The Ventriloquists Book Cover

HarperCollins/Harlequin

Toronto, Canada

Judges' Pick

"I found this work to be intriguing and beautiful. The design conveys a depth of meaning that immediately takes the viewer back in time to a realistic WWII setting. An astute use of colour and typography pulls the composition together neatly. These book covers demonstrate originality and resourcefulness in the thoughtful way they engage the reader from the very first glance."
— Trinette Klein RGD

To capture the WWII setting and honor the unique elements of this author’s debut novel, the key challenge was to find a powerful image that would capture the defining story element: a battle fought with words and ideas. For the hardcover design, a collage illustration layers the place, time and the typewriter as a key story element to communicate the power wielded by ordinary people in an extraordinary battle. The trade paperback version was designed to reach a more commercial audience, depicting a narrative scene with a character who comes to represent the book’s message of strength and resistance found in unlikely places. Research for the cover led the team to secure reproduction rights for the original “le Soir” newspaper that is central to the story, which became a key design element for the book’s marketing materials. The book was very well received and achieved an exceptional volume of media coverage for a debut.

Credits

Hardcover Design
Creative Director: Erin Craig
Art Director: Kathleen Oudit
Designer: Mary Luna
Image Researcher: Karen Becker

Trade Paperback Design
Creative Director: Erin Craig
Art Director: Kathleen Oudit
Designer: Elita Sidiropoulou

Promotional Marketing
Designers: Arbiter Creative, Yana Stepchenko and Bo Roberts Leung
Marketing: Stefanie Buszynski
Production: Deb Brown, Bruno Cywinski