So Hormonal is a collection of personal essays detailing the various roles that hormones play in our daily lives. Published in August 2020, with over 30 authors from almost a dozen countries, this anthology strikes a balance between raw truths, tough challenges and improbable elation.
Project Overview
Role Curator, Editor, Designer
Team Monstrous Regiment Publishing house, Zachary Dickson, 30+ freelance authors
Process From concept to delivery, a full-scale publishing process
Software Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Docs
Project Length 1 Year
Challenge
Crowdfund £8,000 to fund the publication of an anthology
Design a brand identity for the collection, along with mechanising and marketing material
Curate a collection of essays that is diverse, engaging, and reflective of a complex and highly personal yet universal set of experiences
Approach
In April 2020, we planned and launched a Kickstarter to raise over £8,000 to cover publishing costs of creating So Hormonal, including print and contributor fees. Despite the global pandemic's uncertain backdrop, we successfully reached our target and remotely managed the project to completion in August 2020.
Throughout that time, I curated the essay collection, which received over 80 submissions, to include 35 individual stories. I co-edited each piece and provided guidance and support to each of our contributors via written and verbal feedback. I designed the cover of the collection alongside the Creative Director of Monstrous Regiment, meeting regularly for feedback and crit sessions. I also designed various forms of merchandise including posters, tote bags, and pins.
I organised a virtual launch event alongside our publishing house that spanned over three nights and three independent bookstores across the UK. I coordinated pre-recorded interviews with 7 of our contributors on 3 topics from the book and edited the videos to be streamed via the bookstores’ social media accounts.
Co-editors Emily Horgan and Zachary Dickson, alongside their dog Colby, holding the first copy of So Hormonal outside of their home in Edinburgh.
Results
So Hormonal is available to buy in-store and online across the UK and is available in selected bookstores in New Zealand, Ireland, and Europe. It has a 5-star rating on Goodreads and has received widespread praise from those who have reviewed it.