The publishing process is a mysterious one, even to those familiar with it. Exciting and laborious decisions bump up against realities of finite budgets and established timelines while still aiming to create the best end result. This book of correspondence between the photographer, editor, and art director spans the five-year evolution of the book, from Charles Peterson's initial outreach, to art director Jeff Kleinsmith's final notes before printing the limited edition jacket. 

We have chosen to publish this volley of emails in its entirety, to share the depth of thought and discussion that goes into seemingly inconsequential details of a book. Email as a consistent form of communication on a multi-year project is also an artifact of a generation. Using personal correspondence and conversation, each contributor found ways to work through differences of opinion with consideration and respect, a model for what communication can be in the twenty-first century. 

CHARLES PETERSON (b. 1964, Longview, Washington) is internationally known for his photographs of the Seattle music scene of the late eighties and nineties. Peterson’s distinct visual style and early work for Sub Pop Records became an important signifier of the phenomenon known as grunge. He is the author of Charles Peterson's Nirvana.

JEFF KLEINSMITH (b. 1967, Salem, Oregon) has been leading the visuals at Sub Pop Records since 1994. He began his career at The Rocket in 1990, having just graduated with a degree in graphic design from the University of Oregon. Kleinsmith is also co-founder of Patent Pending Industries (with Jesse LeDoux). A celebrated graphic designer, he is also a husband, a dad, and a recording musician. He is the art director of Charles Peterson's Nirvana. 

MICHELLE DUNN MARSH (b. 1973, Seattle, Washington) has been designing visual books for three decades. She has worked with Aperture Foundation, Chronicle Books, and many other cultural institutions. She is the author of Seeing Being Seen: A Personal History of Photography, and is the co-founder of Minor Matters.