Who are you/ what do you do?
Hello! I’m Tessa and I make children’s books. I have just published my first book, Squirrel and the Three Bears… it is so good! I wrote and illustrated it myself, predominantly working on it in the Guild at the window seat in The Diner (it’s not “my” desk, honest). I am currently planning the Kickstarter campaign to crowdfund a big print run of the book so all you lovely people can buy your own copy. To make myself sound more important, I do all my children’s book work under the guise of The Happy Book Company and envision creating a community around books and other fun stuff like comics and board games which teach children what happiness is and how they can be happy every day. I have been doing this for a year now and can safely say I completely love my job.
In my other professional life, I teach economics part-time at Kingswood school (swanky new job starting in September), so you’ll see me at the Guild a bit more during the school holidays. And when I’m not being professional at all I like to swim, run, cycle, dance, and play violin in front of people and next to Colin and a guitar.
How long have you been a member at The Guild?
I started at the Guild in March 2019 as a member of the Network for Creative Enterprise, saving me from the trials and tribulations of working in Bath’s coffee shops.
How has The Guild helped support your goals?
The Guild supports me in SO many ways. The main thing is having wonderful people to talk to when I get bored of drawing woodland animals, and the encouragement and constructive feedback from members is invaluable in the progress of my books. I really wouldn’t have enjoyed making this book so much if it wasn’t for people stopping to ask me what I was doing or complimenting me on my artwork when I thought it was rubbish. If you’ve ever stopped to have a chat with me I thank you so much, you have made me a very happy illustrator lady.
Any fun memories?
The time we thought we would be really good at volleyball at the summer party…and we weren’t. At all.
For more information on The Happy Book Company visit the website here.