all over the world. Amazing, amazing stuff that I am honored to have just a small bit part in.

HC dissolves the Collins imprint

From PW this morning:

In a dramatic turnaround, HarperCollins announced this morning that it is closing its Collins division and integrating its operations within different businesses in the General Books Group. As a result, Steve Ross, president and publisher of Collins, and Lisa Gallagher, senior v-p, and publisher of William Morrow, are leaving the company. Ross was brought over by Jane Friedman two years ago from Crown to rebuild the Collins brand. In addition to closing Collins, CEO Brian Murray issued a memo today saying that despite efforts to avoid layoffs, a reduction in the workforce will be necessary. “Given the continued uncertainty in the market and soft revenues for the company, we need to take further action to align our cost basis with expected revenues,” Murray wrote. “I have asked each division to evaluate their business and begin the process to meet this goal. Unfortunately, in some HarperCollins divisions, implementing these plans will result in a reduction in workforce.”

Slobbering at #2

A Slobbering Love Affair will debut at #2 on the NY Times bestsellers list for Feb. 15th. I'm sure it is all due to the cover. Also, the cover was a featured project of Design:Related this week.

I can read Movies

Mitch Ansara has taken the the titles of some famed movies and turned them into 60s-influenced book covers. Paying homage to the covers of  Germano Facetti (Penguin's famed art director of the 1960s). Ansara has fun–and does a admirable job–with such titles as Back to the Future, Caddyshack, Sixteen Candles, and—my favorite–War Games.

Friends Don't Let Friends Design

Caustic Cover Critic (a great book design blog from down under) has my favorite post of the week. When Self-Publishers Hire Friends Instead of Professional Cover Designers. The results? Disastrous to say the least. This one is one of my favorites.