NEW YORK – In 1971, as her album Blue topped music charts around the world, Joni Mitchell created a dazzling and unforgettable holiday gift for her closest friends. MORNING GLORY ON THE VINE was an exquisite selection of Joni’s handwritten lyrics and poems, accompanied by more than thirty full-color illustrations, paintings and watercolors. The book was hand-produced in Los Angeles and limited to one hundred signed and numbered copies. Copies of the book have rarely been seen in the past half-century.
Now, in conjunction with Joni’s 75th birthday celebrations, MORNING GLORY ON THE VINE: Early Songs and Drawings by Joni Mitchell, will be made publicly available for the first time. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt will publish a facsimile edition on Oct. 22, 2019, containing the book’s complete original content, plus a new introduction written by Joni and a number of her additional paintings (made at the time of the book's creation), that were not included in the 1971 edition. A special limited edition, signed by Joni Mitchell, will also be published.
Ellen Archer, President of HMH Books & Media, said, “Fans of many generations recognize Joni Mitchell’s brilliant shape-shifting ability to capture our minds, hearts, and souls. Morning Glory on the Vine shares Joni’s vibrant visual artistry alongside the words and music we have all come to know and love.”
The book was acquired for HMH by Editor at Large David Rosenthal, from Lookout Management’s Elliot Roberts.
About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media
For nearly two centuries, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media has published some of the world’s most renowned novels, nonfiction, children’s books, and reference works. As part of a leading global learning company, it is uniquely positioned to offer educational and entertaining content for all audiences. Its distinguished author list includes ten Nobel Prize winners, forty-eight Pulitzer Prize winners, fifteen National Book Award winners, and more than one hundred Caldecott, Newbery, Printz, and Sibert Medal and Honor recipients. HMH publishes such distinguished authors as Tim O'Brien, Natasha Trethewey, Paul Theroux and Amos Oz, and a celebrated roster of children’s authors and illustrators including Kwame Alexander, Lois Lowry, and Chris Van Allsburg. HMH is also home to The Best American series®; The Whole30®, Weber Grill, Betty Crocker®, Better Homes and Gardens®, How to Cook Everything®, and other leading lifestyle properties; the Peterson Field Guides®; CliffsNotes™; books by J.R.R. Tolkien; and many iconic children’s books and characters, including Curious George®, The Little Prince, and The Polar Express. HMH Productions develops and produces media and licensed products related to brands such as Carmen Sandiego and Oregon Trail. HMH Audio, a newly launched imprint, will publish audio books of HMH front list and backlist titles starting in fall 2019.
Contact:
Lori Glazer
SVP, Executive Director of Publicity
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
(212)420-5840
Lori.Glazer@hmhco.com