THE ASSIGNMENT: Penguin Random House approached me to create the cover for comedian and writer Zarna Garg’s memoir This American Woman. The book tells the story of Zarna’s journey as an immigrant, mother, and stand-up comedian finding her voice in America.

Before beginning the visual development, I was able to read through the transcript of the memoir and spend time speaking directly with Zarna. Those conversations helped me better understand her personality, her humor, and the larger story she was telling about identity, family, and the immigrant experience.

The challenge was to create a cover image that felt bold, funny, and empowering while also capturing the deeper theme of what it means to become an American on your own terms.

The Concept:

After reading the manuscript and getting to know Zarna, I began developing a series of sketches exploring visual metaphors around American identity and the Statue of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty became a natural symbol to explore — representing the promise of America while also allowing space for humor and personality, which is central to Zarna’s voice as a comedian.

The early sketches explored several possible directions, including Zarna embodying the statue herself, multiple symbolic arms referencing the Hindu deity Vishnu, and playful interactions with the iconic monument.

Ultimately, the concept of Zarna being held triumphantly in the arms of the Statue of Liberty felt like the strongest and most immediate read. It captured both the humor of her personality and the emotional arc of her story — an immigrant finding her place in America.

The Process:

Once the concept was selected, the production focused on bringing the sketch to life in a way that felt cinematic and celebratory.

Zarna was photographed in studio, styled in vibrant clothing that reflected her personality and stage presence. The Statue of Liberty figure and New York skyline were developed as separate visual elements, allowing precise control over composition and lighting.

The final image was assembled through a combination of photography and digital compositing, carefully balancing scale, color, and lighting so the elements felt unified and believable while maintaining the playful tone of the concept.

The Final:

The finished cover captures the spirit of Zarna’s memoir… bold, joyful, and unapologetically American. By placing her in the arms of the Statue of Liberty, the image becomes both a celebration of her journey and a visual metaphor for the immigrant experience at the heart of the story.