The Good Ship Illustration Podcast

Episode: A Bologna Book Fair Special: 6 Good Shippers were Finalists in the Illustrators Exhibition!
Date: October 17, 2025
Hosts: Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell, Tania Willis
Guests: Emma Simpson, Lisa Lofredo, Amber Au, Sam Jones, Kate Leeper

Overview

This special episode celebrates a remarkable milestone: six alumni (“Good Shippers”) of The Good Ship Illustration courses were selected as finalists in the highly competitive Bologna Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition. The hosts chat with several finalists about their journeys, the impact of the Good Ship community and courses, and their experiences at the world’s most prestigious illustration event. The episode is rich with advice, uplifting stories, and honest accounts of creative growth, confidence, and navigating the industry as emerging illustrators.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Bologna Book Fair: The Significance & Experience

• Exclusivity & Prestige: Out of thousands of international entries, only a small fraction are selected. Having six Good Shippers recognized is “amazing, amazing news” (Podcast Host, 00:28).
• Career Impact: Finalist status leads to requests from publishers, exposure beyond national borders, and an affirmation of an illustrator’s direction.
• The Fair’s Overwhelming Scale: First-timers and regulars alike describe the event as both inspiring and daunting, with opportunities for networking, feedback, and professional development.

Paths to Success: Personal Journeys

Emma Simpson (01:25–10:06)

• Breakthrough Moment: Being featured in another exhibition (“Flower and the Birds”) led to a surge of publisher interest.
  • “It was a really lovely phase of then speaking to different publishers, chatting and finding what would be the right fit.” — Emma Simpson (02:03)
• Agent Support: Sought out representation (Bell Morton Lomax) primarily for project management, not for finding work.
• Role of Good Ship Courses: Instrumental for confidence, social media presence, entering competitions, and career structure. Emma had no previous art training and felt “it was a very private dream of mine” (05:52).
  • “No one's going to come and offer it to you if you're hiding your work because no one knows it exists.” — Emma Simpson (06:09)
• Professional Growth: Now finalizing artwork for a two-book deal with Little Tiger Press and possibly more projects on the horizon.

Lisa Lofredo (10:29–18:08)

• In-Person Connections: Met Helen at a previous fair—a testament to Good Ship’s efforts in building an in-person and online community.
• Validation & Surprise: “If you really want to, there's a place for you. Because industry is so big and it's so diverse.” (11:25)
• After the Exhibition: Artwork tours globally (Japan, Korea, China). The exposure continues post-fair.
• Course Value: Good Ship courses provided structure, helped her loosen up creatively and feel part of a supportive community.
• Project Story: Her exhibited work, “The Midnight Elephant,” began as an Instagram challenge and was later picked up by a writer; highlights the importance of resilience amidst mixed feedback.
  • “We will always have people that like your work and people that don't like it ... it doesn't have to crush you completely, you know, because there's other doors that might be open.” — Lisa Lofredo (16:31)
• Debut Book: Recently published a picture book—her second authored and illustrated.

Amber Au (18:09–24:40)

• Course Participation: Took three Good Ship courses and found “Fly Your Freak Flag” most empowering for courage and confidence (18:52).
• Motivation via Competitions: Uses competitions as deadlines to finish projects and stay motivated.
• Multiple Honors: Twice a Bologna finalist; received various international illustration awards.
• Navigating Feedback: Noted the diversity of responses from publishers worldwide to the same work: “You have to be in a good head space to listen to others’ feedback ... if not you will be very like—” (21:50).
• Career Milestone: Signed a three-book deal with Little Tiger Press for her “Blue Tomato” project. Also landed smaller editorial/commercial work internationally.
• Inspirational Origin: Her illustration journey began from drawing food as therapy for an eating disorder.
  • “I suffered from eating disorder before ... how I step into illustration is actually my therapist asked me to write a food diary ... that’s why I start drawing food.” — Amber Au (23:13)
  • “This experience might not be the best one, but I think it actually helped me and shaped me to who I am now.” (24:04)

Sam Jones (24:43–36:27)

• From Shop Worker to Finalist: Worked in a wholefood shop; art degree was decades in the past. “Art Club” and Good Ship courses reignited creative confidence (25:42).
• Digital & Traditional Process: Blends hand sketching and digital tools (Procreate), often using home-printed textures from Tetra Pak prints (27:35–28:12).
• Finalist Journey: Overcame confusion (many “Sam Jones” in the world!) and attended the fair last minute, describing Bologna as “huge ... I was like, oh my God, this is huge.” (30:03)
• Portfolio Reviews: Mixed experiences; the reviewer’s fit matters:
  • “We do not publish in this format.” — Reviewer (31:29)
  • “Then you got to have a second go. ... He was lovely. ... sat down with him and he went, ‘How can I help you today? What should we talk about?’ That was such a nice way to start.” — Sam Jones (31:49)
• Community Power: “Pencils on Toast” is the peer group/WhatsApp community that grew out of Good Ship; offers support, sharing opportunity alerts, and contract advice.
  • “I think we punch above our weight. We spur each other on ... you should definitely send that off.” (35:22)
• Representation & Forward Look: Mentorship via Association of Illustrators led to signing with agent Rochelle Panagheri at Northern Elo. Multiple publishers reviewing his dummy books.

Kate Leeper (36:27–40:38)

• Long Listed for Bologna: Unusual for British illustrators; submitted work from a dragon book project.
• First Fair Experience: Found Bologna inspiring but overwhelming; recommends a more paced approach next time—“I realized afterwards, like, oh, that was a little bit too much.” (37:39)
• Global Perspective: Noted how her style connected better with international rather than only UK publishers, and found value in observing world trends and themes in children’s books.
• Networking & Learning: Attended talks on international book marketing for children’s books that deal with sensitive topics.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Community and Overcoming Isolation:

  • “It’s not just you.” — Podcast Host (00:28, recurring theme)

• Emma Simpson, on entering the field:

  • “It was a very private dream of mine ... no formal training in art ... both of those courses really sort of got. That just shook you out if you. [Want] to do it ... get a grip and be serious about it.” (05:52–06:09)

• Lisa Lofredo, on industry belonging:

  • “You realize that there’s a place for you somewhere, if you really want to, so there’s a place for you.” (11:25)

• Amber Au, on using challenges for progress:

  • “Joining competition seems like most efficient for me ... if I don’t join any competition, I won’t be able to finish any project, I guess, with my brain.” (19:46)

• Sam Jones, about Bologna Fair confusion:

  • “There was Sam Jones on there ... I was telling people, oh, I think it is me ... so very last minute ... did 48 hours in Bologna.” (29:14–30:00)

• Sam Jones, on portfolio reviews:

  • “We do not publish in this format. Like, yeah, I know you would.” (31:29)
  • “How can I help you today? What should we talk about? And that was such a nice way to start a portfolio review...” (31:49)

• Kate Leeper, on the global publishing landscape:

  • “It was really interesting to see all the different styles from different countries ... I feel that my style would maybe fit in more [elsewhere].” (38:24)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:28 — Episode Introduction & Bologna Book Fair context
• 01:25–10:06 — Interview: Emma Simpson
• 10:29–18:08 — Interview: Lisa Lofredo
• 18:09–24:40 — Interview: Amber Au
• 24:43–36:27 — Interview: Sam Jones
• 36:27–40:38 — Interview: Kate Leeper
• 40:40–End — Call to action: Enter the 2026 Illustrators Exhibition

The Power of Community & Courses

A recurring thread is the transformative impact of Good Ship’s courses and the web of community support:

• Providing structure, industry knowledge, and overcoming “impostor feelings.”
• Fostering deep, ongoing peer support ("Pencils on Toast") that helps navigate contracts, opportunities, and setbacks.
• A safe space for creative risk-taking, self-expression, and building resilience.

Advice for Aspiring Illustrators

• Enter competitions for experience, deadlines, and visibility—even if you don’t expect to win.
• Seek constructive feedback, but filter which you take to heart.
• Take advantage of community—illustration is challenging but “it’s not just you”.
• Build an online presence and connect with industry peers and mentors.
• Embrace your quirks and lived experiences; they create compelling, original work.
• Remember, entering is the first step: “If you don’t apply for it, you don’t get it.” (32:49)

Final Thoughts

The episode is a rich tapestry of honest reflection, hard-won advice, and a celebration of creative achievement. It's a must-listen for illustrators at any stage—brimming with encouragement, practical wisdom, and reminders that no one need face the illustration journey alone.