Pay As You Go
Role: Author, Design consultant
In 2023 my debut novel was published by McSweeney’s Press to critical acclaim. A finalist for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, and the New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award, Pay As You Go tells the story of our intrepid hero Slide, as he navigates the fictional city of Polis to find the perfect place to live.
I asked my publisher if I could have a hand in the design process of the book itself and they very graciously said yes! Here’s a bit of what that looked like.
Cover Evolution
I wanted a cover that emphasized a sense of scope, adventure, and epic narrative. Using a seminal moment in the plot (a cataclysmic flood) as inspiration, I worked with the design team through various renditions of two figures navigating a submerged cityscape. Over a number of collaborative discussions we iterated from an initial illustration emphasizing negative space, to a final version with a singular point of focus inviting readers inwards—towards the story.
A Map of Polis
A fictional city is only as real as you make it. As part of both the book design, I envisioned a map of the story’s setting, Polis, with which readers could better navigate the story’s plot alongside the characters. I coordinated with a cartographer and map designer, provided sketches of a concept map alongside relevant excerpts from the novel detailing each neighborhood. The final version, shown here, appears in the book’s opening pages.
#BookTripRoadTour
Once the book was out, it was time to spread the word! In April of 2024 I embarked on a cross-country road trip to promote the novel, with funding from my publisher. As it was one part book tour and one part road trip, I dubbed it the Book Trip Road Tour, and made promotional material for social media to generate engagement. The tour featured stops across nine US cities, several with full house readings and signings.
Copyright 2024 Eskor David Johnson. All rights reserved.