Welcome Home Amsterdam - Talia Stone
Project Description
Working on this project was a such rewarding experience, and I'm really pleased with the final result. Holding the finished book in my hands is a testament to the successful collaboration that took place.
Talia crafted 12 engaging fictional tales set in and around Amsterdam, aiming to bring them to life within a book. Cigdem and I researched the style to get the right look and feel for the text and illustrations. After which, Talia and I worked together on an interior design that would complement the illustrations and showcase her stories effectively.
Talia was a pleasure to work with, and our collective vision came together smoothly. The chosen style highlights her stories well, creating a cohesive and engaging book that celebrates Amsterdam's charm.
All illustrations and the book cover design were created by Storyhouse Works cover designer Cigdem @crocusincreation. You can order your copy on the Welcome Home Amsterdam website.
Welcome Home Amsterdam
As Amsterdam turns 750, what better birthday present than a brand-new collection of short stories, dedicated to the Dutch capital?
Amsterdam Academy Press is proud to announce the April 2025 publication of Welcome Home Amsterdam: a celebration of the city − its past, its present and its people.
As a Creative Writing Coach and experienced Tour Guide, author Talia Stone brings her passions and expertise together in this collection of short fictional tales, all based in and around Amsterdam, describing it as "a companion for locals and visitors... to pick up and keep with us, to make us feel at home."
Featuring interwoven fictional lives, Welcome Home Amsterdam is very much rooted in reality. With nods to national landmarks such as the Skinny Bridge and famous figures like Anne Frank and Albert Cuyp, aspects of Amsterdam's history sit side by side with everyday scenes of family and friendship, of cycling, fishing and swimming, capturing the local, authentic culture of the capital today.
"In my stories there are connections that the reader is probably unaware of," Talia explains. "Almost every story has water flowing through it, and I see the Amstel River (and the canals springing off it) as a constant stream, connecting us all."
Book cover design by Cigdem Guven from crocusfield creations
About the author
Talia Stone
Talia Stone worked as an editor in television, film and advertising for more than 15 years before deciding to focus on her favourite part of storytelling: writing. She is now a Writing Coach and also an experienced Amsterdam Tour Guide. This collection is a natural outcome of her creative adventures.
The team:
Lisa Hall
Hannah Huber
