Kathleen Lynch

Kathleen Lynch - Designer

Shelter Island, NY, USA

A one-woman design studio on Shelter Island specializing in book cover design for publishing houses and independent authors around the world

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Overview

For over 20 years in the publishing industry, Kathleen L. has been designing covers and jackets for authors, helping to bring their stories out into the world. She worked as both in-house designer and art director in New York city before opening her own studio on Shelter Island. Specializing in jacket and cover design, but including logos, author branding, and collaborations on interior design, she has designed thousands of covers and won acclaim from AIGA, Print, the New York Book Show and AAUP, and has served as judge for both the NYBS and AAUP shows. Her work combines a love of books, a passion for typography and an eye for the unusual. She is well versed in both book and print production, and image research. Clients include major publishing houses, university presses, independent houses, and many successful self-published authors.
Languages
English
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Health & Wellbeing
History
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
Historical Fiction
Historical Mysteries
Poetry

Awards

  • AAUP
  • The New York Book Show
  • Print Regional Design Annual
  • Judge for the New York Book Show

Work experience

Owner/Art Director/Designer

Self-employed
October, 2006 – Present (over 16 years)

Work includes jacket and cover design, collaborations for book interior design, logos and author branding. Clients include (partial list) Algonquin Books, Baker Books, Discovery House, Flatiron Books, Grand Central Publishing, HarperCollins. HayHouse, Johns Hopkins University Press, Little, Brown, Oxford University Press, Penguin Random House, Shambhala Publications, Simon & Schuster, w w norton, Yale university press and numerous self-published authors.

Art Director, Trade Books

Oxford University Press
May, 1996 – October, 2006 (over 10 years)

As Art Director for Trade books at Oxford, I oversaw all aspects of design, schedule, image research and cover and print production for over 150 titles a year, managing a team of in-house and freelance designers and coordinating with editorial and marketing on cover design. Books also included the full bible and reference lists, in addition to numerous non-fiction genres such as a well-known jazz list and health titles, and a Latin American fiction translation list.

Portfolio (9 selected works)

Sting

Sandra Brown

The #1 New York Times bestselling story of corruption, sizzling romance, and ceaseless deception . . . where nothing is what it seems and every truth brought to light exposes a darker lie--from "a masterful storyteller" (USA Today). When Jordie Bennet and Shaw Kinnard lock eyes across a disreputable backwater bar, something definitely sparks. Shaw gives off a dangerous vibe that makes men wary... read more

The #1 New York Times bestselling story of corruption, sizzling romance, and ceaseless deception . . . where nothing is what it seems and every truth brought to light exposes a darker lie--from "a masterful storyteller" (USA Today). When Jordie Bennet and Shaw Kinnard lock eyes across a disreputable backwater bar, something definitely sparks. Shaw gives off a dangerous vibe that makes men wary... read more

The Beloved Girls

Evans, Harriet

Chasing the North Star: A Novel

Robert Morgan

In his latest historical novel, bestselling author Robert Morgan brings to full and vivid life the story of Jonah Williams, who, in 1850, on his eighteenth birthday, flees the South Carolina plantation on which he was born a slave. He takes with him only a few stolen coins, a knife, and the clothes on his back--no shoes, no map, no clear idea of where to head, except north, following a star th... read more

In his latest historical novel, bestselling author Robert Morgan brings to full and vivid life the story of Jonah Williams, who, in 1850, on his eighteenth birthday, flees the South Carolina plantation on which he was born a slave. He takes with him only a few stolen coins, a knife, and the clothes on his back--no shoes, no map, no clear idea of where to head, except north, following a star th... read more

House of Thieves: A Novel

Charles Belfoure

"Belfoure's sly, roguish writing opens a window to those living both gilded and tarnished lives... Best of all, Belfoure holds together each and every thread of the novel, resulting in a most memorable, evocative read."―Publishers Weekly, STARRED ReviewGangs of New York meets The Age of Innocence as a society architect in 1880s Manhattan is forced to join a gritty crime ring―from the author of... read more

"Belfoure's sly, roguish writing opens a window to those living both gilded and tarnished lives... Best of all, Belfoure holds together each and every thread of the novel, resulting in a most memorable, evocative read."―Publishers Weekly, STARRED ReviewGangs of New York meets The Age of Innocence as a society architect in 1880s Manhattan is forced to join a gritty crime ring―from the author of... read more

One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity

Debbie Macomber

Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber shares inspirational and empowering true stories of what happens when we commit intentional acts of generosity.Master storyteller Debbie Macomber knows a secret. In a world that seems too often reticent and begrudging, Debbie has learned firsthand that living in a spirit of generosity yields unforeseen miracles. Lives can be changed ... read more

Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber shares inspirational and empowering true stories of what happens when we commit intentional acts of generosity.Master storyteller Debbie Macomber knows a secret. In a world that seems too often reticent and begrudging, Debbie has learned firsthand that living in a spirit of generosity yields unforeseen miracles. Lives can be changed ... read more

Start Here Now: An Open-Hearted Guide to the Path and Practice of Meditation

Susan Piver

A concise, jargon-free guide to learning what Buddhist meditation is—and isn't—with advice on how to start a meditation practice.If you want to meditate but have no idea where to begin, this book by best-selling author and Buddhist teacher Susan Piver will help you: it contains everything you need to know to start a meditation practice and, even more important, to continue one. It defines what... read more

A concise, jargon-free guide to learning what Buddhist meditation is—and isn't—with advice on how to start a meditation practice.If you want to meditate but have no idea where to begin, this book by best-selling author and Buddhist teacher Susan Piver will help you: it contains everything you need to know to start a meditation practice and, even more important, to continue one. It defines what... read more

Deeper Dating: How to Drop the Games of Seduction and Discover the Power of Intimacy

Ken Page

"Among the best manuals for succeeding in finding and keeping love we have seen."—Harville Hendrix, PhD and Helen LaKelly Hunt, PhDA program that not only leads to healthy relationships but that also steers us toward our own potential greatness—from well-known psychologist and relationship expert Ken Page. Lose weight. Be confident. Keep your partner guessing. At the end of the day, this soull... read more

"Among the best manuals for succeeding in finding and keeping love we have seen."—Harville Hendrix, PhD and Helen LaKelly Hunt, PhDA program that not only leads to healthy relationships but that also steers us toward our own potential greatness—from well-known psychologist and relationship expert Ken Page. Lose weight. Be confident. Keep your partner guessing. At the end of the day, this soull... read more

The Widow of Rose House: A Novel

Diana Biller

A young widow restores a dilapidated mansion with the assistance of a charming, eccentric genius, only to find the house is full of dangerous secrets in this effervescent Gilded Age debut novel It’s 1875, and Alva Webster has perfected her stiff upper lip after three years of being pilloried in the presses of two continents over fleeing her abusive husband. Now his sudden death allows her to r... read more

A young widow restores a dilapidated mansion with the assistance of a charming, eccentric genius, only to find the house is full of dangerous secrets in this effervescent Gilded Age debut novel It’s 1875, and Alva Webster has perfected her stiff upper lip after three years of being pilloried in the presses of two continents over fleeing her abusive husband. Now his sudden death allows her to r... read more

Kathleen has 8 reviews

Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality

Peg Kerswell
I studied hundreds of book covers before I found Kathleen's work on Reedsy and it was like stumbling upon a book cover gold mine. Her covers simply draw you in and make you want to read the book! I received a few quotes from other designers and when I asked if they would read my book before designing, to my surprise some said 'no.' Kathleen read my book, we had a phone discussion about ideas, a...
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Peg Kerswell, December 2022


Evelyn Lee
Once again, Kathleen L. created an outstanding design which is absolutely perfect for my project. All was completed on schedule and Kathleen was most attentive to details. I couldn't be happier. I highly recommend working with Kathleen L.

Evelyn Lee, September 2021


Evelyn Lee
Kathleen L. designed the covers for the hardcover, softcover and eBook formats of my soon-to-be-published novel. I absolutely love the design she created. It is eye-catching and very smartly depicts the sentiment and themes of my novel. I couldn't ask for anything more. In addition, since I am a new author, I relied on Kathleen's experience and professionalism to bring the cover together from c...
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Evelyn Lee, May 2021


Gina Brown
Kathleen’s attractive book cover first catches your eye with an intriguing character and vivid colors, then reveals the essence of the book within seconds. That’s true artistry.

Gina Brown, March 2021


Michael Hayes
As an ad man, I've worked with literally dozens of graphic designers over the years. I would rank Kathleen in the very top tier. She did the research, read the book and thought outside-the-box to give me a range of concepts to choose from. Most importantly, she is deadline oriented and a pleasure to work with. If my novel is successful, at least some of the credit will go to her great cover des...
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Michael Hayes, February 2021

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