I am beyond delighted to share with you the cover of my upcoming book, This Changes Everything (releasing April 30, 2017), and a bit of the meaning behind it.
The designers at Crossway were an absolute joy to work with. The principal designers of this cover that I interacted with were Josh Dennis and Micah Lanier, both fantastically creative and kind people. I met Josh briefly in June when I visited Crossway's offices and have emailed with both of them.
As they created the concept for the cover and worked on graphics and design, they graciously kept me in the loop and invited feedback. (My feedback was usually something like: "I love this! This is amazing! You're my best friends!")
What I love especially about this cover is the meaning packed into it. All of the icons/graphics represent individual chapters. The fingerprint is Chapter 1: Our Identity. The bar at the top with the cross, star, garden, and space is Chapter 2: Our Story. The head made up of different pieces is Chapter 3: Our Community (and notice how identity and community point to each other).
The man fleeing from the city is Chapter 4: Our Sin (and props to anyone who gets that reference without actually reading my chapter!). Chapter 5: Our Disciplines is also represented by the "gospel bar" at the top and the notebook-like lines. The music notes connect to Chapter 6: Our Growth. The hour glass with the man chilling in it are for Chapter 7: Our Time. And the shaking hands represent Chapter 8: Our Relationships.
Here's the blurb Crossway wrote about the book:
"The teen years have been hijacked—by fashion, music, movies, and games; by the pressures of school, peers, and society; and by superficial expectations set by the world. But there is something more glorious than all these influences that has the power to change the life of a teenager: the gospel. Written by a teenager for teenagers, This Changes Everything is a deeply theological yet practical and accessible book on how the gospel radically transforms every aspect of the teen years, including pursuing relationships, managing time, combating personal sin, and cultivating healthy habits. In a culture awash with low expectations for young people, this book exhorts teenagers to embrace a gospel-centered perspective on their lives and pursue wholehearted devotion to Christ now."
The designers at Crossway were an absolute joy to work with. The principal designers of this cover that I interacted with were Josh Dennis and Micah Lanier, both fantastically creative and kind people. I met Josh briefly in June when I visited Crossway's offices and have emailed with both of them.
As they created the concept for the cover and worked on graphics and design, they graciously kept me in the loop and invited feedback. (My feedback was usually something like: "I love this! This is amazing! You're my best friends!")
What I love especially about this cover is the meaning packed into it. All of the icons/graphics represent individual chapters. The fingerprint is Chapter 1: Our Identity. The bar at the top with the cross, star, garden, and space is Chapter 2: Our Story. The head made up of different pieces is Chapter 3: Our Community (and notice how identity and community point to each other).
The man fleeing from the city is Chapter 4: Our Sin (and props to anyone who gets that reference without actually reading my chapter!). Chapter 5: Our Disciplines is also represented by the "gospel bar" at the top and the notebook-like lines. The music notes connect to Chapter 6: Our Growth. The hour glass with the man chilling in it are for Chapter 7: Our Time. And the shaking hands represent Chapter 8: Our Relationships.
Here's the blurb Crossway wrote about the book:
"The teen years have been hijacked—by fashion, music, movies, and games; by the pressures of school, peers, and society; and by superficial expectations set by the world. But there is something more glorious than all these influences that has the power to change the life of a teenager: the gospel. Written by a teenager for teenagers, This Changes Everything is a deeply theological yet practical and accessible book on how the gospel radically transforms every aspect of the teen years, including pursuing relationships, managing time, combating personal sin, and cultivating healthy habits. In a culture awash with low expectations for young people, this book exhorts teenagers to embrace a gospel-centered perspective on their lives and pursue wholehearted devotion to Christ now."
Writing a book is hard, but it's also a lot of fun - a lot. It's a privilege and an honor to work with Crossway on this project, and I'm so excited to share it with you!
As always, friends, I appreciate your prayers as I walk through this process.