Yesterday ABRAMS released 5 million copies of The Ugly Truth into the world. To celebrate we all dressed in Purple to show our team spirit.
Showing posts with label art director. Show all posts
Showing posts with label art director. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The ABRAMS team celebrates THE UGLY TRUTH release
Yesterday ABRAMS released 5 million copies of The Ugly Truth into the world. To celebrate we all dressed in Purple to show our team spirit.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth (5) Press Release
THIS FALL . . . EVERYTHING CHANGES.
MORE THAN 5 MILLION COPIES OF
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE UGLY TRUTH,
BOOK 5 IN THE BLOCKBUSTER SERIES BY JEFF KINNEY,
TO BE PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY AMULET BOOKS.
NATIONAL LAYDOWN IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2010
FIRST-EVER BOX SET OFFERS NEW CONTENT FOR FANSNew York, NY, July 29, 2010—Amulet Books, an imprint of Abrams, reveals today in a major press announcement the title, first-printing quantity, and cover of the fifth Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. The Ugly Truth will have the largest first printing to date of any title in the series, with more than 5 million copies, making it one of the largest publishing releases of 2010 when it goes on sale Tuesday, November 9. The cover is purple, following the red, blue, green, and yellow of the first four #1 bestselling books, which are available together for the first time this September in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books, which features an original Rowley Jefferson cartoon. The Ugly Truth follows the sales and publicity momentum of the #1 bestseller The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, a nonfiction book by Jeff Kinney published to coincide with the March 2010 release of the feature movie version of the first Wimpy Kid book. The Ugly Truth is a pivotal installment in the series and a must-read for fans.
“To me, the fifth book is the linchpin of the series,” said Jeff Kinney. “Since Greg Heffley is a cartoon character but also a literary character, I’ve always wondered if he should grow up or stay in a state of arrested development forever. This book answers that question once and for all.”
“With The Ugly Truth, Jeff Kinney takes his readers in a whole new direction,” said Charles Kochman, executive editor of the Wimpy Kid series. “All of the favorite characters will be back but, like Greg Heffley, you will see them in a new light as Jeff explores the reality of adolescence.”
The wide reach of the release of the title will include national publicity and a special promotion on the popular children’s website www.poptricpica.com, which will offer users a unique reveal of the cover on July 29, 2010. Kits with branded materials will be mailed in August to booksellers and librarians to help them build awareness and excitement.
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth is the most anticipated book of 2010, with the largest initial print run and with Jeff Kinney’s millions of fans elated with anticipation. And we at Abrams are happy to do our bit in bringing millions of kids—and their parents, caregivers, librarians, teachers, and friends—into stores for books this fall, starting with the release of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books gift set next month.
“We believe that our laydown of The Ugly Truth will bring traffic into stores and help make this holiday season an upbeat one for booksellers. As we roll out our pre-sales and marketing campaign over the next few months, we know that the excitement will skyrocket and that we may well go back to press to cover increased demand.”
Since publication of the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid book in April 2007, more than 35 million books are in print in the United States, and the books have been sold in more than 30 countries around the world. Published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS, Kinney’s work has been widely credited for its ability to turn reluctant readers on to books. In 2010, the movie adaptation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid grossed more than $60 million in box office sales, the book series won a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award, and books in the series won numerous awards voted on by students and teachers in schools around the globe. In 2009, Jeff Kinney was named one of TIME magazine’s most influential people in the world. A second movie is in production now and expected to be in theatres in March 2011.
Books by Jeff Kinney include Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book, and The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary. The series is a fixture on the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists, and has remained consistently in the top spots on the New York Times lists since publication.Order now!
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Interview Adventure series—Chad W. Beckerman
Marci Hersel: What are your responsibilities as Art Director for Abrams Books for Young readers and Amulet Books?
CW: I oversee the design, direction, and visual develop-
ment of books for these two imprints, as well as de-
signing and re-branding of the new ABRAMS logo.
I, along with the editors, think about which illustra-
tors out there are doing work that excites us and
offers the correct emotional response to the text.
Once an author and illustrator have been matched
up, I will go over sketches with the illustrator and
offer direction on how to better their work. At
of their work by offering understanding, encour-
agement, advice, honesty, excitement, and loads
of jokes.
I am also responsible for the design and direction of
the books from cover to interior — and yes, even
the back cover. I try my best to make the book look
as entertaining as possible so it becomes more entic-
ing for a reader to pick up.
Marci Hersel: What advice can you give illustrators trying to break into the business?
CW: Treat breaking into the business less like a dream
and more like a job with goals and responsibilities.
What I mean by this is if you are serious about be-
coming an illustrator you have to work at it like
your life depends on it.
My first goal would be to get a website or blog to
showcase your work. Try not to showcase too many
styles as this might confuse the art director and
make them wonder what style is truly yours. Sec-
ond, try and do a drawing a day or every other day
to keep yourself focused on your dream as well as
enhance your skills. Think of yourself as an athlete
who needs to work out before they can be at the top
of their game. It’s hard but you’ll look great for the
summer! Third, get yourself out there by any means
possible, mailing cards, e-mails, Facebook, Twitter,
etc., be inventive!
A word to the wise: if you find your way into talking
directly with an editor or art director and they don’t
respond, don’t keep calling or e-mailing, chances are
they are busy. If your work is what they are looking
for they will call.
Fourth, I cannot say this enough, do your research.
Take a trip to your local bookstore, Barnes &
Noble or Borders. Take a look at what they are posting up on
their walls and ask yourself, why? What looks like it
is selling? Don’t try to copy what is selling but look
deeper. Is it a book with animals, a book about a sin-
gle character? How is the book laid out? Who is the
publisher? These details will help you fine-tune your
own art, and your search for the publishing house
that will best match with your work. Lastly, I will
repeat my second piece of advice, draw, draw, draw!
Marci Hersel: How do you find illustrators for your projects? Are you open to hiring new talent?
I find illustrators numerous ways. For example:
• Illustrator reps.
• Artists’ websites.
• The Society of Illustrators, Illustrator annuals.
• Illustrator mailers.
• Student portfolio reviews.
• Other illustrator recommendations.
• Searching illustrators’ links to other illustrators.
I am always looking for new talent. One of the rewarding parts of my job
is finding new illustrators and giving them a stage to show off their talents.•
CW: I oversee the design, direction, and visual develop-
ment of books for these two imprints, as well as de-
signing and re-branding of the new ABRAMS logo.
I, along with the editors, think about which illustra-
tors out there are doing work that excites us and
offers the correct emotional response to the text.
Once an author and illustrator have been matched
up, I will go over sketches with the illustrator and
offer direction on how to better their work. At
of their work by offering understanding, encour-
agement, advice, honesty, excitement, and loads
of jokes.
I am also responsible for the design and direction of
the books from cover to interior — and yes, even
the back cover. I try my best to make the book look
as entertaining as possible so it becomes more entic-
ing for a reader to pick up.
Marci Hersel: What advice can you give illustrators trying to break into the business?
CW: Treat breaking into the business less like a dream
and more like a job with goals and responsibilities.
What I mean by this is if you are serious about be-
coming an illustrator you have to work at it like
your life depends on it.
My first goal would be to get a website or blog to
showcase your work. Try not to showcase too many
styles as this might confuse the art director and
make them wonder what style is truly yours. Sec-
ond, try and do a drawing a day or every other day
to keep yourself focused on your dream as well as
enhance your skills. Think of yourself as an athlete
who needs to work out before they can be at the top
of their game. It’s hard but you’ll look great for the
summer! Third, get yourself out there by any means
possible, mailing cards, e-mails, Facebook, Twitter,
etc., be inventive!
A word to the wise: if you find your way into talking
directly with an editor or art director and they don’t
respond, don’t keep calling or e-mailing, chances are
they are busy. If your work is what they are looking
for they will call.
Fourth, I cannot say this enough, do your research.
Take a trip to your local bookstore, Barnes &
Noble or Borders. Take a look at what they are posting up on
their walls and ask yourself, why? What looks like it
is selling? Don’t try to copy what is selling but look
deeper. Is it a book with animals, a book about a sin-
gle character? How is the book laid out? Who is the
publisher? These details will help you fine-tune your
own art, and your search for the publishing house
that will best match with your work. Lastly, I will
repeat my second piece of advice, draw, draw, draw!
Marci Hersel: How do you find illustrators for your projects? Are you open to hiring new talent?
I find illustrators numerous ways. For example:
• Illustrator reps.
• Artists’ websites.
• The Society of Illustrators, Illustrator annuals.
• Illustrator mailers.
• Student portfolio reviews.
• Other illustrator recommendations.
• Searching illustrators’ links to other illustrators.
I am always looking for new talent. One of the rewarding parts of my job
is finding new illustrators and giving them a stage to show off their talents.•
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
On Press in Hagerstown, Maryland for the DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS cover
A few weeks ago I traveled down to the Lehigh Phoenix Color plant in Hagerstown, Maryland for an on press check of the cover printing for DIARY OF A WIMPY KID : DOG DAYS. My main goal was to make sure that the color yellow was printing correctly. It was!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
A Truthful Portrait
In celebration of my 31st birthday Nathan Fox cooked up a portrait
of his 'favorite' art (evil) director.
Nathan and I worked on the cover for one of my favorite books
THE BIG SPLASH.
of his 'favorite' art (evil) director.
Nathan and I worked on the cover for one of my favorite books
THE BIG SPLASH.
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