“Journalism is printing something that someone does not want printed.
Everything else is public relations.” - George Orwell
Good morning. Today, a cover reveal for a middle grade time traveling story by a neuroscientist, a Glimpse of Murray Carpenter’s book Sweet & Deadly (MIT Press), and a laugh about A.I. from Geesh. Let’s go.
Extinction Event
Last year I was searching for a good book about consciousness because I’m in the existential stage of my life where I’m questioning my existence. I found Consciousness and the Social Brain by Princeton professor and neuroscientist Michael Graziano. I started reading/listening to it during my daily runs. I found it so fascinating because, for a book about the least understood organ in the human body, it was fairly easy to understand. Chapter after chapter Michael simplifies abstract ideas into clear, visual metaphors. Occasionally after a run, I found my sweaty self pecking away at the keyboard emailing him to clarify a few questions I had about awareness and whatnot.
One email led to dozens and before I knew it we were working on a 4 minute video for TedEd about his theory of consciousness called The Awareness Schema. Between video reviews he started telling me about a middle grade chapter book he was working on about a feisty little fireplug named Nell who gets sucked into a time traveling suitcase and lands her face to face with dinosaurs. I immediately was hooked, threw myself into creating some art to go along with his manuscript, and it’s now on the submissions road to finding the right publisher. Could it be that my existential angst actually leads to putting something good out into the world? That story is yet to have an ending.
Coca-Cola Being Naughty-Naughty
Years ago, a NYT exposè revealed how The Global Energy Balance Network (GEBN) pushed disinformation about how a lack of exercise rather than excess calories was driving the epidemics of overweight and obesity.
It was a pleasure to do this kind of editorial artwork that brings attention to a story that needs to be heard. Makes me think of the George Orwell quote: “Journalism is printing something that someone does not want printed. Everything else is public relations.”
Speaking of quote-ables, this particular Glimpse got one of the best comments to date:
“This deserves paid advertising on a 20’ wide screen.”
A Poem About A.I.
Until next time,
Tom
Clients: Disney / Cartoon Network / RTFKT (Nike) / Locksmith animation studio/ Illumination / Hasbro / DNEG / Universal Studios
Publishing: SCHOLASTIC / HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT / LARK /WALL STREET JOURNAL / ENSLOW / IDW / JONAS PUBLISHING / WORTHWHILE BOOKS / DISNEY / PEARSON / WILEY / SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL / ZONDERVAN / REDDIT