Dressing the Story: Interview with Criss Rosu
(Day 30 of 31 – story crumbs from the world of Loveandpizza.it 🍕)
This post was originally published at the beginning of my 31-day Loveandpizza.it journey. The complete English series is now here for you to explore, one story crumb at a time. 🍕
Yesterday, I finally showed you the cover of the relaunched Loveandpizza.it. Today, I want you to meet the person who made it.
Her name is Criss Rosu, and she’s the illustrator and designer behind it.
Why the Cover Needed to Change
The original cover served the book well for its first life, but a relaunch across three editions, English, Italian and Portuguese, deserved a fresh look. One that could hold Carolina’s story, Napoli’s warmth, and the emotional weight underneath the romance, all at once, in a single image someone might pick up off a shelf or scroll past on a phone.
That’s a genuinely hard brief. A cover has perhaps two seconds to make a stranger curious. It has to promise the right kind of story without giving any of it away.
I sent Criss a genuinely enormous brief, Napoli, pizza, romance, real photographs, character inspirations and rather a lot of exclamation marks, and what came back was somehow more precise and more magical than anything I could have described on my own. I wanted to understand how that happens. So I asked her, properly, everything from her very first sketch to the font she chose for my own name.
Here’s a peek of our conversation, along with a look at how this cover actually came together, sketch by sketch.
On Being An Illustrator
“Before readers fall in love with the story, they fall in love with the cover.”
I usually say that I help bring people’s ideas and dreams to life through illustration and design. With books, writers spend months, sometimes years, creating an entire world with words. Then I get to create the very first visual impression of that world. That’s a big responsibility, but it’s also what I love the most.
Finding Her Path
From wedding invitations to book covers
Before I started illustrating professionally, I spent more than ten years working in the wedding industry, designing invitations, stationery, flowers and decorations. Without even realising it, I was learning about colour, composition and typography. It never really felt like changing careers. It felt more like everything I had done before had been preparing me for this.
A Font With Character
“Postcards from Napoli”
I wanted the typography to feel warm, feminine and inviting. When I came across the lettering called Postcards from Napoli, I immediately knew it belonged on the cover. It had character, movement and a handcrafted feeling that matched the atmosphere I was trying to create.
Looking Back
“I would absolutely pick up this book.”
Daniela cared deeply about her story and had a very clear vision, but she also trusted me to interpret it in my own style. When I finally looked at the finished cover, I had one simple thought: I would absolutely pick up this book if I saw it in a bookstore.
I also love Carolina’s expression. I wanted her to feel warm, approachable and curious, almost as if she’s inviting readers to come with her on this journey.
For Indie Authors
Take your time, and trust the process
Your book cover is often the first thing readers see. Look through a designer’s portfolio to see if their work feels consistent and thoughtful. And if you’ve chosen someone because you love their work, give them the space to bring their creativity into the project. The best ideas often come from collaboration rather than trying to control every little detail.
Criss’s Creative Slice
More From Criss
Find her work
Reader and authors can find Criss’s portfolio at crissrosu.com, and follow along on Instagram at @criss_rosu for behind-the-scenes moments and works in progress.
With thanks, Criss. This cover is everything I hoped for.
Want every question, unedited? Read the full interview here. And keep an eye out for the video interview soon! It'll be posted on my YouTube channel.
Want beautiful branding work or a book cover?
If Criss's work speaks to you the way it spoke to me, she's taking on new clients. Have a look at her portfolio at crissrosu.com, or follow her on Instagram at @criss_rosu for a peek behind the scenes of whatever she's working on next.
Dani. x
P.S. Loveandpizza.it is coming back in English, Italian and Portuguese. Save your slice and you'll be first to know the moment your edition's ready. 🍕
Still hungry for another slice?
Follow @loveandpizza_it for story crumbs, Napoli discoveries and
beautifully complicated hearts. ❤️🍕
She did a beautiful job! Thanks for the introduction.
You gave Criss a huge brief and still ended up happier than you thought you would. That says a lot about her. Awesome job!
Be Well.
Paul.
It’s nice to virtually meet the illustrator/designer of your book. Stay creative!
I wonder what is easier (or harder) for an illustrator: to have tons of input or barely any?
What a beautiful cover!! I went to have a peek at your other post and it is so charming. Criss did a wonderful job. And it does actually make me even more curious about the book than I already was.