Dan Wagstaff
@danwagstaff.bsky.social
Book stuff. Manager of expectations. Toronto. He/him.
www.casualoptimist.com
www.casualoptimist.com
More snow in Toronto...
February 18, 2026 at 1:54 PM
More snow in Toronto...
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
Designer-turned-author Oliver Munday and designer Chris Brand discuss the creative process behind the cover of Oliver's new novel Head of Household
lithub.com/when-a-book-...
lithub.com/when-a-book-...
When a Book Cover Designer Writes a Book, Who Designs the Cover?
As a book cover designer, I never imagined the tables being turned and finding myself in the position of an author awaiting cover designs. But after selling my first work of fiction, Head of Househ…
lithub.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Designer-turned-author Oliver Munday and designer Chris Brand discuss the creative process behind the cover of Oliver's new novel Head of Household
lithub.com/when-a-book-...
lithub.com/when-a-book-...
I don't know how you square that what people click is not necessarily the same as what they value/want. But one is easy to measure and the other is not.
February 4, 2026 at 5:11 PM
I don't know how you square that what people click is not necessarily the same as what they value/want. But one is easy to measure and the other is not.
Incredible photo by Victor J. Blue
Just reposting this - my story this week is part of this week's cover package on Minneapolis and the rise of what we call "America's paramilitary peril."
www.economist.com/united-state...
www.economist.com/united-state...
January 31, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Incredible photo by Victor J. Blue
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
Hey friends, can I ask you all to give our @littleghostsbooks.bsky.social Crowdfundr a look? Any amount helps us with our workspace renovation plans, if you're not able (which I understand!), if you could share the link that would be amazing. Love you all! 🤗🧡 👻📚
crowdfundr.com/littleghosts...
crowdfundr.com/littleghosts...
Little Ghosts Books Workshop Space
Little Ghosts Books horror bookstore & community hub is looking to expand its space by renovating our back garage into a studio to host our workshops, book clubs, and author events.
crowdfundr.com
January 27, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Hey friends, can I ask you all to give our @littleghostsbooks.bsky.social Crowdfundr a look? Any amount helps us with our workspace renovation plans, if you're not able (which I understand!), if you could share the link that would be amazing. Love you all! 🤗🧡 👻📚
crowdfundr.com/littleghosts...
crowdfundr.com/littleghosts...
My latest round-up of new and recent book covers is up on the blog:
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2026/01...
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2026/01...
Book Covers of Note, January 2026
Well, it’s been a month. I hope you’re all keeping safe and well, especially my friends and publishing colleagues in Minnesota. Stay Strong. The Aquatics by Osvalde Lewat, translated by…
www.casualoptimist.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:53 PM
My latest round-up of new and recent book covers is up on the blog:
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2026/01...
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2026/01...
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
This is a really interesting selection. A lot of the covers you would expect, but still some surprises...
lithub.com/the-best-boo...
lithub.com/the-best-boo...
The Best Book Covers of the Last Decade
This year at Literary Hub, we published the tenth iteration of a fan favorite end of year list: the best book covers of the year, as chosen by some of our favorite book cover designers. This featur…
lithub.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:31 PM
This is a really interesting selection. A lot of the covers you would expect, but still some surprises...
lithub.com/the-best-boo...
lithub.com/the-best-boo...
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
Notable YA Covers of 2025 - this really is a post for fans of illustrated book covers:
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2026/01...
#books #illustration #YA
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2026/01...
#books #illustration #YA
January 14, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Notable YA Covers of 2025 - this really is a post for fans of illustrated book covers:
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2026/01...
#books #illustration #YA
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2026/01...
#books #illustration #YA
Mieko Kawakami on the cover of @publisherswkly.bsky.social
January 13, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Mieko Kawakami on the cover of @publisherswkly.bsky.social
Here's my look back at some of the YA book covers that caught my eye last year. There's a ton of great art and illustration - particularly fantasy and horror - if that's your thing...
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2026/01...
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2026/01...
Notable YA Covers of 2025
Happy New Year! I hope you’re keeping safe and well. I just re-read the introduction to my 2024 YA post and it says pretty much everything I was going to say about young adult covers this tim…
www.casualoptimist.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Here's my look back at some of the YA book covers that caught my eye last year. There's a ton of great art and illustration - particularly fantasy and horror - if that's your thing...
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2026/01...
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2026/01...
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
"Fuck AI! Film poster art forever!"
@seekandspeak.bsky.social's Notable Film Posters of 2025
www.seekandspeak.com/notable-film...
@seekandspeak.bsky.social's Notable Film Posters of 2025
www.seekandspeak.com/notable-film...
Notable Film Posters 2025 - seekandspeak.com - Made by Brandon Schaefer
Notable Film Posters 2025 Fuck AI! Film poster art forever! Below are posters made by other people throughout the past year that I think are particularly swell. Posters are arranged alphabetically by ...
www.seekandspeak.com
January 8, 2026 at 4:16 PM
"Fuck AI! Film poster art forever!"
@seekandspeak.bsky.social's Notable Film Posters of 2025
www.seekandspeak.com/notable-film...
@seekandspeak.bsky.social's Notable Film Posters of 2025
www.seekandspeak.com/notable-film...
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
I loved loved loved loved LOVED this book
December 18, 2025 at 12:58 AM
I loved loved loved loved LOVED this book
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
Gayle has been working on this book for two decades—“long-awaited” hardly covers it, at least for publishing nerds
A new biography by Gayle Feldman straddles 20th-century American cultural history, using Cerf’s life to link books, Broadway, Hollywood, and television. How did book publishing evolve from the very personal to the corporate? This excerpt shows how, with the best of intentions, that evolution began.
Patriotism and Profit at Random House During World War II
A new biography by Gayle Feldman, Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He Built, straddles 20th-century American cultural history. The following excerpt focuses on changes that would…
buff.ly
December 16, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Gayle has been working on this book for two decades—“long-awaited” hardly covers it, at least for publishing nerds
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
Mark Sinclair weighs in on AI vs the actual real work of design, and chooses his favourite book covers of 2025 for Creative Review:
www.creativereview.co.uk/the-best-boo...
www.creativereview.co.uk/the-best-boo...
The best book covers of the year 2025
Mark Sinclair picks his ten favourite book covers of the year, chosen for their “strong, characterful, challenging and exciting” design
www.creativereview.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Mark Sinclair weighs in on AI vs the actual real work of design, and chooses his favourite book covers of 2025 for Creative Review:
www.creativereview.co.uk/the-best-boo...
www.creativereview.co.uk/the-best-boo...
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
Overheard in the supermarket. Two teenagers.
1: 'Where's Dad?'
2 (with ineffable weariness): 'In the cheese aisle, having the time of his life.'
1: 'Where's Dad?'
2 (with ineffable weariness): 'In the cheese aisle, having the time of his life.'
December 15, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Overheard in the supermarket. Two teenagers.
1: 'Where's Dad?'
2 (with ineffable weariness): 'In the cheese aisle, having the time of his life.'
1: 'Where's Dad?'
2 (with ineffable weariness): 'In the cheese aisle, having the time of his life.'
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
For the folks waiting for Matt Dorfman’s list for the NYT, here it is (gift link):
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/b...
The Best Book Covers of 2025
www.nytimes.com
December 14, 2025 at 5:07 PM
For the folks waiting for Matt Dorfman’s list for the NYT, here it is (gift link):
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/b...
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
Friends, Romans, countrymen, I read a lot of comics this year and these were the best ones
The Best Graphic Novels of 2025
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Friends, Romans, countrymen, I read a lot of comics this year and these were the best ones
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
BEHOLD, my list of the best movie posters of 2025.
The best movie posters of the year 2025
Daniel Benneworth-Gray picks his favourite movie posters of 2025, from Frankenstein to Pillion, Sentimental Value to Hard Truths
www.creativereview.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 9:28 AM
BEHOLD, my list of the best movie posters of 2025.
Just in case you need a second opinion...
Here is Lithub's v. long list of the best book covers of 2025 as chosen by designers:
lithub.com/the-173-best...
lithub.com/the-173-best...
The 173 Best Book Covers of 2025
Per Literary Hub tradition, I am pleased to present the best book covers of the year—as chosen by some of the industry’s best book cover designers. This year, I asked 52 designers to share their fa…
lithub.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Just in case you need a second opinion...
Reposted by Dan Wagstaff
LOVE looking at book covers.
I like the collage covers of "Slow Poison" (designer: Arsh Raziuddin) and the Mishima book (John Gall).
Also like the Erpenbeck (Oliver Munday).
"Food Person" (Janet Hansen) is quite fun.
Also "Time and Chance" (Joan Wong) and "Casanova 20" (Victoria Maxfield).
I like the collage covers of "Slow Poison" (designer: Arsh Raziuddin) and the Mishima book (John Gall).
Also like the Erpenbeck (Oliver Munday).
"Food Person" (Janet Hansen) is quite fun.
Also "Time and Chance" (Joan Wong) and "Casanova 20" (Victoria Maxfield).
Here’s my look back at some of the book covers and design trends of 2025
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/12...
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/12...
Notable Book Covers of 2025
Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar; illustration by Stephen Smith; art direction by Suzanne Dean (Vintage Classics / August 2025) Bestiary: The Selected Stories of Julio Cortázar by Julio Cortázar; illust…
www.casualoptimist.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
LOVE looking at book covers.
I like the collage covers of "Slow Poison" (designer: Arsh Raziuddin) and the Mishima book (John Gall).
Also like the Erpenbeck (Oliver Munday).
"Food Person" (Janet Hansen) is quite fun.
Also "Time and Chance" (Joan Wong) and "Casanova 20" (Victoria Maxfield).
I like the collage covers of "Slow Poison" (designer: Arsh Raziuddin) and the Mishima book (John Gall).
Also like the Erpenbeck (Oliver Munday).
"Food Person" (Janet Hansen) is quite fun.
Also "Time and Chance" (Joan Wong) and "Casanova 20" (Victoria Maxfield).
Here’s my look back at some of the book covers and design trends of 2025
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/12...
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/12...
Notable Book Covers of 2025
Hopscotch by Julio Cortázar; illustration by Stephen Smith; art direction by Suzanne Dean (Vintage Classics / August 2025) Bestiary: The Selected Stories of Julio Cortázar by Julio Cortázar; illust…
www.casualoptimist.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Here’s my look back at some of the book covers and design trends of 2025
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/12...
www.casualoptimist.com/blog/2025/12...