Christmas and bat poop.

One of the best things about working thru a holiday (or ok just really close to a holiday) is that you can catch up on all your work since everyone else is gone. I'm leaving for Texas tomorrow, and today I got a really nice treat! Not only do I get to finish up the 18 (EIGHTEEN!?!) Beverly Cleary books uninterrupted but I got a few books delivered from production, whee!

UNINVITED and GENIUS FILES #4 : FROM TEXAS WITH LOVE.  I think we've covered Uninvited so I won't pester anyone about it again. But GF#4 has quite a fun story....

I didn't start this series, but it sure is fun to work on now. Especially this book. Perhaps you noticed the subtitle, From Texas with Love. I used to live there! Heck I'm going tomorrow (see above paragraph for repetition, welcome.) Anyway, when the author found out I lived there via his wonderful editor, Andrew, he had a few questions. Our telephone conversation went something like this.

Dan Gutman: Sarah! Andrew tells me you used to live in Austin, is that true?

Me: Yup! I lived there for 5 years, I think you're including the bridge on Congress Ave. with all the bats flying out from under it? That will be a very cool cover!

DG: Yea, Coke and Pep will have to escape the bad men while being tied up under the bridge, right when the bats fly out. It should be very cool action.

Me [interrupting]: That happened to me once! Well, I wasn't tied up under the bridge but I was stuck in traffic on the bridge once right at sun set. At the time I was driving a 1984 Volvo the color of a Crayola green crayon. The AC didn't work so I had all the windows down when the bats flew out, it was terrifying! Why did I tell you the car was green and from 1984? Anyway, it was really cool.

DG: ....

Me [internally]: Why am I such a freaking spazz?

DG: Tell me something, could you smell their guano?

Me: Yes you could sir.

DG: I'm going to thank you in my book Sarah.

Me [internally]: Best conversation ever.

Flash forward a few months, and here we are! And oddly I am just realizing this cover is the exact same color as that car—it's insanely green. I guess I gave myself (and that car) a nod too. Well congrats to that...

Uninvited & GF #4: Gloss UV • title embossed & foil stamped

Enjoy your Christmas y'all!

Thanksgiving presents!

New finished books for the holiday season.

New Stuff: The Book of Love, Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers, Lost on a Mountain in Maine!

New paperbacks: Genius Files, Pivot Point, Boundless!

To the future! Summer 2014.

In the words of Angela Chase, we had a time. 

This past summer was by far my favorite. It somehow just came together. I think I was outside almost every day. I ran, swam, rode my bike, climbed a few walls, river rafted, laughed, ate and danced in the rain at Celebrate Brooklyn each chance I got. I am lucky to have had such a summer. While it was hard to push it back inside, at work I'm already wrapping up Summer 2014. If these book covers have anything to say for the future, it's going to be another kick ass summer.

First up, Teen Fiction:

My first time working with Ms. Jody Lynn Anderson, I absolutely love these color combinations, I think they really invoke cool, creepy beautiful:

Matte finish with textured spot UV on title & boarder (by Sarah Jane Coleman)

And my second cover for Ms. Lauren Miller—The effect on this type was the happiest accident I've ever had in Photoshop. Adding in a 5th color will really help this leap off the printed page.

5 color job + matte finish with glossy spot UV

And of course, where would we be in the Republic of Texas without Wren and Callum?
Reboot 2, Rebel (I somehow keep getting away with graphic covers for this, and I love it!)

Glossy finish with matte spot UV + emboss

Ending in Middle Grade:

How are we already on Book 3 of the CASE FILE series? Doug Holgate is really bringing the fun and funk in this series. I can't love it enough: (plus you guys, an orange forest? Come on.)

Matte finish with glossy spot UV

There's a few more floaters out there but they aren't quite available to share yet. I got a awesome Neil Gaiman / Craig Russell project in the works... but that's going to be a while still.

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So I guess it's on to Winter 2015—while it's too soon to tell what will happen, I've been wearing this crown around the office a lot. It's good to be inspired for work, yes? (That's foreshadowing y'all!)

Rejoice! Jupiter Pirates are here!

It's hard to tell here but this book is crazy shiny and sparkly. It has a super cool hologram effect in real life. Awesome use of sculpt emboss and printing over silver foil. I love it!

Printed over silver foil, sculpt emboss title

And naked, if you're into that sorta thing.

Advanced Reading Copies!

Oh yea, the first set of ARE (advanced reading editions) are in for Summer 2014!

Check out the awesomely beautiful cover for VANISHING SEASON by Jodi Lynn Anderson. What a nice treat for lunch time!

Specs: Matte/textured spot UV on boarder and title

Looks like I get two copies, who needs a creepy read just in time for Halloween?

Photo by Trevillion images / hand drawn boarder by Sarah Jane Coleman 

Monday presents!

Looky what I found on my desk this morning: Case File 13: Making the Team.

Matte Finish with Spot UV

Spooky fun times.

Clean up days

My office will be moving to Battery Park this Spring. In order to prepare for the move, they have been hosting "clean up days".

I've already donated a few dozen books I don't need anymore. I can't believe what a difference it's made in my work space! Too bad there isn't a "before" picture, bit I'm quite pleased with the "after"...

Spines & Toys