The editors and marketing team wanted a clean, graphic cover for the latest Roddy Doyle novel: a picaresque story of a freewheeling Irish immigrant who heads for New York City and takes on odd jobs, ranging from bootlegger to sandwich-board-sign walker, and eventually befriends jazz great Louis Armstrong. I took as my inspiration the hand lettering of old-fashioned sandwich-board ads, the playful vitality of the jazz era and a color palette that referenced the American experience. Leanne Shapton’s beautiful lettering and art, along with a dark blue uncoated Mohawk paper, create a beautiful package.