HARPER COLLINS - BLACKOUT & WHITEOUT
Book cover illustrations for two books containing a collection of love stories that show Black love between a variety of characters. As there are both straight and LGBTQ+ characters represented in the stories, the authors did not want the cover to be too specific with genders. They also wanted to see the color palette explored in a way that relates to the physical settings of each book:
- For Blackout, color palette should be inspired by a blackout in NYC -- sunset/ twilight/nighttime, with maybe a hint of a New York City vibe in the background.
- For Whiteout, color palette should be inspired by a blizzard/snowstorm in Atlanta
Art Direction: Erin Fitzsimmons
BLACKOUT is a Black Let It Snow set during a New York City heatwave blackout - when six couples find love, laughter, and insight into themselves and their relationships. This novel contains six overlapping love stories (about straight and LGBTQ+ characters) written by six of the most prominent Black women writers in children's literature. Bestselling and award-winning authors - Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon-bring all the electricity of love to a collection of charming, hilarious, and heartbreaking tales that shine the brightest light through the dark.
WHITEOUT is a follow up novel (not a sequel) with an entirely new set of characters, written by the same six authors. It is set during a a freak snowstorm in Atlanta, GA, which brings Hotlanta to a halt. Scattered around the city, twelve teens try to make the best of being stranded. The stories take place over the course of six hours and the characters are connected because some go to church together, some are in a Jack-and-Jill type thing, and some go to the same school. Between each story, we will see social media, text messages, and news reports discuss the snow as well as an event taking place in the sky. A word will appear in each story and the characters don't know what it means. Some see it on social media, others on the news, and some in the sky.
LITERARY AGENT
JOAN PAQUETTE- Joan connects inquiring Publishers looking for illustrations by Uzo. She negotiates contracts illustrating books (novel covers, children’s books, graphic novels).