Magnolia Parks Special Edition (UK)
I had the joy of creating the brand-new cover art and illustrated endpapers for Orion Publishing’s Deluxe Special Editions of the Magnolia Parks series by Jessa Hastings. These UK clothbound hardback collector’s editions celebrate the world of Magnolia Parks with elevated book-object details: gold-foil artwork on the case, colour head & tail bands, and a ribbon marker.
Designed for readers who love beautiful books as much as beautiful stories, this project spanned three Magnolia Parks titles: Magnolia Parks, Magnolia Parks: The Long Way Home, and Magnolia Parks: Into the Dark, each produced as an Orion exclusive deluxe edition. My role covered full cover illustration (reimagining the series aesthetic for a premium, foil-forward hardback) and endpaper illustration that extends the emotional throughline of the characters across the interiors.
Art direction & visual language
The Magnolia Parks Universe lives at the intersection of old-money glamour, tabloid-ready romance, and raw, aching intimacy. I built a visual language that fuses high-gloss London socialite cues with fractured, diaristic textures, so each cover feels both iconic on a shelf and meaningful in hand. Metallic linework and ornamental flourishes echo heirloom jewelry and hotel monograms, while layered illustration nods to the series’ themes—legacy, heartbreak, and second chances. This sensibility carries inside the book through illustrated endpapers, designed as an immersive “first look” and “last look” that frame the reading experience and make every copy feel gift-worthy. (These editions are widely recognised for their gold-foil cloth bindings and gorgeous endpaper artwork—a hallmark of the run.)
Edition features (what collectors love)
- Brand-new cover designs illustrated by Emmy Lawless
- Clothbound hardbacks with gold-foil case art
- Illustrated endpapers by Emmy Lawless
- Colour head & tail bands and ribbon marker
These details were consistently spotlighted by retailers and booksellers when the editions launched, helping readers differentiate the Orion deluxe hardbacks from standard paperbacks and earlier printings (even by my favourite hometown bookstore, Dymocks!)
Outcome & reception
The special editions arrived to enthusiastic fan response across major booksellers and social channels, with Waterstones and the official Magnolia Parks accounts highlighting the deluxe clothbound finishes and foil artwork as standout features. For collectors of the Magnolia Parks Universe, these hardbacks have quickly become definitive display copies—uniting premium production with an art-led identity that feels true to Magnolia and BJ.
Credits
Illustration: Emmy Lawless – cover art & illustrated endpapers
Publisher: Orion Publishing (UK)
Author: Jessa Hastings