Making Food, Health, and Happiness
For this #1 New York Times bestseller I worked directly with Oprah and her team to develop the memoir-like editorial concept which included imagery and ephemera from her childhood and burgeoning career in media.
As the editorial and production lead, I also hired, directed, and managed the robust and exceedingly talented creative team, which included designer Trina Bentley of Make & Matter, food photographer Tina Rupp, fashion photographer Ruven Afanador, illustrator Laura Parker, recipe editor Leda Scheintaub, and food stylist Carrie Purcell.
The result is a lush and layered aesthetic for a book that felt like it had been owned and used in the kitchen by Oprah and her family for many years.
Responsibilities:
Editorial development
Design direction
Curating and managing creative team, including writers, photographers, illustrators, designer, recipe testers and editors, and production
Budget and schedule oversight
Project management
Image rights management
Production management
“Aaron was the lead editor on my books, Food, Health, and Happiness and The Wisdom of Sundays, both of which became #1 New York Times bestsellers. Working directly with me and my team, Aaron helped shape the editorial voice and guide the overall look and feel of both titles. He skillfully managed to keep everyone moving smoothly, steadily, and professionally, to meet often very tight deadlines and budget constraints. As a huge fan of books, I can honestly say I’m extremely proud of how both projects turned out, and how much I enjoyed working with Aaron. I wish him all the best in his future career pursuits and highly recommend him for any position he may seek.”