...I don’t often work with American art directors. The work with Françoise Mouly from The New Yorker has been very careful and respectful and there was hardly anything to modify on the illustrations that they chose for a cover.... I think it is necessary to promote yourself—or to use any opportunity. The “Blown Covers” contest was such a chance, which gave me the possibility to come in contact with the art director of The New Yorker. Françoise Mouly initiated the “Blown Covers” blog together with her Blown Covers book and started a New Yorker-style cover competition. The themes closely mirrored what she would suggest to New Yorker artists. After some weeks I sent my first suggestion and eventually I got a notice that one of my works was selected for a “real” cover. When Françoise finished the competitions I was invited to send cover illustration proposals to her New Yorker office. [https://www.ai-ap.com/publications/article/14717/illustrator-profile-birgit-schossow-i-like-to-f.html]