What It Is.

I was contracted as the designer to help launch author, TV personality, and recovery advocate Anna David’s publishing company, Light Hustle Publishing (now Legacy Launch Pad).

I designed the initial logotype and mark as well as the first three covers for what was, at the time, primarily a recovery memoir imprint.

Note: I have no involvement with the Legacy Launch Pad brand identity.

Why It’s Here.

After publishing a book myself, under the Klēn&Sōbr imprint, Anna contacted me to ask if I’d help launch her imprint.

It was an opportunity to further develop my experience with publishing in general and Amazon publishing specifically.

So What?

• Developed and crafted a clean, welcoming, contemporary brand identity (for Light Hustle) to complement the positive, uplifting, recovery memoir focus of the imprint.

• Engaged, educated, and befriended authors to deliver insightful and compelling book cover designs that helped drive each title to #1 Amazon Best Seller status in its category.

• Increased awareness, for both brand and authors, through event marketing and influencer brand promotion.

How to Get Successful by Fxxking Up Your Life

by Anna David

The cover was figuratively inspired by the collection as a whole and literally inspired by one of the stories wherein Anna spends her 28th birthday lying next to a dumpster in an alley.

“Talking and standing continued to feel challenging and so I spent the celebration of my 28th birthday lying by this dumpster with friends occasionally popping out of the party to come wish me a happy birthday. No one seemed remotely surprised to find me celebrating my birthday supine and lying next to the trash.”

From, “When You’re So High That You Think Your Neighbor Is Trying to Kill You”

Aiming High

by Darren Prince

The double entendre title of this addiction recovery memoir by Darren Prince, agent to larger-than-life personalities including Magic Johnson, Dennis Rodman, and Hulk Hogan, gave me all the inspiration I needed for the cover concept.

Magic Johnson (L) wrote the forward and Dr. Drew Pinsky (center) gave an early and enthusiastically positive review. They’re seen here with Darren (R) holding my cover … and, sure, his book.

Jonathan Cheban (aka Foodgod and “Kim K’s BFF” at the L.A. launch party delivering hyperbolically high praise for the cover. “A piece of art.”?

I mean … I’ll take it.

The Gorga Guide to Success

by Joe Gorga

It may go without saying that if I was unfamiliar with RHONJ that I was unfamiliar with Joe.

However, after spending some time with him I quickly got a sense of his ethos, aesthetic, and big personality.

Joe (and Melissa) confirmed that I’d nailed it by having celebrity baker, and fellow New Jerseyan, Buddy “Cake Boss” Valastro render it in fondant. (Well, print it on a cake.)

I’ve Never Done This Before

by Claire Rudy Foster

I published this collection of short stories under my own imprint, Klēn&Sōbr Interventions. I hired a mutual friend in recovery of Claire’s and mine and an exceptionally talented artist, Aaron Lee Perry*, to do an introductory pen-and-ink illustration for each story (L), I hired my mom to proofread, and I designed the cover and the layout.

There was a limited Portland Launch Edition that featured hand-applied duct tape and individual hand lettering.

The book was back cover blurbed by none other than Benjamin Percy, calling it, “A smart, haunting, exceptional debut collection.” (R)

*R.I.P.

Endure:

The Power of Spiritual Assets for Resilience to Trauma & Stress

By Daniel Maurer

Published by Dan via his imprint, Mount Curve Press, through which he has published the award-winning Sobriety: A Graphic Novel.

This was the limited edition dark variant cover for offline sales.

Where’s the Outrage?

Proposed cover options for Ryan Hampton’s book about the ongoing opioid crisis in the US.

Ryan ended up with a different publisher and the book was retitled American Fix.