This illustrator got a book deal lead on DAY ONE of Bologna… 😳 (part 2)

Summary

The Good Ship Illustration
Episode: This illustrator got a book deal lead on DAY ONE of Bologna… 😳 (part 2)
Date: May 1, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Helen, Katie, and Tania from The Good Ship Illustration continue their series of interviews from the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. This part features candid conversations with up-and-coming illustrators—including Lauren Cox and Eve—who share insights from their creative journeys, experiences navigating the industry, and the excitement (and nerves!) of networking and portfolio sharing at a major book fair. The tone is encouraging and honest, focused on the power of perseverance, community, and taking practical steps toward creative goals.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Lauren Cox’s Journey: From Layoff to Book Deal Lead

[00:33–06:38]

• Background & Transition into Illustration

  • Lauren shares her path from working as a corporate motion designer in Chicago to pursuing children’s book illustration after a layoff.
  • She credits a “crash out” (her words) for her pivot toward what she truly loves.
  • Lauren discovered The Good Ship Illustration through Instagram and their Picture Book course, which she completed online.
    • Quote [02:44], Lauren: “I figured, well, I could do an online course. And I ended up really loving the actual… course and what you guys had offered and your expertise and how many years you guys were in the field.”
  • She considered a Master’s program but opted for a more practical, less expensive route.

• Course Implementation & Support

  • Lauren’s mum observed her diligence with the course and how she took action rather than just consuming information.
    • Quote [03:18], Host: “Yes, you've had incredible success, but you've actually done the things… not everybody takes action.”
  • The hosts praise Lauren for not only learning but applying course insights to her work.

• Bologna Book Fair Experience & Book Deal Opportunity

  • Lauren recounts her experience at the fair:
    • She met many creatives and had the initiative to bring her picture book dummy.
    • In the Greek Pavilion, she was directed to a publisher, presented her work spontaneously, and received strong interest—a request to send her book and contact details exchanged.
    • Quote [04:43], Lauren: “You ask the right questions and you make connections and you can't be afraid is what yesterday was.”
    • The lead is confirmed as significant validation from a publisher.
    • Lauren affirms her connection to the book’s author in Athens, who is also excited by the publisher’s interest.

• Navigating the Fair Without Representation

  • Lauren emphasizes her “faith and love and pixie dust” approach, attending without an agent or established representation.
  • She highlights the power of real-life connections after mostly online learning.
    • Quote [05:56], Lauren: “...it’s not quite the same as, like, seeing a human and being like, oh, this is your actual career.”

• Outlook & Networking

  • She plans to attend workshops and keep networking, especially within the American publishing scene at the fair.
    • Quote [06:30], Host: “Just float around and soak it up and… whatever you do from here is a bonus.”

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Eve’s Portfolio Innovation & Creative Growth

[06:44–09:49]

• Portfolio Approach

  • Eve stands out by creating a printed book—essentially a children’s book illustrating his own work—as a portfolio.
  • He printed only a few copies due to their weight and logistics.
    • Quote [07:13], Eve: “No, I don't have 100 because they're quite heavy to carry.”
  • The book includes envelopes for storing business cards and contact exchange during meetings.

• Feedback & Style Evolution

  • Eve is developing a new style, moving from a digital to an analog method this year.
  • Receives consistently positive professional feedback—editors and illustrators say his style is “perfect for children’s books” and urge him to continue evolving.
    • Quote [08:40], Eve: “People are telling me, keep going… this is even stronger.”
  • Unlike past years, he now feels energized to return home and keep creating after the fair:
    • Quote [09:16], Eve: “I think it’s the first year… I can’t wait to go home and actually sit with my pens again.”
  • Discusses overcoming setbacks; this year feels different—more confident about direction and growth.

• Creativity & Perseverance

  • The hosts and Eve agree that improvement is about persistence, experimentation, and just "doing the things.”
    • Quote [09:36], Eve: “It’s not easy, but that’s why we’re here.”

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• [03:18] Host: “We can tell people till we're blue in the face, but not everybody takes action.”
• [04:43] Lauren: “You ask the right questions and you make connections and you can't be afraid is what yesterday was.”
• [05:23] Lauren (on being unrepresented): “I kind of went in sort of on faith and love and pixie dust.”
• [08:40] Eve: “Everyone is like, keep doing this. Like, this is even stronger.”
• [09:16] Eve: “Normally I come home and I'm already knackered… And this year, I'm like, no, I've learned things. I know what I want to do. I just keep at it.”

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Notable Timestamps

• 00:33 – Introduction to Lauren Cox and her background
• 03:18 – Insight on taking action after learning
• 04:43 – Lauren describes her “surreal” book deal opportunity
• 05:23 – Attending Bologna without agent or representation
• 06:44 – Introduction to Eve and his innovative portfolio
• 08:40 – Feedback on Eve’s new style and creative evolution
• 09:16 – Eve on feeling motivated after the fair

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Takeaways

• Taking concrete steps and persevering after setbacks can lead to real opportunities, even early on.
• Practical, self-driven learning (like online courses) can rival more traditional routes if paired with action and networking.
• Personal touches in portfolio presentation can make a big impact at industry events.
• Community and in-person support are invaluable for creative confidence.

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Energy, honesty, and encouragement shine through this episode—perfect for illustrators hungry for practical inspiration and real-world insights from peers on similar journeys.

Transcript

[A]

Here is part two of our Bologna interviews. Thank you so much for listening and if you managed to come and find us at Bologna Children's Book Fair.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

We had so much fun meeting everybody and we're hoping to do that again one day because it was cool. Okay, see you soon. Enjoy listening to these brave people. Hello, I'm here with Lauren, actually. Lauren, what's your surname again? I know this. Cox. Yeah, this is. Hello, I'm here with Lauren Cox, who is a good shipper who's done the picture book course and we were super, super excited to meet you and hear more about. Because you. This is your first time at Bologna, right? Yes. You live in Chicago, you've come over just for the fair.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And yeah, we were speaking to your mum. We're trying to convince Lauren's mum to come on here and your mum was having none of it, so. Yeah, but we've got you.

[B]

It's just she's here. She's here in spirit and 10ft away.

[A]

Yeah, she's cheering you on.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because she was telling us about how maybe it's helpful if you talk me through like your. You had a job and then like finding your way into good ship and things like that.

[B]

Yeah, so I had a job in corporate as a motion designer for the last five years, worked for a Scottish company and then experienced a layoff which kind of sort of reset everything. I do have a background in fine arts, so a lot of the stuff that I've done has been, you know, traditional media and kind of incorporate trying to how much illustration can I kind of wiggle in to all of, you know, the corporate stuff that happens in the world. Yeah. Then I, as the kids say, had a crash out nice, as most would do, and then found you guys, found good ship and joined during the live course of the picture book course.

[A]

Can you remember how you found us?

[B]

Honestly? So I had been stalking you guys for a little bit.

[A]

Fred, Lily, I hope.

[B]

Yeah, of course, absolutely. But no, I found you guys through an illustration page on Instagram and then I took kind of a quick break from Instagram and then still found you guys. Kind of came back again and saw your website and saw the picture book course like being offered and that was during looking at master's programs like the Cambridge School of Art. There's a couple of American based master's programs and I didn't think I wanted to do a Master's.

[A]

It's a big time and money investment doing a master's.

[B]

It's a lot. And so I Think what ended up happening there was. I figured, well, I could do an online course. And I ended up really loving the actual. The course and what you guys had offered and your expertise and how many years you guys were in the field. So.

[A]

And it's so good because your mum was talking about it and she was saying how she'd seen you feeling sad and then, you know, like, searching and feeling sadder and then you found the courses. But the thing that I was saying was, yes, you've had incredible success, but you've actually done the things.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because we can tell people till we're blue in the face, but not everybody takes action. And from what your mum was saying, you were, like, diligent, and you just went through the course and really implemented everything that Helen shares in there. So that's so well done you.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

We're at Bologna, of course.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And what happened yesterday?

[B]

Saw a good ship came up, said hello, and then we kind of went around the fair. It was mad. There's so many people. We met so many amazing, incredible, talented individuals such as yourselves. And then we ended up in one of the halls. And because I've been working with a Greek author for a picture book, kind of in tandem with the corporate course, what we ended up doing was we walked up to the Greek Pavilion and got contacted with someone who was, I think, a volunteer there. And then she pointed us to a publisher stall that was nearby with, like,

[A]

the name of the.

[B]

The assistant that was there. So we popped in and we said, hey. And we got sat down and talking to her. Well, I had brought my dummy book with me to take a look. And she was like, hey, I love this. I want to. Let's talk more. So we took each other's contacts. She's like, please send me this book. And it just. It's surreal. It's just kind of like you ask the right questions and you make connections and you can't be afraid is what yesterday was. And then we went home and took a nap.

[A]

Yeah, quite right. That's incredible. So, yeah, so they've asked me a book and they're going to be in touch. It sounds like it's a thing. Yeah. So when you first told me, I was like, oh, yeah, cool. And then Helen was like, no, they took her book, like, the big deal. Oh, my God, I didn't even realize.

[B]

And my card and everything, and we got connected and. And of course, I talked to the author later, who is based in Athens, and she was like, yes, I know who that is.

[A]

So is she really excited as well.

[B]

She's really excited.

[A]

Amazing. Oh, well, I think we'll be keeping an eye out. You need to keep us posted on how that goes and stuff.

[B]

I promise I will. Because it's. It's. Again, it's only day. It's day two of the fair, and.

[A]

Yeah, we're not even at the halfway point. Yeah. So who knows what will happen next?

[B]

Like, but it's been wonderful, and this has been such a. It's a great experience. Just even as someone who I'm not represented. I don't have any kind of agents. I kind of went in sort of on faith and love and pixie dust. And then connecting with, like I said, good ship and the people that have been taking the course has just been fantastic.

[A]

It's so nice to meet coursemates and everybody in person as well, isn't it? Because I think when you're online, you get some connection, but it's not quite the same as, like, seeing a human and being like, oh, this is your actual career.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Yeah. You're doing it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, look at you go. Yay.

[B]

There's a wave of people, no pun intended, a host of shipmates.

[A]

Hi. Well, thank you so much, Lauren, and we will. What's your plan for the rest of today? Have you got things?

[B]

Currently trying to figure out if we can join a workshop to break up the day a little bit, and then seeing if there's anyone else we can kind of poke our heads in, kind of introduce ourselves. The American, you know, literary scene is. It's kind of spread out around here, so we're just trying to see who can we talk to and connected with.

[A]

That's the best way. Just float around and soak it up and. Yeah, sounds like you've had an incredible start. Anyway, so whatever you do from here is a bonus.

[B]

Yeah, exactly.

[A]

Oh, thank you so much.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

I'm here with Eve.

[C]

Hi.

[A]

Hi. And the reason I wanted to speak to Eve is because he has this incredible portfolio, and I have questions. Okay, so my first question, it's a printed book with your work inside it, which is genius. We're a children's book fair. Makes sense to give people a children's book of your work. How many copies did you have printed?

[C]

I printed five.

[A]

Okay, cool.

[C]

And then they gave me another one, so I had six.

[A]

So I feel extra honored because you left one at our stall, and I was like, oh, you must have had, like, hundreds printed. How are you carrying them?

[C]

No, I don't have 100 because they're quite heavy to carry. And yesterday I carried them all around and then I didn't gave any. So I have to give them today.

[A]

Yes. You can get rid of them.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So how does it work? Have you been having portfolio reviews and you just say, review my portfolio?

[C]

Yeah. So I actually have this one, which I have an envelope at the beginning, so I put the cards that I'm being given, like from illustrators and editors and so on, and then at home I sort that out again. And then at the end of it, I have two or more envelopes where I put my own cards so I can, at the end of the talk, whichever talk I have, give them one of each.

[A]

Amazing. I love the little cars.

[C]

And it's like I keep. Like I keep being complimented on it and at the same time I keep telling people that it's so normal. It's a. The only work I would say is getting it done on time to get it printed.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Because I did have so many scare about not arriving on time.

[A]

Yeah. The printing, you've got to like double the amount of time you think you're going to need because there's always something. In the uk we had like a back holiday right when it needed to be printing time.

[C]

Same in Germany. And I forgot about this, so I had to send it and then realize and then be like, oh, my God, it will. It should arrive on Thursday at best, Friday. I'm traveling on Saturday morning.

[A]

No stress.

[C]

But it did arrive one day before. They were really good this year. Yeah. I think they've known me and we had our issues. So now they're like, oh, it's him again.

[A]

It's Eve. We better do it. And how's it been going down? How have people been receiving it?

[C]

It's a whole new style that I've been developing from last year mostly, but then very much this year, the beginning of the year, so there's still lots of exploration to do. But I had lots of beautiful comments, lots of compliments. People are telling me, keep going. I had that last year with a whole other style with procreate, but. And digital. And this is all analog, but yeah, people are like, oh, my God, this is perfect for the children's book. And this. Everyone is like, keep doing this. Like, this is even stronger. So I'm mixing and yeah, I can't wait to. I think it's the first year. I can't wait to go home and actually sit with my pens again.

[A]

I'm excited and raring to go get back to the studio.

[C]

Normally I come home and I'm already knackered, and I'm like, oh, I don't know what to do and why. And it didn't work, and I want to get a job, and then I go into a hole. And this year, I'm like, no, I've learned things. I know what I want to do. I just keep at it. I just have to keep exploring.

[A]

I'm going to do the things. Yes.

[C]

It's not easy, but it's. That's why we're here.

[A]

Yeah, exactly. And I think. I think that's, like, half the battle is carrying on and keep doing it, keep getting better and keep trying things. Yeah. Incredible. Well, I think it's super inspiring, so.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Thank you very much for sharing your welcome.

[C]

Thank you for having me.

[A]

Yay. Good. Brilliant. Sam.