Penelope Pratley's guest appearances

Penelope Pratley

The Happy Book

Reading with a chance of tacos

Kylie Howarth

Matt Stanton

Penny Harrison

James Hart

Jess Racklyeft

Lesley Gibbes

Tania McCartney

Zanni Louise

Jason Pamment

Irma Gold

Adam Wallace

Adrian Beck

Kate Simpson

Dee White

Lucinda Gifford

OwlTail

Today’s guest was a school teacher, a fairy, an illustrator, and now an author with her very own name right there on the front cover. The book is titled, The Secret of Sapling Green. It’s a beautiful picture book, and to tell us all about it is the author/illustrator, the amazing Penelope Pratley.

Today’s guest was a school teacher, a fairy, an illustrator, and now an author with her very own name right there on the front cover. The book is titled, The Secret of Sapling Green. It’s a beautiful picture book, and to tell us all about it is the author/illustrator, the amazing Penelope Pratley.

Penelope Pratley Interview

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 books@taniamccartney.com.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.TaniaGUEST – PENELOPE PRATLEYEmerging 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 NOTES00:36 Introduction01:36 Introducing Penelope Pratley02:26 Our bevvies of choice—a liquorice tea and a coffee03:50 A typical writing day for Pen05:20 Multitasking is so over, darling, and so are to-do lists06:54 Working intuitively—what calls you that day08:25 Working under pressure09:09 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 sing11:45 Reconnecting with her illustration again—thanks, husband!12:12 Inhouse design work12:31 When children’s books came along14:05 The 52-Week Illustration Challenge14:46 The Fantastical Flying Creator15:48 EK Books—offer of publication16:06 Having the space for writing and illustrating books16:50 Feeling envy is a sign you’re not in your path of flow17:57 How quickly we grow when we put in the work18:40 Stretching into other roles, beyond illustration19:09 Self reflection19:41 Not comparing ourselves to others20:40 What books Pen has worked on so far24:10 Every book we create is a different experience25:01 The varying paths to publication27:16 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 deadline32:43 Do passion projects take longer?34:34 Deadlines can help you develop more quickly34:45 What limitations do new creators face?35:07 The inner critic36:00 Feeling you’ve started too late36:20 Losing faith in yourself37:10 Flying blind with this career38:00 Dips in self-confidence40:33 Making genuine industry friendships41:38 Pen’s passion project44:16 Not rushing to achieve more contracts45:05 Everything you do creates your career45:51 Visual narrative48:27 The placement of picture book text to effect flow50:29 The importance of a good ending53:52 We do need ‘quiet’ books54:32 Pen asks me a question55:47 How text count has changed over the decades56:22 Text for non-fiction books56:47 Those little extra details in PBs, e.g. Mamie58:33 Pen’s two fave children’s books at the moment1:00:04 What does Pen wish she’d known before starting this journey?1:00:50 Taking on other work because you feel you have to1:01:32 Delaying your creative dreams particular to women1:02:55 What is Pen’s advice for emerging creators?1:03:10 People viewing your career as a hobby1:06:08 What would Pen’s dream project be?1:08:19 Wrap-up1:09:01 Coming up next week1:09:35 A green tea1:10:14 The EndMusic: Ukulele Whistle by Scott HolmesPODCAST LINKSPenelope PratleyThe Art GardenMax’s Dinosaur FeetRodney Loses It by Michael Gerard Bauer and Chrissie KrebbsMike and the Modelmakers by Miroslav SasekSmile CryMamieThe Book of Trees by Piotr Socha, Wojciech Grajkowski (text)Cocoon by Aura ParkerWish by Chris SaundersLINKSThe Happy Book Facebook Pagetaniamccartney.comfacebook.com/TaniaMcCartneyAuthortwitter.com/TaniaMcCartneyinstagram.com/taniamccartneyTania McCartney Illos Etsy StoreThe Fantastical Flying CreatorCOMING UPChapter 17 – I’ll welcome emerging author Penny Harrison about her thoughts on the emerging creator journey.

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 books@taniamccartney.com. 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 PRATLEYEmerging 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 NOTES00:36 Introduction01:36 Introducing Penelope Pratley02:26 Our bevvies of choice—a liquorice tea and a coffee03:50 A typical writing day for Pen05:20 Multitasking is so over, darling, and so are to-do lists06:54 Working intuitively—what calls you that day08:25 Working under pressure09:09 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 sing11:45 Reconnecting with her illustration again—thanks, husband!12:12 Inhouse design work12:31 When children’s books came along14:05 The 52-Week Illustration Challenge14:46 The Fantastical Flying Creator15:48 EK Books—offer of publication16:06 Having the space for writing and illustrating books16:50 Feeling envy is a sign you’re not in your path of flow17:57 How quickly we grow when we put in the work18:40 Stretching into other roles, beyond illustration19:09 Self reflection19:41 Not comparing ourselves to others20:40 What books Pen has worked on so far24:10 Every book we create is a different experience25:01 The varying paths to publication27:16 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 deadline32:43 Do passion projects take longer?34:34 Deadlines can help you develop more quickly34:45 What limitations do new creators face?35:07 The inner critic36:00 Feeling you’ve started too late36:20 Losing faith in yourself37:10 Flying blind with this career38:00 Dips in self-confidence40:33 Making genuine industry friendships41:38 Pen’s passion project44:16 Not rushing to achieve more contracts45:05 Everything you do creates your career45:51 Visual narrative48:27 The placement of picture book text to effect flow50:29 The importance of a good ending53:52 We do need ‘quiet’ books54:32 Pen asks me a question55:47 How text count has changed over the decades56:22 Text for non-fiction books56:47 Those little extra details in PBs, e.g. Mamie58:33 Pen’s two fave children’s books at the moment1:00:04 What does Pen wish she’d known before starting this journey?1:00:50 Taking on other work because you feel you have to1:01:32 Delaying your creative dreams particular to women1:02:55 What is Pen’s advice for emerging creators?1:03:10 People viewing your career as a hobby1:06:08 What would Pen’s dream project be?1:08:19 Wrap-up1:09:01 Coming up next week1:09:35 A green tea1:10:14 The End Music: Ukulele Whistle by Scott Holmes PODCAST LINKS<a href="https://www.penelopesnest.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Penelope Pratley</a><a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-art-garden-penny-harrison/prod9781925335590.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Art Garden</a><a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/max-s-dinosaur-feet-lana-spasevski/prod9781912076376.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Max’s Dinosaur Feet</a><a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/rodney-loses-it--michael-gerard-bauer/prod9781742991900.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rodney Loses It</a> by Michael Gerard Bauer and Chrissie Krebbs<a href="https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&amp;_trksid=m570.l1313&amp;_nkw=mike+and+the+modelmakers&amp;_sacat=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mike and the Modelmakers</a> by Miroslav Sasek<a href="http://taniamccartneyweb.blogspot.com/2012/11/smile-cry.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Smile Cry</a><a href="https://taniamccartneyweb.blogspot.com/2012/11/mamie-november-2018-harpercollins.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mamie</a><a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-book-of-trees-piotr-socha/prod9780500651698.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Book of Trees</a> by Piotr Socha, Wojciech Grajkowski (text)<a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/cocoon-aura-parker/prod9781742765129.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cocoon by Aura Parker</a><a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/wish-chris-saunders/prod9781786033468.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wish by Chris Saunders</a> LINKS<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheHappyBookPodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Happy Book Facebook Page</a><a href="http://www.taniamccartney.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">taniamccartney.com</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TaniaMcCartneyAuthor/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/TaniaMcCartneyAuthor</a><a href="https://twitter.com/TaniaMcCartney" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">twitter.com/TaniaMcCartney</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/taniamccartney/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">instagram.com/taniamccartney</a><a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/TaniaMcCartneyIllos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tania McCartney Illos Etsy Store</a><a href="http://taniamccartney.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-fantastic-flying-creator-e-workshop.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Fantastical Flying Creator</a> COMING UPChapter 17 – I’ll welcome emerging author Penny Harrison about her thoughts on the emerging creator journey.

Chapter 16 : The Emerging Illustrator Journey with guest Penelope Pratley