I have always been fascinated by any kind of storytelling.
I was the kind of kid who read so much that my Mom would confiscate my fantasy novels, so I’d actually study. (Did it work? Of course not, I always had more books in my room, duh!)
When I read, it’s like I create a movie in my mind. The words slip off the page and I dive, head first, into their stories. I think this is what threw me so deeply into the world of design and visual storytelling.
As a bilingual speaker (my native language is French), I have a unique ability to translate the meaning of a story.
If you speak a second language, you know that it’s more than just memorizing and direct translation. Every language has it’s own unique quirks and expressions.
You know that precise moment when you realize this is the start of something special?
You know that feeling when you know your manuscript inside out?
You’ve done all the research, and now you’re really starting to get into the flow of things?
You loose track of time. One idea leads to another, which leads to another. You don’t know exactly where you’re headed, but you know you’re onto something, and you know it’s gonna work.
That feeling is what book cover design means to me.
Being able to think about what things mean rather than just what they say is a huge asset in book cover design. I make connections that others might miss, and I communicate with readers in a way that they don’t expect but they deeply resonate with.
Fun fact – I first learned English as a teenager, so that I could keep up with my favourite fantasy book series. It always took too long for them to be published in French!
When I’m not designing book covers, you can usually catch me watching Marvel movies, reading manga, taking photos, or swimming.
If you know me, you’ve definitely heard me say ‘slow is smooth, and smooth is fast’.