Sarah J. Coleman

Sarah J. Coleman – Designer

AKA Inkymole, I have 30+ yrs experience designing for the US + UK's best known publishers + authors: illustration, art direction, lettering.

Overview

ABOUT ME


With almost 30 years' experience of creating for books, creating covers and illustrating whole books, I'm a one-stop-shop for illustration, design and lettering, known for my distinctive typographic treatments, fonts and ink-led work, whether digital or analogue. I work across a diverse spectrum of genes, and I've worked with most of the major publishing houses across the US and UK (there's a list below!)


I work on fiction and non-fiction, adult and children's titles; I've created covers for a satisfyingly diverse range of authors including Guillermo Del Toro, Hillary Clinton, Malala, Ram Dass, Kevin Hearne, Neil Gaiman and Andrea Gibson.


I love working on young adult and middle grade novels - but am equally at home with biographies, poetry, science fiction, fantasy and literary fiction. Equally you're in safe hands with a historically or politically challenging story, having created for historical fiction for authors including Linda Williams Jackson, Tonya Bolden, Harper Lee and Alice Hoffman.


Please ensure you have a good look through my gallery to see the full spectrum possible.


Additionally I create 'behind the scenes' film of work being made, and often dive in with a energetic approach to cover reveals and promo packages, Instagram takeovers, promotional assets and ideas.


If you're struggling with a title or a blurb for the back of your book, I can help with that too!


I'm also well known for my work in advertising, design, music, and the screen, as well as live sessions for Adobe, talks and seminars around the UK and online.


...most importantly I am, of course a reader, as well.



MY EXPERIENCE


I created my first cover while still a student, commissioned to create a piece for the then-upcoming autobiography of a famous film actress (clue: she was in a lot of space films). My work with books has threaded through my career ever since, like a long-running plot point, with covers created for bestselling authors, self-publishing writers and icons of the classic canon.



MY CLIENTS


include Walker Books, Penguin Randomhouse, Faber & Faber, Folio Society, Pan Macmillan, Tor, Puffin and Bloomsbury. I've been honoured to work for writers such as Malala, Guillermo del Toro and Cornelia Funke, Hillary Clinton, Christopher Fowler, Kelly Barnhill, Benjamin Alire Säenz and Harper Lee.


You can find an up-to-date list of my publishing clients and authors online.


Services
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences Health & Wellbeing Philosophy
Fiction
Horror Middle Grade Science Fiction Young Adult
Languages
English

Work experience

Self-employed

Jun, 1993 — Present
I'm involved in the full spectrum of creative stuff - advertising, editorial, print, music, screen and animated work - but have particular experience and interest in publishing. My pseudonym and company name, Inkymole, evolved from a childhood nickname, the glasses-wearing kid with a book, always in the inks and paints! I'm a proof-reader too, and I also offer copywriting on book blurbs, promotional materials and book launches.

Portfolio

Paper & Blood

Kevin Hearne

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles comes book two of an “action-packed, enchantingly fun” (Booklist) spin-off series, as an eccentric master of rare magic solves a supernatural mystery Down Under!There’s only one Al MacBhar... read more
Ink & Sigil

Kevin Hearne

New York Times bestselling author Kevin Hearne returns to the world of his beloved Iron Druid Chronicles in a spin-off series about an eccentric master of rare magic solving an uncanny mystery in Scotland.“A terrific kick-off of a new, action-packed, enchantin... read more
Inventing Victoria

Bolden, Tonya

What Goes Up

Heppermann, Christine

Wolf Hollow

Wolk, Lauren

A Sky Full of Stars

Jackson, Linda Williams

Midnight without a Moon

Jackson, Linda Williams

Sarah J. has 1 review

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Murasaki P.

Murasaki P.

Feb, 2025

I've worked with several cover designers and Sarah is the absolute best! She's also a wonderful illustrator + fabulous with design so it meant there were a lot of options for my book's cover. She sent over so many wonderful sketches in the initial design phase, showed that she thoroughly understo...
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Sarah J. C.
Working with Britta's been delightful. She communicates with little videos and note-filled PDFs which are incredibly useful, because her excitement and enjoyment of the project emanates from the sc...
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Most recent contributions

What methods have been most effective for you in marketing yourself as a freelance illustrator?

Self-promotion in the widest and most diverse methods possible. My continuous, now-31 year career has been maintained through a constant series of the following, and I recommend exactly the same approach to anyone looking to get into into illustration full-time! Self-generated projects Solo and...
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What professional organizations do you encourage illustrators to join, if any?

There's no particular body I'd recommend anyone join, because although there are many practises and protocols that are common throughout the industry, different artists work different ways and no one organisation can fully represent all your needs. My own advice, which I've given in talks, semin...
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