Sarah Whittaker

Sarah Whittaker – Designer

Specialist book cover designer with over a decade's experience across a range of bestselling fiction and non-fiction.

Overview

I'm a graphic designer and illustrator working across a range of genres and styles, from first-time authors to big established names. I also work with major publishers including Penguin Random House, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Little, Brown Book Group, Orion Publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, and more. Prior to going freelance I was Senior Designer at Transworld (Penguin Random House).

I approach each design in an individual and considered way. My goal is always for the cover to connect your book to your would-be readers, whether the result is highly decorative or boldly minimalist.
Services
Non-Fiction
Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits History Nature
Fiction
Fantasy Historical Fiction Humor & Comedy Literary Fiction Young Adult

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 2018 — Present

Transworld (Penguin Random House)

Nov, 2008 — Jan, 2018 (about 9 years)

Started as a Junior and worked my way up.

Portfolio

From the instant #1 New York Times bestselling author of the “eerie and fascinating” (USA TODAY) The Thirteenth Tale comes a “swift and entrancing, profound and beautiful” (Madeline Miller, internationally bestselling author of Circe) novel about how we explai... read more
"She stood and took her place in front of the camera… It was now or never.”Bryony Masters has been looking for her long-lost sister, Hannah, for years. So when primetime game show What Happens in France calls for new contestants, she spots the ultimate public ... read more
‘I absolutely loved this... I couldn’t put it down, grabbing every opportunity to continue... Heart-wrenchingly sad but... also one of the most uplifting and heartwarming books... It had me crying (and I mean big heaving sobs!!)... I finished this book last ni... read more
'Radical history at its best'Owen Jones ‘A proudly partisan history’Mary Beard ‘Annoying and readable in equal measure’Jacob Rees-Mogg Exploring the extraordinary social and political dominance enjoyed by the British aristocracy over the centuries, Entitled se... read more
'O'Clery takes us into the hidden heart of Soviet Russia... An arresting and evocative story.' Keggie Carew, author of Dadland'A tour de force ... Love, politics, murder, wars, and the fracturing of ties, personal and ethnic. O'Clery is a gifted writer.' Luke ... read more
Falling

Julie Cohen

Can you imagine keeping a secret so devastating, you couldn’t even tell the people you love?Honor’s secret threatens to rob her of the independence she’s guarded ferociously for eighty years.Jo’s secret could smash apart the ‘normal’ family life she’s fought s... read more
Ten years ago, two girls’ lives changed forever.Now one of them is ready to tell their story.***'A quirky lovable mystery and a brilliant, heartbreaking debut' Stylist'A new face of fiction [and] an original coming of age novel' Observer***The first memory I h... read more
The Labour MP for Rhondda presents a lucid account of how Parliament evolved between 1801 and the end of the Thatcher era. He describes changes that included the exclusion of the landed aristocracy from the Commons, diminishing power of the Crown, the strength... read more
___________________________From the Sunday Times No 1 Bestselling AuthorFrom bestselling author and massively popular blogger The Unmumsy Mum comes this hilarious, irreverent and searingly candid compendium of parenting experiences. With entries including D is... read more
She's back! The Unmumsy Mum has put pen to paper (or fingers to the keyboard!) once more to bring you the next instalment of her life as mum to two young boys, documenting motherhood exactly as she finds it. Her words have made mums, dads and grandparents ever... read more
The Unmumsy Mom

Sarah Turner

THIS IS NOT A PARENTING MANUAL. THIS IS REAL LIFE. The Unmumsy Mum writes candidly about motherhood like it really is: the messy, maddening, hilarious reality, how there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach and how it is sometimes absolutely fine to not know wha... read more
‘This book was laugh-out-loud hilarious and give-me-a-box-of-tissues heartbreaking. I loved it so much!... I literally went back and reread some parts a few times just because they were so funny! It’s a beautiful story and I’m sure it’ll stick with me.’ Tales ... read more
Work Like A Woman explains why the way we work now is in desperate need of change, how you can campaign to help make this happen and why we will all – men and women – profit from this. Women today are working in a man’s culture - and it’s holding us back. In W... read more

Sarah has 7 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Emily K.

Emily K.

Mar, 2023

Love working with Sarah, she is beyond talented.
Emily K.

Emily K.

Jul, 2022

I hired Sarah because I fell in love with her gorgeous illustrations and her work for me did not disappoint! She was generous in her samples and produced a beautiful cover. I am so happy I went with Sarah, the quality of her work can't be beat.
Sarah W.
Thank you for your review Emily! I absolutely loved working with you on your book.
Mark L.

Mark L.

Feb, 2021

Sarah produced the cover for our historical fiction novel, and has done an incredible job. Sarah has been professional, punctual and a pleasure to work with throughout the process. Sarah's work has been of the highest standard. She was able to take the brief and deliver a tremendous cover that exceeded expectations, but was true to the spirit of the novel. I look forward to continuing to work w...
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Sarah W.
Great working with you Mark - I can't wait for book 2!
Annie F.

Annie F.

Jan, 2021

Sarah is a fantastic designer and it was a pleasure working with her. She is efficient, insightful and creative. Her eye is sophisticated, and she takes time to listen to you as her client. It was a seamless experience, and I would recommend her to anyone commissioning a book cover. Her experience with leading publishing houses was obvious at every stage, but worn lightly. Thank you, Sarah.
Sarah W.
Thank you for this review Annie, it's been a joy working with you.
Kelsey S.

Kelsey S.

Sep, 2020

Sarah is a talented and attentive professional. She combined my ideas for my book's cover with her artistic vision, and the result was a beautiful, creative, and provocative design. I appreciate her attention to detail and responsive to my feedback, and I would highly recommend working with her. Thanks, Sarah, for creating a cover that's perfect for my novel!

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