Poet Rhonda Liss hired me to design, illustrate, and prepare her debut poetry collection, Begin I Must: The Journey. My goal was to translate her emotional, introspective writing into a visual experience that reflected its tone: minimal, elegant, and deeply expressive. I led the creative development and book design process from concept through final delivery, including editing support, cover design, interior layout, illustration, and visual storytelling. I crafted a contemplative layout with balanced white space, refined typography, and gentle illustration, allowing each poem the space to breathe and inviting readers to pause, reflect, and connect with the text. Every design choice—from font selection and spacing to visual hierarchy and page rhythm—was made to support the emotional tone and poetic structure of the work. I refined the manuscript flow, developed a cohesive reading experience, and prepared production-ready files to support the publication process from concept through final delivery.