King of Soca

Managing Editor duties on an illustrated book on soca superstar, Machel Montano. 

Sometime in 2021 I got a call from Marlon Darbeau: Praktis, the design firm he founded with Blayne Clark, had been engaged to work on the graphic design of Elizabeth “Lady” Montano’s first book, King of Soca – an illustrated biography of her son, soca superstar, Machel Montano. Marlon asked me to join the book team as managing editor to help things flow smoothly between writing/editing/design, and to oversee printing specs, timelines, quoting, proofing, and generally ensure the overall quality of the finished product.

Lady and I spent hours together virtually, and I’m still trying to figure out how she manages so much in a single day. Amazing! I also worked closely with Blayne and Marlon as creative leads, and with Patrick Rasoanaivo, who they brought onboard for design and layout. With a couple exceptions, most of the photos here are behind-the-scenes looks at the proofing, printing, and decision making processes of bookmaking where I feel so comfortable and happy.

SUMMARY | Role: Managing Editor/Design Management
Writer: Elizabeth “Lady” Montano
Published by: EESM Publishers
Editorial Design: Praktis Design with Patrick Rasoanaivo
Printers: Office Authority (with the invaluable contribution of rep Carlos Aqui)
Photos: Book shots, Michele Jorsling; launch photo, NH Productions; proof review group photos, Melissa Darbeau