I’m SO excited to finally share the cover of my debut picture book! SWIM, JIM! is hatching with Simon & Schuster on May 23, 2022 and available for pre-sale NOW HERE!
Before the big cover reveal, I thought you might like to see a sneak peek of how I worked with my editor, Catherine Laudone, and art director, Laurent Linn, to go from sketch to final cover concept.
JIM’s history begins in the summer of 2018, when I saw an article about a crocodile in Key Largo using a pool noodle to cross a canal. As an adult who never learned to swim, I related to this poor crocodile, and immediately thought, “This is a story!”
I quickly drew a picture of the water averse crocodile, and sent it to my agent, Timothy Travaglini at Transatlantic Agency. He saw the story potential, too, and encouraged me to write the book. So I did!
It took me a couple weeks to figure out the story and a few weeks more to create a mockup line drawing version of the book called a dummy book. With the dummy book, I created some art samples including what the cover might look like. The original title was JIM CAN’T SWIM.
JIM floated around for a while, and at last found a home with Catherine Laudone at Simon & Schuster. She suggested we change the title to SWIM, JIM!
Catherine and I worked on editing SWIM, JIM!’s story for several months, and when it was ready, it was time to get going on the art. When I discovered I’d be working with Laurent Linn, someone I had known, admired, and adored for many years– the person at the tippy-top of my wish list of art directors to work with, I couldn’t stop bouncing and happy flapping my arms. Dreams do come true!
When Laurent, Catherine, and I met for our first Zoom call, Laurent kindly took the time to explain all the steps in the book art process. He told me that the book cover is the only part of the book that must be approved by every department because it’s so critical to book sales, including crucial pre-orders. (HERE!) He said that I’d be working on the cover at the same time as interior illustrations.
Because Laurent and Catherine didn’t want to influence my creative process too much in the beginning, they asked me to come up with several cover sketches to begin, and we’d go from there.
Here are my initial sketches. (I always number my sketches and instruct my students to do the same so they are easy to refer to.)
I also included a couple funny covers. Sneaking toilets into the art has become my ongoing joke with Catherine, but she always catches it. (By Grabthar’s Hammer, I will have a toilet book someday!)
To my surprise, Catherine and Laurent picked a cover concept that was fairly similar to the one in my original submission. Laurent did ask me to make some changes, including flipping Jim’s direction so he would face the opening of the book. By the way, every edit Catherine and Laurent have suggested have made the book so much better. I LOVE working with this team, and it is truly not just my book, it’s OUR book.
They approved the revised sketch, and from there I created full color art. I handed the art over to Laurent, and he created the amazing type design. At this point, if I share any more of the art process it will give away the cover, so let’s just jump right in, shall we? Are you ready for the SWIM, JIM! cover???
I couldn’t be more happy with the final result and I hope you loved it, too!
If you are excited about SWIM, JIM! please pre-order your copy today HERE! Pre-sales are a great way to support authors and illustrators and show publishers there is market interest. It really does make a big difference! And thank you for helping me make my lifelong dream of being a children’s book author and illustrator a reality!
And yes, I am learning how to swim… with the assistance of some good pool floaties and a little help from my family, just like Jim!
Yours,
Kaz
P.S. Remember to follow me on all your favorite social media sites! https://linktr.ee/KazWindness
P.S.S. As a thank you, anyone who pre-orders the book will receive a SWIM, JIM! sticker. Order two, and I’ll send you a Jim lapel pin. Just DM, message, or email me with a good mailing address. (While supplies last. US addresses only, please.)
P.S.S. SWIM, JIM! is dedicated to Lily, seen here swimming with a pool noodle. Love you, Lily!
Photo by Lily’s mom, Simone De Haas
The Kaz Windness Blog 
Leave a comment