Following our recent announcement of the second mentorship programme in partnership with the London College of Communication (UAL) and Graduate Futures, we are excited to introduce our first group of mentors and mentees. This year, we have a total of seven matches, and today we are pleased to introduce three of them.

Beginning this October, this programme pairs industry professionals with aspiring talents in book cover design and editorial roles for a six-month, one-to-one mentoring experience.

Let’s meet the individuals who will be embarking on this journey together:

Pair 1:  Emily Mahoney (Mentee) & Lisa Davis (Mentor)

Emily Mahoney is currently working on her dissertation, which aims to lead to a deeper understanding of genre fluidity, the creation of new sub-genres, and an insight into how the romance and fantasy genres evolve and adapt within trade publishing. She has enjoyed gaining hands-on experience as a non-fiction editor, collaborating with friends to publish a collection of essays alongside art. Emily is especially interested in gaining experience with genre fiction and is an avid horror reader. She anticipates that this mentorship scheme will give her insight into whether she wants to work in editorial or marketing specifically, while also gaining more valuable experience within the industry.

Lisa Davis is a freelance children’s book editor with over 15 years of experience in the industry. After earning an MA in Publishing at University of the Arts London, Lisa worked at major publishers including DK, Simon & Schuster, and Hachette, and in departments including editorial, rights, and production. She was also previously the Buyer at BookTrust, the UK’s largest reading charity for children, purchasing 3.5 million books a year that went directly to children across the country.

Lisa shares her enthusiasm for the mentorship programme:

I’m delighted that UAL and Whitefox are offering this valuable mentorship to students. I certainly would have benefited from such a programme when I was starting out in the industry, so I am proud to be able to take part. I’m looking forward to meeting our next generation of publishers, seeing how they might shape our industry in the future, and providing what guidance I can.

Pair 2: Diellza Grabanica (Mentee) & Miranda Ward (Mentor)

Diellza Grabanica is passionate about storytelling, often found with a book in hand or catching up on the latest series or films in her downtime. She loves seeing how stories come together and would like to help authors perfect their manuscripts. Her love for books fuels her ambition to pursue a career as an editor. Diellza is looking forward to being mentored by Miranda Ward, viewing it as an awesome opportunity to gain some inside scoop on how the industry works and boost her editing skills.

Miranda Ward is a freelance editor with over a decade of experience working on both non-fiction and fiction titles for trade publishers and other clients. Her expertise includes developmental/structural editing, copy/line editing, and proofreading. Miranda is also an author, with her memoir, Adrift, published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in January 2021. This has given her valuable insight into being on the other side of the editorial process. She holds a PhD in cultural geography from Royal Holloway, University of London, and has worked as a university lecturer and a creative writing tutor. In 2023, Miranda and her husband opened a small independent bookshop in Oxford, where they live.

On becoming a mentor, Miranda says:

I chose to become a mentor because I feel the publishing industry can sometimes come across as somewhat insular and closed off; if I have any knowledge or experience that I can share which can help open up that world a little, I’m keen to impart it. When I was starting out, I benefitted hugely from the guidance and generosity of others with more experience, so I hope I can pay this forward.

Pair 3: Emma Vukman (Mentee) & Jet Purdie (Mentor)

Emma Vukman is a graphic designer with a passion for bookbinding, currently finishing up her MA in Publishing at London College of Communication. Alongside her final term, she is also working as a Book Arts Support Technician at the same campus. With a deep interest in historical art styles and radical content, Emma aspires to preserve the nostalgia of past eras by bringing them into modern contexts. She hopes to work with publishers who value the importance of diversity and reading accessibility, using her design skills to help create distinctive and memorable book covers that will enhance the voices within. Emma believes this mentorship will be a crucial first step into the industry, providing her with firsthand experience in her prospective career path. Not only will it provide her with invaluable knowledge and relevant experience, but it will also be tailored to my specific needs, she says.

Jet Purdie is a freelance book cover designer with twenty years of experience, designing everything from picture books to adult literary fiction for publishers such as Walker, Bloomsbury, Hachette, and Penguin Random House. Jet’s work has earned him multiple award nominations, including ABCD Award shortlistings for Birdy, The Boy With The Tiger’s Heart, and Land. He has also been shortlisted for The Kitschies award for Stray and won the same award for The Door That Led To Where.

Jet expresses excitement about the mentorship opportunity:

In the past, a handful of people have taken the time to teach me some valuable skills that have been hugely helpful, and I’m excited to pay that kindness forward… and I wouldn’t be surprised if I come away from the experience with a renewed enthusiasm for design.

We’re thrilled to see these talented individuals come together, each bringing their unique perspectives and experiences to the table. This mentorship programme not only offers guidance and inspiration to young creatives but also provides a platform for them to apply their newly acquired skills in real-time.