A Glimpse of Kristen Radtke's Stunning Front Cover Art for The Story Prize Program

We invited graphic essayist Kristen Radtke to provide the front cover art for the program for The Story Prize event this year, and we are very lucky that she said yes to creating an original image for us. What you see here is just part of that cover—a sneak preview. Everyone who attends the event will get to take home the 8-page full color program, designed by Steven Charny, who carries through the themes of Radtke's beautiful illustration throughout.

If you want to see the finalists for The Story Prize—Francesca Marciano, Elizabeth McCracken, and Lorrie Moore—read from and discuss their work on-stage and take home a copy of the program, buy a ticket and join us.

The Story Prize Event: Get Your Program

We produce a full color, eight page program for each Story Prize event, and this time, thanks to our designer—Rolling Stone Senior Art Director Steven Charny—an original illustration by Tomar Hanuka graces the cover. Hanuka was one of four artists who helped create the award winning animated film Waltz with Bashir.

To photograph the event, we've enlisted Beowulf Sheehan, who takes exceptional portraits of writers and musicians. You'll see some of the pictures from the event on this blog and on our Web site in the days that follow.

In addition, we've eliminated the intermission to keep the event moving. And we've upgraded the private reception afterward. Once again, leading independent bookseller McNally Jackson will be selling copies of the books.

Of course, we're most excited about our three finalists: Don DeLillo, Steven Millhauser, and Edith Pearlman, who will read from their work and sit down to talk with me at The New School's Tishman Auditorium on March 21 at 7:30. I imagine this will be the only opportunity to see these three great writers at one event. Tickets (general admission $14, student $10) are going fast. Those who can't make it will have to wait for the video that The New School will post a couple of weeks later.

Illustration: Tomar Hanuka