Instructions to a Self: A Diary of Becoming

Book Cover Design | Interior Design and Layout
client: Jen Lee

THE PROJECT: Early on in the pandemic, Jen Lee began keeping a journal of her days, keeping a near daily account of the ebbs and flows of her life ranging from the personal to the poetic. We began this book project as we’ve begun nearly all of them, she sends me a manuscript and asks: “Is this something?” We decided it was.

When we began working on this project, she said: “I kept looking for comfort in books, or movies, streaming shows, and nothing felt right, and then I realized it was because nothing I was looking at was written or made right now, nothing reflected my experience of living through these months.” And so this pandemic memoir in diary form came into being.

Cover photos by Lisa Field

“Sharing a book with the world is a big deal, and it’s important to honor your creative offering with a presentation that will help it soar. As an author, filmmaker, and multimedia producer, I’ve worked with Liz Kalloch as my design partner for over a decade. Liz has a gift for learning the style and preferences of each client and incorporating them into her original designs. A true artist in her own right, Liz’s hand-lettering and illustrations have also given my projects a unique touch. I whole-heartedly recommend her to every independent artist, writer, and maker I know.”

— JEN LEE | FILMMAKER. WRITER. GATHERER.