No. 67: A New Era…
Last Trip Down Fairy Tale Lane
It’s a holiday here in the States, so no deep dive diary this week — but I’ve been looking over the results from this two-day photo shoot for YOUNG WORLD and thinking about just how big a departure this book is from the 10-year fairy tale era that came before.
As I reported a couple diaries ago, for every book, I do a themed photo shoot, both to hype up readers for the feel and aesthetic of the book and to create a portfolio of press shots for the new novel. Often, I’m in these photos; other times I use models.
But I always work with the same team. Katie Grammes from Medusa Arts Studios as photographer. Vesta Goodarz for makeup and effects. Jun Sekiya as producer.
The whole thing is a glamour gambit that makes me feel like Madonna for a day, but it also gets me in the skin of a new book as I embark on promoting it and talking to readers about it. The photo itself becomes the start of a new temporary incarnation — another facet of myself I’m ready to show to the world. Also, for someone who hated the way he looked for most of his life, it also forces me to shed self-consciousness and use myself as a canvas, which requires some serious taming of anxiety and girding of loins. But I’m happy I always push through. Looking back at some of these photos now, it feels like a trip through my subconscious. A gallery of all my creative impulses.
Enjoy the ride with me…
2019: The School for Good and Evil: One True King
2020: Red School (crossover School for Good and Evil x Red Queen graphic novel)
2021: Beasts & Beauty
2021: Beasts & Beauty
2021: Beasts & Beauty
2022: The School for Good & Evil — Movie Tie-In Edition
2022: Rise of the School for Good and Evil
2023: Fall of the School for Good and Evil
2023: Fall of the School for Good and Evil
And now a sneak peek at some of the behind-the-scenes from the YOUNG WORLD experience.
One thing is for sure.
A brand new era is coming…
See you next week!
i've said it before, and i'm gonna say it again:
i LOVE how many artists you collaborate with to make MORE art.
it brings me gREAt joy!!!
and i LOVE the concept of getting you back in the mindset of the book before tour and promo and things-- that makes total sense! especially since authors often will have finished a book a year or two before they go out on tour to answer questions about it... eep! time for a review study session! ;D
wishing you allllll the best with YOUNG WORLD!
huzzah for make-up artists and photographers and stylists and SFX and looking back to celebrate where we've been and where we're going...!!!
(also, that suit for SFGE movie tie-in? incredible! and that RAVEN jacket!!! eeeee!!!! all the more reason to get myself a style squad!) ;D
hope you and yours had a great holiday monday.
until the next diary (or insta post),
xo,
*hallie :)
Can it just be said that Soman Chainani is one of the authors who impressed me to write and that I LOVE HIM 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜