Mary Ann Smith - Designer
I design and illustrate professionally for major publishers: Penguin Random House, Simon and Schuster, Hachette, The New York Times, etc.
Request a quote
Verified identity
Overview
I'm a professional book cover designer and illustrator. I've been designing book covers for over 20 years. I create covers that match subject matter with intended audience and come up with original takes on established genres. Inde-fiction, woman's fiction, romance, inspirational, social and self-help genres are my specialities. I've also worked on cooking and diet, parenting and political book covers. I've had the pleasure of designing many covers for the pulitzer-prize winning author Carol Shields. I've also created covers for numerous best sellers in fiction and non fiction. I connect, listen and create concepts that meet your expectations with an awareness of the bookselling market that only experience offers.
A helpful note:
In light of all the changes in all our lives due to efforts to control the Coronavirus world-wide,
I'm offering that my fee can be paid over several installments in hopes that this will
make completion of your book project easier.
Please be well.
Languages
English
Non-Fiction
Career Guides
Health & Wellbeing
Religion & Spirituality
Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Contemporary Romance
Women's Fiction
Certifications
- BFA from Parson's School of Design
Work experience
graphic designer, illustrator, owner
Self-employed
May, 1994
–
Present
(almost 27 years)
I design book covers for fiction, non-fiction, print and e-books. My clients include both major and independent publishers as well as university presses. I illustrate for the web, magazines, newspapers and book covers. I also design and/or illustrate various promotional collateral for companies including newsletters, brochures, and web site graphics. My responsibilities include concepting, design, mechanical preparation, client conferencing, photo research and retouching and manipulation, illustration, management of multiple project schedules simultaneously, preparation of comps for presentation and revisions. My Clients include Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group, Harlequin, Columbia University Press, Ohio State University Press, Skyhorse Publishing, The New York Times, Arlington Magazine, Bethesda Magazine, The Chicago Tribune and Bridgeman Images.
senior designer, illustrator
Penguin Random House
March, 1989
–
May, 1994
(about 5 years)
I designed book covers in the adult trade art department for various imprints including Dutton, Viking, Plume and Penguin. I also created illustrations for select covers and promotional materials as well as illustrating independently for magazines and newspapers. My responsibilities included concepting, design, mechanical preparation, management of project schedules, preparation of comps for presentation, handling of revisions and meeting multiple deadlines simultaneously.
Portfolio (38 selected works)
One Night: Promised (The One Night Trilogy Book 1)
Jodi Ellen Malpas
The new breathtaking novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the This Man trilogyONE NIGHT WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH . . .Livy notices him the moment he walks into the coffee shop. He's heart-stoppingly stunning, with a blue-eyed gaze so piercing she's almost too distracted to take his order. When he walks out the door, she thinks she'll never see him again. Then she finds the note h... read more
One Night: Denied (The One Night Trilogy Book 2)
Jodi Ellen Malpas
The passion that burned between Livy and M in One Night: Promised may end up destroying them both in this new novel of overwhelming desire and shocking discoveries . . . He's amazingly wealthy, sinfully gorgeous, and can bring her to heights of pleasure she's never before known. For Livy, there's no turning back. She's determined to be the light in M's dark world. Yet this new life comes with ... read more
Blooming Into Life
Kristie Booker
Growing up on a farm in Brockville, Illinois, did not prepare Colleen O’Brien Adler to be the wife of a wealthy entertainment lawyer living in Chicago. It certainly didn’t prepare her to be Dinah Adler’s daughter-in-law. The stay-at-home mother of two has more than she’s ever wanted—a personal stylist, a prestigious country club membership, a multimillion-dollar home—but she finds herself not ... read more
Boost Your Career: How to Make an Impact, Get Recognized, and Build the Career You Want
Sander Flaum, Mechele Flaum
An exclusive guide to besting the competition and rising to the top in your career. Many people spend years working themselves into the ground, only to be passed over for the promotions, recognition, and pay raises they deserve. Today, there is a new set of unwritten rules for getting ahead, and they are all about making an impact. In Boost Your Career, Sander and Mechele Flaum expose what man... read more
Reinvention is the key to success in these volatile times—and Pamela Mitchell holds the key to reinvention!In The 10 Laws of Career Reinvention, America's Reinvention Coach® Pamela Mitchell offers every tool readers need to navigate the full arc of career change. Part I introduces the Reinvention Mindset, with what you need to know to be prepared mentally to get started. In Part II, you read t... read more
A self-made millionaire shares the secrets of his financial success in an updated handbook that reveals the principles and techniques that helped him gain his wealth, in a compendium of 365 practical and philosophical tips designed to help readers turn their wealth-building aspirations into reality. Original.
Fast Food for the Soul
Barbara Berger
Barbara Berger's best-selling international classic about the power of mind is now available in 30 languages. In this very practical book, you can learn how to change your life by changing your thinking. Berger offers fast, effective techniques for dealing with health problems, financial difficulties and other life challenges. People around the globe are transforming their lives by following t... read more
No one likes to eat alone; to approach a table filled with people, only to be told that despite the open chairs there isn't room for you. The rejection stings. It leaves a mark. Yet this is exactly what the church has been saying to far too many people for far too long: "You're not welcome here. Find someplace else to sit." How can we extend unconditional welcome and acceptance in a world incr... read more
Secrets In Our Scars
Rebecca Trogner
A sexy romance. A twisted mystery. One mistake can change everything.Daisy Aldridge is a young woman caught in a web of secrets. Making a routine delivery on a sweltering summer day, Daisy knocks on the wrong door, and her life changes forever.She's yanked inside by a drunken movie star. Trapped and pressed against her only means of escape she spirals into a panic. She's rescued by Roy Blackwo... read more
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene reveals a very different love story from the one we've come to refer to as Christianity. Harvard-trained theologian Meggan Watterson leads us verse by verse through Mary's gospel to illuminate the powerful teachings it contains.A gospel, as ancient and authentic as any of the gospels that the Christian bible contains, was buried deep in the Egyptian desert after an... read more
Four Things Women Want from a Man
A. R. Bernard
After decades of preaching, teaching, and counseling, influential Christian leader A.R. Bernard reveals the four qualities women want in a man—qualities that make for a satisfying and happy relationship.As a longtime pastor of a big-city church, A.R. Bernard has witnessed couples in every stage of life. He’s been with them as they experienced dizzying joys, unspeakable tragedies, and everythin... read more
What a Sista Should Do
Tiffany L. Warren
A powerful and spiritually satisfying novel from a compelling new voice about three courageous women who must confront the harsh realities of their lives through faith and prayer. Pam Lyons has a husband who places more trust in money and marijuana than in God. Yvonne Hastings is a minister's wife whose husband's infidelity and physical abuse brings their marriage to a crossroads. Taylor Johns... read more
Green Grass Grace: A Novel
Shawn McBride
Henry "Hank" Toohey, a thirteen-year-old altar boy, is an incessant smart-ass with a deep love of life...and other four-letter words. But with his foul mouth comes a heart of gold, and he's going to need it to get through the last weekend of summer 1984. Everyone up and down St. Patrick Street, Henry's claustrophobic Irish-Catholic block in Philadelphia -- with its seventy-eight row homes, sev... read more
Get Lucky: A Novel
Katherine Center
How do you change your luck? Katherine Center’s marvelously entertaining and poignant new novel is about choosing to look for happiness—and maybe getting lucky enough to find it. Sarah Harper isn’t sure if the stupid decisions she sometimes makes are good choices in disguise—or if they’re really just stupid. But either way, after forwarding an inappropriate email to her entire company, she sud... read more
The Hole in the Middle
Kate Hilton
The heartfelt and hilarious, international bestselling debut about having it all without losing your mind.Sophie Whelan is the kind of woman who prides herself on doing it all. In a single day, she can host a vegan-friendly and lactose-free dinner for ten, thwart a PTA president intent on forcing her to volunteer, and outwit her hostile ‘assistant’ in order to get her work done on time.With he... read more
In “a lively debut…[with] plenty of enthusiastic ‘can-do’ advice” (Publishers Weekly), a Homeland Security advisor and a Pulitzer Prize–nominated columnist—and mother of three—delivers a timely message about American security: it begins at home.Soccer Moms are so last decade. Juliette Kayyem is a “Security Mom.” At once a national security expert who worked at the highest levels of government,... read more
What a Mother Knows
Leslie Lehr
"A fast-paced and gripping exploration of a mother's love. A powerful affecting novel."—Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Silence and One Breath Away How Far Will a Mother Go to Find Her Daughter? Michelle Mason can't remember that day, that drive, that horrible crash that killed the young man in her car. All she knows is she's being held responsible, and he... read more
The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud
Ben Sherwood
The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud tells the haunting story of a young man who narrowly survives a terrible car wreck that kills his little brother. Years later, the brothers’ bond remains so strong that it transcends the normal boundaries separating life and death. Charlie St. Cloud lives in a snug New England fishing village. By day he tends the lawns and monuments of the ancient cemete... read more
Learning to Stay
Erin Celello
Elise Sabato is proud of her husband, Brad, for serving his country...and grateful when he returns home to her. But the traumatic brain injury he suffered in Iraq has turned him from a thoughtful, brilliant, and patient man into someone quite different....someone who requires more care and attention than Elise can give while working in a demanding law firm. And when Brad ends up on his family’... read more
Eighteen Acres: A Novel
Nicolle Wallace
From the former Communications Director for the White House and current political media strategist comes a suspenseful and smart commercial novel about the first female president and all dramas and deceptions she faces both in politics and in love.Eighteen Acres, a description used by political insiders when referring to the White House complex, follows the first female President of the United... read more
It's Classified: A Novel
Nicolle Wallace
The latest “must for political junkies and fans of political fiction”* from New York Times bestselling author Nicole Wallace. The four most powerful women in Washington are at the top of their political game. . . . What could possibly go wrong? Charlotte Kramer, America’s first female president, is beginning her second term and is determined to make her mark on history though events do seem to... read more
Perfect Blend: A Novel
Sue Margolis
From Sue Margolis, the beloved author of Forget Me Knot and Gucci, Gucci Coo, comes a clever, capricious novel about lust, longing, and sizing up the competition. After enduring her share of commitment-phobic boyfriends, Amy Brown trades in her high-powered PR job and designer shoes to embark on the journey of single motherhood. Now, with a rambunctious boy of six and chaotic shifts serving de... read more
The Sensual God: How the Senses Make the Almighty Senseless
Aviad M. Kleinberg
In the Old Testament, God wrestles with a man (and loses). In the Talmud, God wriggles his toes to make thunder and takes human form to shave the king of Assyria. In the New Testament, God is made flesh and dwells among humans. For religious thinkers trained in Greek philosophy and its deep distaste for matter, sacred scripture can be distressing. A philosophically respectable God should be un... read more
New Deal or Raw Deal?: How FDR's Economic Legacy Has Damaged America
Burton W. Folsom Jr.
A sharply critical new look at Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency reveals government policies that hindered economic recovery from the Great Depression -- and are still hurting America today. In this shocking and groundbreaking new book, economic historian Burton W. Folsom exposes the idyllic legend of Franklin D. Roosevelt as a myth of epic proportions. With questionable moral character and a... read more
FDR Goes to War: How Expanded Executive Power, Spiraling National Debt, and Restricted Civil Liberties Shaped Wartime America
Burton W. Folsom Jr., Anita Folsom
From the acclaimed author of New Deal or Raw Deal?, called “eye-opening” by the National Review, comes a fascinating exposé of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s destructive wartime legacy—and its adverse impact on America’s economic and foreign policies today. Did World War II really end the Great Depression—or did President Franklin Roosevelt’s poor judgment and confused management leave Congress w... read more
SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALL THE LUCK. THE REST OF US MAKE IT.Let’s face it: Most of us think Feng Shui is synonymous with moving furniture. But Feng Shui specialist Ellen Whitehurst has updated this ancient art form and given it her own unique spin. The result is “Lucky Day Shui,” which is based on her more than twenty years of training and expertise in Feng Shui, aromatherapy, and other modes of hol... read more
Jars of olive tapenade and capers, containers of hummus and ready-made sauces; these days, grocery stores are full of ingredients that are one step away from becoming a meal. With Almost from Scratch: 600 Recipes for the New Convenience Cuisine, you can transform those gourmet products into gourmet meals with a few simple steps. From Andrew Schloss, the author of Fifty Ways to Cook Most Everyt... read more
The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine Third Edition
Michael T. Murray, Joseph Pizzorno
THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE AND PRACTICAL GUIDE AVAILABLE TO THE EXTRAORDINARY HEALING POWERS OF NATURAL MEDICINE From the world-renowned naturopathic doctors and bestselling authors of The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods comes the authoritative third edition of the classic reference work, revised and expanded to include the latest cutting-edge natural therapies for the most common ailments. Michael ... read more
The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods
Michael T. Murray, JOSEPH PIZZORNO
From the bestselling authors of The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, the most comprehensive and practical guide available to the nutritional benefits and medicinal properties of virtually everything edible As countless studies have affirmed, diet plays a major role in both provoking and preventing a wide range of diseases. But just what is a healthy diet? What does the body need to stay stron... read more
THE ONLY “DIET” PLAN YOU WILL EVER NEED! No deprivation, no struggles. Just ten small changes that will transform your life. Keri Gans, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, shares her simple plan for weight-loss success that lasts a lifetime. The Small Change Diet isn’t about creating unrealistic, unsustainable rules—like counting calories, restricting choices, or eliminating en... read more
Revive: Stop Feeling Spent and Start Living Again
Frank Lipman M.D., Mollie Doyle
From the doctor whose "extraordinary practice is at the vanguard of a revolutionary way to deliver medical care" (O, The Oprah Magazine), an easy program to restore energy and health. • DO YOU FEEL UNUSUALLY EXHAUSTED? • DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE SLEEPING? • DOES YOUR DIGESTION BOTHER YOU? • DO YOU HAVE ACHING MUSCLES AND JOINTS? • DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE AGING TOO QUICKLY? • DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'R... read more
Infinite Possibilities is the masterwork from teacher, author, and featured speaker Mike Dooley. As the next step beyond his immensely popular Notes from the Universe trilogy, and his follow up, Choose them Wisely, this book contains even more enriching wisdom for living an abundant, joyous life.Mike Dooley knows that we create our own reality, our own fate, and our own luck. We’re beings fill... read more
Marry Smart: The Intelligent Woman's Guide to True Love
Dr. Christine B. Whelan
Any woman who's dreamed of complementing her solo achievements with an equally rewarding partnership will find in Marry Smart the step-by-step instructions and practical tips for success. Expanding on the groundbreaking research from her first book, Why Smart Men Marry Smart Women, Dr. Christine B. Whelan offers practical tips for finding personal happiness, plus a marriage calculator that acc... read more
More than Words: 10 Values for the Modern Family
Erin Wathen
The values we live and raise our families by are grounded, first, in love. Contrary to many of today's so-called family values, our values go beyond one or two loaded social issues to a wholehearted lifestyle of practicing compassion, hospitality, justice, peace, and belonging. More than Words articulates ten values that forward-thinking, openhearted people want to embody in their lives and pa... read more
A Case for Kindness: 40 Ways to Love and Inspire Others
Lisa Barrickman
Forty days, forty ways to change the world -- one person, one place, one act at a time.Inspired by the author's fortieth birthday celebration where she committed to forty days of intentional kindness, this book shares the ripple effect that changed an entire community. In less than a year, more than 20,000 separate acts of kindness took place as others embraced the endeavor. A Case for Kindnes... read more
When We Were Eve: Uncovering the Woman God Created You to Be
Colleen C. Mitchell
“We are walking back to the Garden of Eden together and trying to remember who were when we were Eve.” In When We Were Eve, Colleen Mitchell draws on the creation story in Genesis to show women God’s gracious plan for their whole being: body and soul in harmony with themselves, others, creation and their Creator. Through her own story and those of other women, she explores the many ways women ... read more
Who Does He Say You Are?: Women Transformed by Christ in the Gospels
Colleen C. Mitchell
Shortly after the death of their brother, Lazarus, Martha offers this confident response to Jesus’s gentle challenge, echoing the confession of Peter: “Yes, Lord, I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God come into the world” (John 11:26-27). Her response to this question would change the course of her life—of all their lives. And to the extent that we echo her confession, it tra... read more
Mary Ann has 37 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Mary Ann designed both the cover and interior to my book. I could not have picked a more brilliant designer! The cover beautifully illustrates the book’s feeling and message. The interior is a stunning work of art—masterly designed for beauty, flow, and readability.
My book is not the typical non-fiction book. It contains many different details—numerous quotes, poems, exercises, and twenty-sev...
Read more
lynn payne, March 2021
As always, Mary is hands down the best.
Jana Eklund, February 2021
Reply from Mary Ann Smith
It was a pleasure to work with Mary Ann - she was able to make a great book cover for me and although I must have been quite annoying at times, with all the corrections - she gave me just what I had in mind and I am very grateful to her for that ( and for her patience with me!).
Julia Reeve, February 2021
Mary Ann's professionalism and creativity brought my simple vision for the book cover to a whole new level that blew me away! She took the time to fully understand my thoughts, ideas, and concerns as we went through this project! I will definitely work with Mary Ann in the future with my next writings coming up!
Carrie Wiegman, December 2020
This was my first experience with hiring a cover illustrator, and Mary Ann made it great one. I spent quite a bit of time reviewing her portfolio, and she really has a gift. Her covers stand out. I felt she would be able to give me a compelling cover, and she did not disappoint. She was great to work with, worked quickly, communicated well, clearly "got" what I was looking for and delivered on...
Read more
Tony Dearing, November 2020
Explore the Reedsy Community
Reedsy is a community of top publishing professionals. Join Reedsy today to browse 1000+ profiles.
Ashley Santoro
Freelance Designer, Illustrator and Lettering Artist. Clients: Harlequin Canada, Source Books, Wattpad + more.
Welland, ON, Canada
Alex Head
Graphic designer specializing in design and layout of books and magazines, and production management for independent authors
Austin, TX, USA
