About the Authors

Shovels & Rope are a musical duo hailing from Johns Island, SC. 2022 will mark ten years since Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent released their debut album “O’ Be Joyful,” the first formally billed as “Shovels & Rope.” That decade includes the release of 6 full length albums, 3 collaborative covers albums (Busted Jukebox Volumes 1–3), a curated music festival in their hometown of Charleston, SC, (High Water Festival), a musical film (Shovels & Rope: The Movie), and countless dynamic live performances all over the planet. Widely regarded by their peers as two of the most impactful songwriters and performers in the American musical landscape, their songs range from the deeply personal to rich storytelling, creating classic American narratives that are a mirror to the time in which they were written. This is their first book. Visit www.ShovelsandRope.com to learn more about the band.

About the Illustrator

Julio Cotto Rivera’s artwork was featured in two internationally published Parisian pop art books, Art Des Geeks and Geek Art Vol. 3, along with Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Banksy. Julio is a South Bronx-born, Southern-raised multimedia artist, actor, writer, and poet. In 2020, the artist completed an illustrated compendium art book inspired by the song “C’mon Utah!” by Shovels & Rope. The artwork and song were featured in Rolling Stone magazine. After living and working in Brooklyn, New York, for nine years, Julio moved back down south to Savannah, GA. Contact the artist through Instagram: @cotto_rivera_art.