Sarah Dunant, the award-winning novelist and broadcaster known for her Sunday Times bestselling Italian Renaissance novels, came to Whitefox with a new kind of project. The Marchesa – a genre-defying book blending biography, fiction and art history – centred on the life of Renaissance patron and political force Isabella d’Este. While the book was thematically in line with Dunant’s previous work, its form and inclusion of images fell outside the appetite of traditional publishers. Dunant needed a publishing partner who would respect her creative vision while enabling a professional, well-supported route to market.

Whitefox collaborated closely with Sarah to produce a beautifully designed edition of The Marchesa, complete with integrated illustrations to reflect the book’s art-historical depth. A print-on-demand route via IngramSpark, allowed for reduced upfront costs, while ensuring the book remained available in bookshops and through online retailers.

To support the book’s launch and visibility, Whitefox coordinated with Dunant’s external publicity partner FMcM, ensuring strong messaging across press and events. Although Sarah has no social media presence, her profile as a BBC broadcaster and public speaker gave the book significant traction through other channels.

Alongside professional marketing support, Sarah has driven direct sales herself, leveraging her personal network, event appearances and book festival engagements to build a loyal audience.