The aptly named Elizabeth Story, Tachyon’s lead designer, is that rare and wondrous unicorn who combines artistic, technical, and verbal skills.

She came to Tachyon in 2009 as an editorial intern, having graduated with honors from the Creative Writing department at UC Santa Cruz. Her prior experience included creating motivational posters, newsletters, and comic strips for a children’s tutoring center; editing a campus literary magazine; and assisting in a perfumery.

Once Story dashed off some impromptu promotional materials in Photoshop, it became clear that she was destined to work as Tachyon as an artist instead of an editor. Since that time, Story has designed many of Tachyon’s most creative book covers and interiors, press kits, holiday cards, and catalogs.

Even after earning her M.F.A., Story still sleeps very little while remaining wittier than most people you know. It is said that she locked her first novel, which may or may not have been illustrated, in a drawer because it tried to bite her.

Tachyon wishes the incredible Elizabeth a very happy birthday, and hopes that she doesn’t get cheated of Christmas presents just because she was born on the wrong day.