The Office of Letters and Light Blog

30 Covers, 30 Days 2012: Day 22

Happy Thanksgiving to all you (and us) American Wrimos. While we’re stuffing our faces with mashed potatoes and gravy, Christine Mau has designed today’s cover!

The Clock Master’s Danceby Heather Wintle

After a severe accident left her crippled and destroyed her dreams of being a ballet dancer, Sonya St. Eaton returns to Mitterdorf, the town where she grew up and ran away from three years before. What she doesn’t expect is that life there has continued without her, and as she watches everyone else’s lives moving forward when hers has stopped, Sonya tries unsuccessfully to find something to fulfill her like dancing once could.

Then, her wish comes true, and through various magical occurrences, whenever her family’s grandfather clock strikes midnight, Sonya is taken to a land called Wintheure. This wondrous place, she discovers, is filled with glittering snowflakes, waltzing fairies, and a living, breathing version of the Nutcracker she was given as a child. Most of all, though, it is here that Sonya has the opportunity to dance again.

But all is not peaceful in this enchanted land. War is stirring, and Sonya begins to sense that something isn’t quite right in Wintheure. The Nutcracker is charming and handsome, yet darkness lurks in his mind, and the evil Rat King isn’t what he appears, either. And while she loves being able to move her damaged leg once more, the dance is becoming obsessive, overwhelming and corrupting her.

As troubles pile up in both Mitterdorf and Wintheure, Sonya realizes that something is linking the two, and it isn’t her. To get to the bottom of what’s causing the disturbance, she enlists the help of the boy whose heart she once broke, and together, they must hurry to put both worlds to rights. Because the longer she’s torn between them, the more Sonya forgets her dreams and desires, questioning which world she truly belongs to.

In her day job, Christine Mau leads Global Design for the Kleenex® brand at Kimberly-Clark. She is a trend forecasting panelist for Global Color Research, a frequent lecturer at The School of visual Arts and active AIGA presenter. On the weekends, she designs, paints and works with steel to satisfy her creative muse. Christine’s work has been recognized by the National Parenting Publications, Wisconsin Library Association, AIGA, I.D., Pentawards and The DieLine.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2012: Day 21

Today’s cover was created by Cary M. King!

The Dreamer by Sapphire16

Jane lives in a world where everyone disappears when they fall asleep and returns when they wake. No one remembers anything at all about what happens during the night, except for the rare Dreamers, like Jane.

In the past, the government has requested that Dreamers work with them for research purposes, but when they suddenly change this request to a demand that all Dreamers turn themselves in, rumors start and suspicion grows. Jane must choose a side for the fast rising fight, and find out the truth about Dreamers and where people are disappearing to.

Cary M. King graduated from the University of Alaska, Anchorage receiving a BFA in Art with emphasis in graphic design and photography in 1993. In 2010, Cary was elected president of AIGA Alaska and continues to support the organization as an adviser of their board. Beginning in 2012, Cary was hired as a part-time adjunct instructor at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, teaching Intermediate and Advanced Graphic Design. Cary is married to his wife and business partner Jill and they love design, movies and the outdoors.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2012: Day 20

Today’s cover was designed by Jennifer Morla!

Fireheart by Wolfdog16

Meet Sonja Leoni, the 21-year-old lead singer of a rock-pop band called FireHeart that’s sitting at the top of the charts. Her life is everything you’d expect from fame: the fans, the paparazzi, and that one irksome band member, namely, Jared Augustine, who makes it quite clear he has a thing for her.

But when she stumbles upon writer’s block while preparing her next album, an unexpected offer of help is extended from a simple guitar-wielding individual she had bumped into a couple months before. This young man, Axle Garrett, an open-minded follower of Christ with a heart of integrity, proves his worth as a guitarist and backup songwriter, despite his drastic differences. But Sonja’s decision to permit Axle’s assistance… forget flipping her world around—it downright takes her from it as she is tossed into a life-changing experience that she never knew she’d have. What’s worse: hatred rises as Jared grows increasingly envious of Axle.

Jennifer Morla is President of Morla Design, San Francisco. With over 300 awards of excellence, Ms. Morla’s work has been recognized by virtually every organization in the field of visual communication. Ms. Morla lectures internationally, teaches at California College of the Arts, is an elected member of Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI), and is the recipient of graphic design’s most honored award, the AIGA Medal.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2012: Day 19

Today’s cover was created by illustrator and designer Amanda Woodford!

Mars’ Run by Sandra Wolf

It all began with a run through a museum. Only the run was a hunt, and Tyler was the hunted. Or more precisely—the pursued. Why? Because Detective Ame Scott had proof that Tyler had killed a “rat” (one of Mars’ no-income, lower-level-dwelling folks). Tyler would disagree with that assessment, since Footy, the “rat” informant he sometimes associated with, was alive and well when he’d last left him.

But the detective had to arrest someone—a local journalist was writing about the suspicious deaths and the public was pressuring them to fix the “problem”. But unknown to most everyone else, two corporations were playing with these lab “rats”, while a government official was pulling the strings. All set during the Hundred Year Celebrations of Earth’s Uninhabitability.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2012: Day 18

Today’s cover was designed by Traci Moore Clay!

The Key by J.L. Philips

After surviving accidents, illness and losing her great-grandmother Edith, Phillis is the last of a once-strong family. On her deathbed, Edith gives Phillis a skeleton key and tells her that it is the “key to the family’s heritage.” But, Phillis doesn’t know what the key opens and Edith died before she could tell her.

Now Phillis is on the hunt for what the key opens and to find out more about her heritage. She is helped by Edith’s lover and Phillis’s friend, but Phillis is not sure he can be trusted. Along the way, Phillis finds strength in herself and discovers the many mysteries of her family.

Traci Moore Clay worked as an in-house designer for several local non-profits, and in a local design firm before founding Traci Moore Graphics (TMG) in 1997. In 2003, Traci began lecturing in visual communications at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, teaching both typography and introductory visual communications. Traci is the immediate past-president of the St. Louis Chapter of AIGA. She has been a member and president of the University City Education Foundation and the Municipal Commission on Arts and Letters for University City. She currently resides in University City with her dog, Oscar.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2012: Day 17

Today’s cover was created by Mark Dudlik!

Nirvana Inc. by Stephanie Sauvinet

Rayn Hart lives in the slums, where refurbished biotech alterations are stretched beyond legality. As a pleasure pusher, Rayn survives in the midst of entertainment clubs and shady deals by helping others reach ecstasy through neural stimulation. But when repair nanobots malfunction, her EmoCore is altered beyond the capabilities of any implant ever made: she can now read cell memory, alive or dead.

Her new ability attracts the attention of Nirvana Inc., the biggest implant development company. But Rayn isn’t about to be turned into a guinea pig. Just when she thinks she is safely hidden in the darkest part of the slums, Quirin Eberle, a biotech regulation officer, tracks her down. He wants her to analyze victims of an implant hacker and help him track down the killer; or he’ll turn her over to Nirvana Inc.

Mark Dudlik is a designer for the Office of the President at Arizona State University. He is also Executive Director of Lost Creature, a 501(c)(3) that brings culture and creativity together through programs such as Phoenix Design Week and the Phoenix Design Museum. He is currently Vice-President & Design For Good Director of AIGA Arizona. In his free time he makes terrible drawings at Pen & Pandas.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2012: Day 16

Today’s cover was designed by Andrew Twigg!

What the Water Gave Me by Charles Heathcote

A novel spanning seventy years, What the Water Gave Me is a reimagining of the Scottish tale “The Selkie Wife”. Beginning in the 1940s, our unnamed six-year-old protagonist discovers a naked woman dancing in a cove—she is Deirdra, a Selkie. From this moment, he is enraptured. They spend the day together, but in the evening, she returns to the sea.

Every seven years, Deirdra reappears and he goes to her, although a question hangs over them both: if he took her pelt she would have to stay with him, but will he? Their relationship faces challenges, as the protagonist grows older and Deirdra remains the same age she was when they first met. This is a novel exploring the complexity of love and man’s morality.

Andrew Twigg is an independent designer focused on design strategy, branding and web design. He is the Incoming Presidents Council Chair of AIGA, the professional association for design, President Emeritus of AIGA Pittsburgh, and serves on the Board of Directors for DesignInquiry, a conference-alternative design research organization. He has written for AIGA Voice and UnderConsideration, and has had articles published internationally in DesignTaxi and AIGA Speaks, China. He is an adjunct faculty member with the Carnegie Mellon University School of Design. He can be found on twitter at @andrewtwigg.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2012: Day 15

Happy halfway through the month! Are things starting to look bleak? Don’t worry. You can pull through!

We are featuring a dark story for Day 15, this time with a cover designed by Matteo Bologna!

Eating Sarah by Jaret Martens

Fall is ending, hunger runs rampant, and Sarah is a cannibal. In the deep forests of the Rocky Mountains, Sarah lives in a community of man-eaters. Ever since she was young, all she could dream about was participating in The Hunt, a monthly event during which her people sneak into the nearby cities and villages to gather food for the following month. However, once Sarah realizes the shocking and revolting nature of the event, and her very lifestyle, she becomes set on leaving.

Leaving will not be easy: to leave would be to dishonour the family name and, in turn, would cause their deaths. In addition, with suspicions of mutiny within the colony rising, everyone is being watched. And then there are the bodies, the ones of people that are unmistakably of their own community, complete with missing limbs and bite marks.

In this thrilling first novel, boundaries will be pushed, allegiances broken, and the very question of what it means to be human will be called into play. No one is safe and no one can be trusted.

Matteo Bologna is the founding partner and Principal of Mucca Design, where he also serves as Creative Director. Under his direction, the Mucca Design team has created uniquely successful work for a wide variety of companies like Victoria’s Secret, Barnes & Noble, Adobe Systems and Target. The work produced by the Mucca Design team has been widely recognized by industry publications, competitions and exhibitions, including AIGA, Communication Arts, and the James Beard Foundation. Matteo is the Vice President of the Type Directors Club. He frequently lectures about branding and typography around the world.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2012: Day 14

Today’s cover was created by Bryony Gomez-Palacio!

Star Trails by Lauren Ring

Zach and Ethan are having the time of their lives in their sophomore year—that is, until a new “miracle drug” is released that flips their world upside down. The viral contents of the drug slowly begin to affect the entire nation, causing shifts in neural connections that lead people to either perceive time as speeding up or slowing down.

Zach is fast, but Ethan is slow: he remarks that he can even see the trails the stars leave behind them in the night sky. As the virus mutates, the young couple must find a cure before the damage becomes irreversible. 

Bryony Gomez-Palacio is a graphic designer and writer now living in Austin, Texas. She is co-founder of UnderConsideration—a graphic design firm and publishing enterprise rolled into one. Bryony has co-authored four books with her husband and partner, Armin Vit—their most recent efforts being Graphic Design, Referenced and the self-published Flaunt. Bryony enjoys conducting workshops and lecturing when not tending to her two young daughters.     

Photo by carfull.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2012: Day 13

Today’s cover was created by Tanner Woodford!

Deadeye by Zoey Sloane

Welcome to Bannock, Montana. It’s 1863; the miners are pulling gold out of the hills and the town is growing by leaps and bounds. Don’t get me wrong, everything isn’t rosy, not by a stretch. There are road agents outside of every growing mining town and Bannock is no different, but lately people have been found all torn open with only human footprints leading to and from the site.

Zombies are loose in the Old West. Grab a shotgun, join the posse, or if you find your courage lacking, stay behind with the old men and the women-folk. Just remember to make it a head shot, pardner. Out here in Big Sky, you have to be a deadeye.

Tanner Woodford is a Lead Interaction Designer at Morningstar, a provider of independent investment research. On nights and weekends, he is the Executive Director of the Chicago Design Museum, a pop-up institution that celebrates design excellence via ephemeral installations. For the past five years, Tanner has taught and lectured on interaction design, web design, and motion graphics in academic and professional circuits. Tanner currently lives in Chicago with wife and illustrator Amanda Woodford.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2012: Day 12

Today’s cover was created by Solomon Wong!

Fish Eyes by Taylor G. White

A fan-tailed goldfish, who the family names Phineas, is brought home from the pet store as a new friend by nine year old David. His older sister, ten year old Julie, befriends him and takes care of him while David still clings to the idea that it’s his fish. The parents watch from the sidelines, with their own unique opinion and relationship with the fish. Little knowing that he was watching and listening, remembering and writing, everything going on around him.

Say hello to the world, as seen from the eyes of a simple fish. And get ready to learn that an awful lot can happen in just a single hallway in a simple house.

Solomon Wong is a writer, designer, and four-time Wrimo. He runs the Iron-Chef-inspired cooking blog Butternut.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2012: Day 11

Today’s cover was created by Josh Silverman!

Being Human by MC Augstkalns

In the near future, science has perfected the cloning of extinct species from fossils. The first creatures to reappear were the mammoths, soon followed by other Ice Age megafauna.

The birth of the first Neanderthals in over twenty thousand years sets the world astorm. The twins, originally men who had lived not only thousands of miles apart but were also separated by thousands of years, are only the beginning.

When the clones start to come of age, the social implications of integrating another human species become staggering. There are unifiers and separatists on both sides, and society as we know it is changed forever.

Then the asteroid hits. The Earth’s climate shifts, growing colder as dust fills the atmosphere. The two peoples must compete for land and resources. An age-old conflict is fully reignited. Which species of humanity will emerge victorious this time?

Josh Silverman is the Agent of Perspective and President of Schwadesign, Inc. Over the past 15 years, Josh and his teams have worked with Boston University, Harvard Medical School, the City of Providence, Blue Man Group, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and many others. This work has been recognized by AIGA, ReBrand, and Print. Josh earned his BA in Media Studies from Ithaca College, is an Adjunct Professor at the Art Institute of Boston, and has taught and guest lectured at RISD, and MassArt. He is President Emeritus and co-founder of the AIGA Rhode Island Chapter. When he’s not turning “what if?” questions into ways to make the world a better place through design, he’s mixing tunes as his alter-ego, DJ Dijon.