Time Of Your Life by Jessa Hastings
I created the cover art for Jessa Hastings’s latest novel, Time Of Your Life. This new release marks a distinct evolution in her storytelling, yet still carries the emotional intensity and cinematic flare that her fans adore.
In the words of Jessa ~ “This cover posed for Emmy and I a great conundrum, and it stumped us for a long time. We wandered down so many paths until we arrived at this one. The most obvious one.
Them.
It’s a new and sort of scary experience showing them to you in this way, but I hope that this cover makes you feel how I felt when I first saw it. Enraptured, in awe and a tiny bit nervous for some reason. (You should be.)”
Cover Concept & Visual Direction
For Time Of Your Life, the narrative pivots around the tension between fame and personal identity: the front-man thrust into spotlight, the woman already the face of a generation. The story is set in the 90’s, giving us an opportunity to lean into vintage glamour with a modern twist. Rich metallic foils, deep saturated tones and layered line-work combine to evoke the adrenaline of the stage and the fragility behind the public persona.
emotional arc of the story: bright-light, high-stakes, and at risk of burning out.
My Role & Highlights
- Full cover illustration from concept sketches through to final production art.
- Collaboration with the publisher’s design team to ensure artwork aligns with retail and digital layout specifications.
- Attention to digital thumbnail legibility (for Amazon, Bookshop .org etc) as well as print impact on shelf.
- Integration of thematic cues: rock-star energy, 90s cinematic flair, emotional vulnerability.
- Working to tight schedule for a high-profile launch, coordinating final files with Orion’s supply chain team.
Credits
Launch date: 15 July 2025
Title: Time Of Your Life
Author: Jessa Hastings
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group (UK) × Bloom Books (US)
Role: Cover illustration front and back by Emmy Lawless