Lesley Worrell

Lesley Worrell – Designer

Creative art director and book cover designer specializing in commercial woman's fiction, young adult, and romance.

Overview

I am an art director, designer, and illustrator with over ten years of experience in book cover design. Currently I'm on staff with Tor Publishing Group where I design covers for Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Young Adult titles. I have worked in most genres but my favorites are women's fiction, young adult, and romance. Clients include Penguin Random House, Sourcebooks, HarperCollins, Hachette, Open Road Media, and Wattpad Publishing.

I typically come up with a few concepts for you to choose from, 99% of the time the author goes with one of the initial concepts with or without adjustments. In the event that none of the initial designs work I'll do a round of redesigns based on feedback. Then we'll go back and forth with minor changes until the cover is right.

My minimum quote for an ebook only cover is $500 and for print books including a file for the ebook cover is $1000. I won't negotiate lower than this fee, please keep that in mind when getting in touch.

Thanks!
Services
Fiction
African American Fiction Anthologies Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery & Crime Romance Thriller & Suspense Women's Fiction Young Adult
Languages
English

Work experience

Tor Publishing Group

Nov, 2018 — Present

Designs covers for all imprints within Tor with a special interest in Young Adult titles. Participates in cover meetings with publishers and editors. Hires and manages freelance Illustrators and designers. Researches photos from stock agencies. Prepares cover files for printing.

St. Martin's Press

Sep, 2016 — Sep, 2018 (about 2 years)

Designed covers for many genres of books including Literary Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Mysteries, Young Adult and Romance. Participated in cover conferences with publishers and editors. Hired and managed freelance Illustrators and designers. Researched photos from stock agencies. Prepared cover files for printing.

Penguin Random House (Formally Penguin Group USA)

Jun, 2010 — Jul, 2015 (about 5 years)

Designed covers for many genres of books including Literary Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Nonfiction, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Mysteries, Young Adult and Romance. Participated in cover conferences with publishers and editors. Hired and managed freelance Illustrators. Researched photos from stock agencies. Prepared cover files for printing.

Penguin Group USA

Aug, 2006 — Jun, 2010 (almost 4 years)

Designed covers for many genres of books including Literary Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Nonfiction, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Mysteries, Young Adult and Romance. Hired and managed freelance Illustrators. Researched photos from stock agencies. Prepared cover files for printing.

Portfolio

You'd Be Mine: A Novel

Erin Hahn

A whip smart teen romance debut inspired by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash from a bright new voice "Witty and charming, with an off-the-charts, irresistible blend of romance, humor, and characters who steal your heart from page one. Erin Hahn is an author to... read more
Faking Reality

Fujimura, Sara

Forestborn

Becker, Elayne Audrey

Until We Break

Dawkins, Matthew

Not Now, Not Ever

Lily Anderson

Jennifer E. Smith meets The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy in Lily Anderson's Not Now, Not Ever, a deliciously nerdy companion to The Only Thing Worse than Me Is You (one of Paste's Best YA Books of 2016)Elliot Gabaroche is very clear on what she isn't going to... read more
This Heart of Mine

C. C. Hunter

A new heart saved her life―but will it help her find out what really happened to its donor?Seventeen-year-old Leah MacKenzie is heartless. An artificial heart in a backpack is keeping her alive. However, this route only offers her a few years. And with her rar... read more
The Hidden Light of Northern Fires: A Novel

Daren Wang

"Splendid―a distinctive clear-eyed perspective on a fresh corner of the Civil War." ―Charles Frazier, New York Times bestselling author of Cold Mountain"A wise and timely book." ―Ron Rash, New York Times bestselling author of SerenaRooted in the history of the... read more
Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen

Sarah Bird

"You'll be swept away by the passion and power of this remarkable, trailblazing woman who risked everything to follow her own heart." – Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author"An epic page-turner." – Christina Baker Kline "Bird’s fast-paced, actio... read more
Not Her Daughter: A Novel

Rea Frey

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTUREPopSugar – The Summer’s Hottest Books * Refinery 29 - Best Summer Thrillers * US Weekly - Summer's Best Send-Offs * Parade - 20 Chilling Thrillers by Women to Read This Year * Brit + Co - 15 New Thrillers by Women That Will Giv... read more
Casualties

Elizabeth Marro

A heartbreaking and insightful debut novel about the wars we fight overseas, at home, and within our own hearts. Some come back whole. Some come back broken. Some just never come back... As an executive for one of the most successful military defense contracto... read more
Another Woman's Daughter (U.S edition)

Fiona Sussman

Set against the tumultuous background of apartheid South Africa, a powerful and moving debut about family, sacrifice, and discovering what it means to belong… Celia Mphephu knows her place in the world. A black servant working in the white suburbs of 1960s Joh... read more
All the Difference

Leah Ferguson

New Year’s Eve. A time for resolutions. A chance to make a change. And for thirty-year-old Molly Sullivan, a night that will transform her life forever…All it takes is one word—yes or no—to decide Molly’s future. As the clock counts down to midnight and the ba... read more
Food: the Good Girl's Drug: How to Stop Using Food to Control Your Feelings

Sunny Sea Gold

Sunny Sea Gold started fighting a binge eating disorder in her teens. But most books on the topic were aimed at older women, women she had a hard time relating to. Calling on top psychiatrists, nutritionists, and fitness experts, Sunny offers real advice to a ... read more
All the Truth

Laura Brodie

One night can alter a life forever… Emma Greene enjoys living in rural solitude with her husband and five-year-old daughter, Maggie, far away from her college students in Jackson, Virginia. But late one night, with her husband away and her daughter upstairs in... read more
The Widow's Season

Laura Brodie

A mesmerizing debut novel about love, grief, and the ghosts who show up where we least expect them. Sarah McConnell's husband had been dead for three months when she saw him in the grocery store. What does a woman do when she's thirty-nine, childless, and comp... read more
Insatiable: A Young Mother's Struggle with Anorexia

A raw and engrossing memoir of a young mother's addiction to eating disorders and her struggle toward health-now in paperback. At twenty-four, Erica Rivera appeared to have it all: a B.A., two daughters, a successful husband, a house in the suburbs-and a great... read more
Rurally Screwed: A Memoir of Losing Myself for Love

Jessie Knadler

A magazine editor in New York, Jessie Knadler had a habit of always looking over her shoulder for better options. She wasn’t quite sure moving to Montana and marrying a cowboy was a better option—but, head over heels in love, she did it anyway. At a loss in he... read more
Jane Austen's First Love

Syrie James

INSPIRED BY ACTUAL EVENTS Fifteen-year-old Jane Austen dreams of three things: doing something useful, writing something worthy, and falling madly in love. When she visits her brother in Kent to celebrate his engagement, she meets wealthy, devilishly handsome ... read more
The Farm

Emily McKay

Life was different in the Before: before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are—holding pens where human blood is turned into ... read more
The Dog Year

Ann Wertz Garvin

Dr. Lucy Peterman was not built for a messy life. A well-respected surgeon whose patients rely on her warmth, compassion, and fierce support, Lucy has always worked hard and trusted in the system. She’s not the sort of person who ends up in a twelve-step progr... read more
The Art of Arranging Flowers

Lynne Branard

A moving and eloquent novel about love, grief, renewal—and the powerful language of flowers. Ruby Jewell knows flowers. In her twenty years as a florist she has stood behind the counter at the Flower Shoppe with her faithful dog, Clementine, resting at her fee... read more
The Lost Daughter

Lucy Ferriss

Brooke O’Connor—elegant, self-possessed, and kind—has a happy marriage and a deeply loved young daughter. So her adamant refusal to have a second child confounds her husband, Sean. When Brooke’s high school boyfriend Alex—now divorced and mourning the death of... read more
A Sister to Honor: A Novel

Lucy Ferriss

New from the author of The Lost DaughterAfia Satar is studious, modest, and devout. The daughter of a landholding family in northern Pakistan, Afia has enrolled in an American college with the dream of returning to her country as a doctor. But when a photo sur... read more

Lesley has 8 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Patricia S.

Patricia S.

Aug, 2022

Lesley was wonderful. It was definitely worth the wait. I am so pleased. I hope to collaborate with Lesley again.
Katherine L.

Katherine L.

Mar, 2022

Lesley did a beautiful job. I am hoping to use her again with my next book! She started and finished earlier than expected and helped me navigate some issues and learn from the experience. So lovely!
Jeneva R.

Jeneva R.

Nov, 2021

Lesley was a joy to work with. Her cover designs were incredible, and she got what I was going for right away. Only minor edits were needed. I'd highly recommend hiring Lesley for your cover design needs. Her work is impeccable.
Heidi C.

Heidi C.

Jul, 2021

Lesley was great to work with. She listened to my design ideas and incorporated some elements I wanted on the cover. We now have a style that will be used across the series.
Cathryn P.

Cathryn P.

Jul, 2019

This is the second book cover Lesley has produced for me. As always, she provides quality work. She keeps up to date on what type of covers sell books and I highly recommend her for your cover design.

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