HELLO!

Welcome to Chapter 16 of The Happy Book. In this chapter, I'll be talking to illustrator Penelope Pratley about the emerging creator journey-as both illustrator and also a bit of author. I'll be chatting to Pen about her route to publication, the challenges she's faced, the highs, lows and joys.

We'll also cover working intuitively, dedicating time to our work, passion projects, your inner critic, visual narrative, the perfect picture book ending and a lot more. You're going to love it, especially if you're new to this journey.

Fire up your device, cram in those earbuds and enjoy this foray into the magical world of kids' book creation. If you have any questions or comments, you can say hello at [email protected].

I'm Tania McCartney and I'm an author, illustrator and editor of children's books. I've always wanted to live inside a book, and now I practically do. Welcome to the Happy Book.

Tania

GUEST - PENELOPE PRATLEY

Emerging Illustrator, writer and educator, Penelope Pratley spends her days creating wonder . . . one illustration at a time. Using watercolour, ink, pencil and mixed media, her particular focus is creating picture books. She adores stories for children and owns far too many pencil cases. Penelope made her illustration debut in February 2018 with The Art Garden, published by EK Books and written by Penny Harrison. Penelope is currently illustrating more books to be published in 2019 and 2020. Living with a surfer, an inventor, a ballerina, three chickens, a rabbit, and an ancient guinea pig, her heart is never short of inspiration.

SHOW NOTES

00:36 Introduction

01:36 Introducing Penelope Pratley

02:26 Our bevvies of choice-a liquorice tea and a coffee

03:50 A typical writing day for Pen

05:20 Multitasking is so over, darling, and so are to-do lists

06:54 Working intuitively-what calls you that day

08:25 Working under pressure

09:09 What brought Pen to illustrate for children?

10:08 Being told her work is too 'cute'

10:54 Creating things that don't make your heart sing

11:45 Reconnecting with her illustration again-thanks, husband!

12:12 Inhouse design work

12:31 When children's books came along

14:05 The 52-Week Illustration Challenge

14:46 The Fantastical Flying Creator

15:48 EK Books-offer of publication

16:06 Having the space for writing and illustrating books

16:50 Feeling envy is a sign you're not in your path of flow

17:57 How quickly we grow when we put in the work

18:40 Stretching into other roles, beyond illustration

19:09 Self reflection

19:41 Not comparing ourselves to others

20:40 What books Pen has worked on so far

24:10 Every book we create is a different experience

25:01 The varying paths to publication

27:16 Does Pen still feel like an emerging creator?

28:45 What has been the most daunting part of this journey?

30:59 What helped you on this journey?

31:51 Working to a deadline

32:43 Do passion projects take longer?

34:34 Deadlines can help you develop more quickly

34:45 What limitations do new creators face?

35:07 The inner critic

36:00 Feeling you've started too late

36:20 Losing faith in yourself

37:10 Flying blind with this career

38:00 Dips in self-confidence

40:33 Making genuine industry friendships

41:38 Pen's passion project

44:16 Not rushing to achieve more contracts

45:05 Everything you do creates your career

45:51 Visual narrative

48:27 The placement...