Jack Smyth
@jackflag.bsky.social
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Photoshop is one hell of a drug. jacksmyth.co
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Jack Smyth
Banshee Press
22 days ago
@jackflag.bsky.social
's cover for Claire-Lise Kieffer's Tenterhooks was also cited by Jack's fellow designers as one of the best covers of the year in
@literaryhub.bsky.social
đŤ´
lithub.com/the-173-best...
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The 173 Best Book Covers of 2025
Per Literary Hub tradition, I am pleased to present the best book covers of the yearâas chosen by some of the industryâs best book cover designers. This year, I asked 52 designers to share their faâŚ
https://lithub.com/the-173-best-book-covers-of-2025/
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Jack Smyth
Banshee Press
22 days ago
Some lovely press this week â first up,
@jackflag.bsky.social
's cover for
@bebeashley.bsky.social
's Harbour Doubts was listed as a best book cover of 2025 by
@nytimes.com
đ§Ą
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/b...
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The Best Book Covers of 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/books/review/the-best-book-covers-of-2025.html
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Jack Smyth
The Casual Optimist
23 days ago
Mark Sinclair weighs in on AI vs the actual real work of design, and chooses his favourite book covers of 2025 for Creative Review:
www.creativereview.co.uk/the-best-boo...
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The best book covers of the year 2025
Mark Sinclair picks his ten favourite book covers of the year, chosen for their âstrong, characterful, challenging and excitingâ design
https://www.creativereview.co.uk/the-best-book-covers-of-the-year-2025/
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Thanks Dan!
add a skeleton here at some point
27 days ago
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Jack Smyth
The Casual Optimist
2 months ago
Here are this month's book covers of note...
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Book Covers of Note, October 2025
Hey, I hope you're keeping safe and well wherever you are. Here are my latest book covers of note... Big Kiss, Bye-Bye by Claire-Louise Bennett; design by Stephanie Ross; cover art by Maria GuimarĂŁes The Bridegroom Was a Dog by Yoko Tawada; cover illustration by David Plunkert (New Directions / November 2025) Casanova 20 by Davey Davis; design by…
https://www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/10/28/book-covers-of-note-october-2025/
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The worst take.
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AI can help authors beat writerâs block, says Bloomsbury chief
Publisher last week reported jump in revenue in academic and professional arm thanks to AI licensing deal
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/oct/27/ai-authors-writers-block-bloomsbury-chief-book-publisher-shares?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeUnUxjHZYs_RXu2djj-fMgMvb_EHvzvVwXTFyEnVNlQZ6Y78oh0VhMMvjK9A_aem_EMoso4MOeg-4RyvTxXvX0Q
2 months ago
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Jack Smyth
gray318
2 months ago
Opens tomorrow!
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
Banshee Press
3 months ago
Happy publication day to FILLY by
@rosamundtaylor.bsky.social
đ âFilly is a testament to the savagery and exaltation of loveâ Mary Morrissy âRaw and poetic, tender yet unflinchingâ Louise Hegarty âI devoured Filly in a dayâ Liz Berry âA perfectly formed sucker punch of a bookâ Jan Carson
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
Books Upstairs
3 months ago
A small fire at the front of the bookshop was started last night after rubbish bags that were awaiting collection were set on fire. The guards donât have reason at this time to believe it was a targeted attack. Thankfully the damage was limited and everyone is safe. We are open for business as usual
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New illustration for the New Yorker, both online and in print. Huge thanks to Art Director Supriya Kalidas.
3 months ago
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
The Casual Optimist
3 months ago
Here are this month's book cover of note
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Book Covers of Note, September 2025
Hey. I hope you're keeping safe and well. I'm posting this late on the last day of the month, but hopefully it was worth waiting for. I will let you get to the covers posthaste, but before I go, today (September 30th) is also Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, so I would like take a moment to acknowledge and remember the survivors of residential schools, their families and the kids who didn't come home.
https://www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/09/30/book-covers-of-note-september-2025/
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Mary Robinson is such a baller.
4 months ago
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
The Casual Optimist
4 months ago
ICYMI last week, here's the most recent book covers of note post:
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/08...
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Book Covers of Note, August 2025
Hey. Here are this monthâs book covers of note. Archipelago by Natalie Bakopoulos; design by Beth Steidle (Tin House Books / August 2025) I really had to wrack my brain to think of what this âŚ
https://www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/08/28/book-covers-of-note-august-2025/
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
Dan Wagstaff
4 months ago
I don't have lots to say this month, but there are lots of great book covers all the same...
add a skeleton here at some point
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Reissue cover for Dave Randal's Sound System, out now on
@plutopress.bsky.social
Art Direction by Melanie Patrick.
4 months ago
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Cover for Swallows by Natsuo Kirino, out now on Canongate. Art Director: Rafi Romaya
4 months ago
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
The Lilliput Press
5 months ago
-a genuine exploration of aging, masculinity, and the slow erosion of certainty. Out this September, Injury Time is available to pre-order from the Lilliput website now đ Cover design by the incredible
@jackflag.bsky.social
â¨ď¸ Available to pre-order here:
www.lilliputpress.ie/products/inj...
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Injury Time by Kevin Smith - The Lilliput Press
In this sharp-eyed comedy of memories, middle age and long-buried mistakes, a privileged entrepreneur feels the chill winds of post-Brexit change in a society struggling to account for its past.
https://www.lilliputpress.ie/products/injury-time
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Illustration for Adam Gopnik's piece 'Was the Renaissance Real?' in The New Yorker this week. Huge thanks to Art Director Supriya Kalidas.
5 months ago
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Thanks Dan!
add a skeleton here at some point
5 months ago
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
The Casual Optimist
5 months ago
And here are Zachary Petit's latest book cover picks for PRINT Magazine!
www.printmag.com/book-covers/...
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23 of the Best Book Covers of July 2025 â PRINT Magazine
Riffing with McSweeney's Sunra Thompson on the double cover for 'Mostly Everything: The Art of Tucker Nichols,' plus our favorite cover finds of the month.
https://www.printmag.com/book-covers/23-of-the-best-book-covers-of-july-2025/
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It's absolutely wild to me that Stanley Tucci has yet to release his own brand of cantucci. I'd love to pick up a bag of Stantuccis the next time I'm in Italy.
6 months ago
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
Banshee Press
6 months ago
First look: the gorgeous cover of FILLY, Rosamund Taylor's stunning novel-in-verse, coming from Banshee Press in October 2025. Cover photography by Oana Stoian, with design by Jack Smyth â¨
@rosamundtaylor.bsky.social
@jackflag.bsky.social
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Surely Andor is a show about people who can't make up their minds. In space.
6 months ago
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Cover design for Harbour Doubts by Bebe Ashley, publishing today via
@bansheepress.bsky.social
6 months ago
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Love hearing the US acts say "Hello Glaston Berry!" every year.
6 months ago
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Jack Smyth
Dan Wagstaff
6 months ago
ICYMI, here's my latest round-up of new and recent book covers and design trends:
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/06...
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Book Covers of Note, June 2025
Itâs been another busy month here, so apologies for the slightly scattered post. It includes a few covers that I missed earlier in early in the year, and a few other bits and pieces. I hope eâŚ
https://www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/06/26/book-covers-of-note-june-2025/
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
The Casual Optimist
6 months ago
Here are this month's book covers of note!
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Book Covers of Note, June 2025
It's been another busy month here, so apologies for the slightly scattered post. It includes a few covers that I missed earlier in early in the year, and a few other bits and pieces. I hope everyone is doing OK. Here are the covers... Audition by Pip Adam; cover art by Leopold Adi Surya (Coffee House Press / June 2025)
https://www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/06/26/book-covers-of-note-june-2025/
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Cover for Monaghan (mo-na-han for the non-Gaels out there) by Timothy O'Grady, out today. The second image shows some process work, where I made some ink prints with a roller from a cutout of my brother's silhouette from a photograph.
7 months ago
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Cover Design for The Slip, by Lucas Schaefer. Published today by Simon & Schuster. Art Direction by Jackie Seow.
7 months ago
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
Dan Wagstaff
7 months ago
This month's book covers post is up on the
@casualoptimist.bsky.social
blog đżď¸
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/05...
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Book Covers of Note, May 2025
Hey, sorry, just sliding in under the wire with another slightly rushed post this month. I hope everyone is safe and well (all things considered). Letâs just get on with it shall we? AutocorrâŚ
https://www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/05/29/book-covers-of-note-may-2025/
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
The Casual Optimist
7 months ago
Book Covers of Note, May 2025
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Book Covers of Note, May 2025
Hey, sorry, just sliding in under the wire with another slightly rushed post this month. I hope everyone is safe and well (all things considered). Let's just get on with it shall we? Autocorrect by Etgar Keret; design by Lauren Peters-Collaer (Riverhead / May 2025) The Bombshell by Darrow Farr; design by Colin Webber (Pamela Dorman Books / May 2025)
https://www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/05/29/book-covers-of-note-may-2025/
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llustration for Katy Waldman's article on Colum McCann's new book Twist for The New Yorker. Art Direction by Supriya Kalidas.
@newyorker.com
8 months ago
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
TheBookshop.ie
8 months ago
New, recent and forthcoming books from
@lilliputpress.bsky.social
- from Oona Frawley, Shane Tivenan, Andrew McNeillie (all May) & the late Denis Donoghue (coming in June)
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Thanks Dan!
add a skeleton here at some point
8 months ago
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
The Casual Optimist
9 months ago
Here's this month's book covers of note
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Book Covers of Note, April 2025
Hey, I hope you're all keeping safe and well. Apologies for a slightly rushed post this month. It's been kind of a busy time, and I'm travelling for work next week, so I'm sure I've missed a few covers and connections. I'll try to catch up over the summer if/when things quieten down. Anyway... there are still lots of great covers in this month's post -- some from the usual suspects for sure, but also a few indies, a university press, a couple of covers from the UK and Ireland, and one from Canada...
https://www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/04/22/book-covers-of-note-april-2025/
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
The Casual Optimist
9 months ago
Totally forgotten I'd posted this back in 2020 right before the pandemic. Some absolute bangers here
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2020/01...
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The Decade in Book Covers
There is a bit of story to this post. The short version is that I started it in 2018 to celebrate 10 years of the blog. When that deadline went whooshing past, I thought I would rework it for the eâŚ
https://www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2020/01/24/10-years-of-notable-book-covers/
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
Oona Frawley
9 months ago
Thrilled (& a bit terrified!) that this will be out soon. Grateful to all
@lilliputpress.bsky.social
, to
@brianlangan.bsky.social
for all of the support & encouragement, and to
@jackflag.bsky.social
for the gorgeous cover. đ
@maynoothuniversity.ie
@muahi.bsky.social
@maynoothenglish.bsky.social
add a skeleton here at some point
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Illustration for The New Yorker article 'How to Survive the A.I. Revolution' by John Cassidy. Online now and in this week's print issue. Art Direction by Nicholas Blechman.
@newyorker.com
9 months ago
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
Banshee Press
9 months ago
FIRST LOOK: Harbour Doubts, the prizewinning second collection of poems by Bebe Ashley, out 03/07/25 â¨
@bebeashley.bsky.social
'Sinuous poems full of power' â Rosamund Taylor
@rosamundtaylor.bsky.social
Cover by Jack Smyth
@jackflag.bsky.social
bansheepress.org/shop/p/harbo...
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
SeĂĄn Costello
9 months ago
This exhibition of the work of Evie Hone and Mainie Jellett sounds excellent and long overdue
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âFreak picturesâ: Irelandâs art revolutionaries who were treated so badly one fled to a nunnery
They were artistic trailblazers, bringing modernism to the then deeply conservative country. But Evie Hone and Mainie Jellett faced huge hostility. Now a thrilling new show is celebrating their brilli...
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/apr/10/freak-pictures-irelands-art-revolutionaries-who-were-treated-so-badly-one-fled-to-a-nunnery?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
Cover Meeting
9 months ago
Listen to Cover Meeting with Craig Oldham about his work, the industry and everything else in between. Listen here:
linktr.ee/covermeeting
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
Joe Noonan
9 months ago
âI was stripped completely naked. âWhen I questioned the necessity for this I was told I would be forced violently if I didnât comply and they didnât want any trouble. âThey looked inside my private area and touched all my sensitive parts.â
www.irishtimes.com/politics/oir...
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
Benedict Sangster
10 months ago
'Then Sylvie would have gone to sleep on the couch after finishing off the night like you finish off an animal at the end of its life...' From Claire Baglin's On the Clock, translated by Jordan Stump, out today from
@dauntbookspub.bsky.social
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
Daunt Books Publishing
10 months ago
A privilege of being at Daunt is getting to work with as talented designers as
@jackflag.bsky.social
- here is his latest for us, for Claire Baglin's ON THE CLOCK (tr Jordan Stump), which captures in a way I never could've imagined or briefed the spirit, ideas and texture of this novel:
add a skeleton here at some point
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Another great roundup from the Casual Optimist.
add a skeleton here at some point
10 months ago
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Cover design for On The Clock by Claire Baglin, translated by Jordan Stump, being published tomorrow by
@dauntbookspub.bsky.social
Huge thanks to
@marigoldatkey.bsky.social
for championing this design from the start!
10 months ago
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Genuinely think we should just turn the internet off for a few years. We all need a bit of time away from the reality shredder.
10 months ago
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Pertinent to highlight that they also owe monies to designers (me, for example) who have already completed work on their books due for publication this year.
add a skeleton here at some point
10 months ago
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reposted by
Jack Smyth
Daniel Benneworth-Gray
10 months ago
Meanwhile â notes on book design and other hyperlinks.
meanwhile.substack.com/p/theres-onl...
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Thereâs only make
Notes on book design and other hyperlinks.
https://meanwhile.substack.com/p/theres-only-make
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Jack Smyth
Cover Meeting
10 months ago
New episode with Sarah Wasley â the Production and Design Director at Granta Books. Listen here:
linktr.ee/covermeeting
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