Q&A With Emma Louise McNarma 

My favorite part about blogging is doing interviews with authors, agents, publicists, book marketers and anyone with different roles in the publishing world. I am so excited to be doing this Q&A with the Junior Designer at Penguin Random House Emma Louise McNarma! 

Q: So, Emma, what’s it like designing covers for children’s books at Penguin Random House?

A: Hi Bianca! Well, I am just starting out, so there are only two books currently published I have had a hand in, but there are a couple in the works that I am excited about. I do not actually work with children’s books, I am a part of the Viking/Penguin Books department, which focuses more on adult fiction, non-fiction, as well as Penguin classics and poetry. I would totally be down to design for children’s books someday though! 

Q: Do you work with a team of people designing book covers? 

A: Yes! My team is small, but they are all powerhouses. I am honored to get to learn from them, as each has so many unique talents and so much experience. 

Q: How long have you been working at Penguin Random House?

A: I am coming up on one year since I joined PRH, and it has absolutely flown by. 

Q: If you weren’t designing covers at Penguin Random House, would you choose to be a publicist, an agent or an author? 

A: Well, when I was a kid, I wanted to be an author because I loved books so much, but I quickly realized that writing is not something that comes easy to me. (My sister Lily, however, is a different story!) If I weren’t working in book design, I would love to do branding for small businesses, or beverage design I think is so much fun.  

Q: What advice would you like to others who would want to design book covers like you do?

A: Put yourself out there! I was never shy to tell people what I wanted to do with my degree, and that helped me meet people who could mentor and help me.