Stay On by Connie Baker, MS

Today I'm excited to share the story of one of the first books I designed for a self-published author: Stay On: Build Resilience and Thrive While Facing Cancer by Connie Baker. I didn’t understand at the time how lucky I was to have Connie as an early client. Not only was her book beautifully written, she had an exciting vision for the cover that allowed me to stretch my muscles as both a designer and an artist. 

Connie is the co-creator of the Wong-Baker FACES® Pain Rating Scale. She wrote Stay On about surviving breast cancer, and the way her health and life were transformed by the process. She hoped for a striking abstract cover image that incorporated blue and green tones. Connie saw my 2019 solo show in Poughkeepsie and asked if I could create a cover using handmade paper that used the color palette.

To achieve Connie’s vision, I first made a batch of handmade paper in a deep teal color out of cotton and abaca fibers. 

Next, I used a large roller and lithography ink to add color to the pieces of handmade paper. This is called monotype printing, meaning each print is unique and can’t be repeated. 

After the prints dried, I added some gold leaf to the edges of a few of them. Then I set up a photo station and took high resolution images of several different arrangements. These photos became the background. 

Finally, I arranged the text onto the front cover, back cover, and spine using InDesign. Here you can see what the file looks like when the background isn’t fully cropped. 

Et voila! Connie’s cover came out hopeful and bright, but with a pensive solemnity that reflects the seriousness of her cancer journey. Connie’s book has 30 five star reviews on Amazon and won first place in the CIPA Evvy Award’s Health and Fitness category. Congrats Connie!