Emma Reed discovered her passion for writing Children's books and drawing illustrations after stumbling upon a miracle when recovering from a stroke, kidney failure and PTSD.
If there is anyone who is 100% passionate and dedicated to their career, it's Emma.
Emma set up her own Children's books and illustration brand in August 2020, called Whimsical Woodland Way, which includes characters she hopes will resonate with others.
She said:"I want my children's books and illustrations out there." She added: "I want that to be a message that people know who we are, and they know that I am Naughty Morty and my husband is Rory Rabbit, and our experiences and things in the book are relatable to others."
Emma (pictured) has big plans for the brand. Photo Credit: Emma Reed
Emma's Story & Background
Emma's self-motivation and knowledge was certainly noticeable, so it was surprising to learn her background was not creative. She worked in retail before starting her own childminding business, but a sudden and traumatic experience turned her world upside down.
"Five years ago, I actually suffered a major stroke and lost my entire childcare business and then had kidney failure, went onto dialysis and had a transplant." Emma was left disabled as a result. "Through that five year journey, I was left disabled, I lost my freedoms, I was paralysed, partially disabled down my right side, which is my dominant side."
"To be fiercely independent, running a childcare business, having side hustles, working twelve hour days and loving life, to then being disabled, dependent on somebody else - I felt completely lost." Emma also struggled with PTSD as a result of the experiences.
However, when Emma picked up a pen - she stumbled upon a miracle.
Busy at work. Photo Credit: Emma Reed
Naughty Morty & The Beginning of the Brand
"I was struggling with PTSD and I just picked up a pen to try and regain my motor skills. She added: "I started to just doodle images, I doodled a little mouse, he was in a little plant pot, I made a mistake, and then from that mistake something grew." Emma made the mouses cheeks blue accidentally, which gave her an incredible idea. "Someone said could they be balloons or could they be something. She added: "I was like oh my god they are flowers obviously, I just said he's a naughty little mouse look at him, and the only name to rhyme with naughty was Morty."
Morty, who is now known as the leading character in Whimsical Woodland Way, was born. "I used Naughty Morty as an escape if you like, a happy place, so I would immerse myself in drawings with Naughty Morty. She added: "I created friends, a place, and I wrote a little story to do with it."
Emma's next step was getting published. "I carried on writing stories, I really enjoyed all of that, and people kept saying you should publish this, this is really good, and you know it took a good six months to think I could do it."Emma eventually took the plunge. "I just leapt in with two feet, started my business and learned how to publish a good book from absolutely nothing."
Naughty Morty has his own book! Photo Credit: Emma Reed
The running of the business
In order to find success in the creative industries, Emma believes that people should follow what they enjoy. "It's kind of like following those guides, if you like, sometimes you can be guided down a particular route and it's knowing where to go, and it's following that and following what you enjoy." She added: "That I think is going to be the key to anyone that wants to have success in a creative industry."
For Emma, a great part of the job is being able to lose herself in an illustration, which she said sometimes can happen for hours. "For me at the moment that's my favourite part because I can just loose myself for hours." She added: "Then other times I have these words in my head; I might sit and have a day where i'm writing or il write a blog or do something, so that I enjoy the writing process."
Emma said that with a lot of creative people she knows, there is often more than one avenue they want to go down. "It's being able to have your hand in different areas to almost satisfy each little need." She added: "I have my drawing, I have my illustrating, I have all the techy computer geeky stuff, so I can flip between the three."
She believes that when it comes to her business, personal development is a crucial element. "First and foremost I think that is a foundation before anybody looks at starting a business." She added: "Reading books, listening to audios, listening to podcasts, you know, in the area of what they want to get into, but also, in areas of life."
Emma starts her days by reading, journalling, and writing lists of long and short-term goals, before meditating. "That's all done in the morning within two hours, and I'm ready to go." She added: "Everything else from that point on seems quite easy and it's because I'm ready, that is the main structure of my day, everything else will flow from what came before in my structured goals list."
However, Emma acknowledged that sometimes it is OK to take a break. "I am a firm believer after what I have been through, that you have to recognise when you're feeling down, and you have to recognise when you are feeling overwhelmed." She added: "Let yourself off, and say, do you know what, I am actually having a really bad day today, and I am just going to sit down with a bar of chocolate and watch friends, because that is all I want to do."
Photo Credit: Emma Reed
The brands message & future plans
Through her brand, Emma aims to send the message to people to follow their ambitions. "It's just having the courage to really go for what it is you want to go for." She added: "When people sit there and say, oh my gosh, you can't do that, I always say to people well, go back 200 years, go find a man in a street and tell him that you have the ability to speak to somebody on the opposite side of the world within seconds, he will tell you it's impossible."
Emma also has huge ambitions herself, hoping to expand the brand into something global. "My bigger vision is, I want a global business, I want a global brand that people know." She added: "I eventually want to be able to run courses, especially for young authors and illustrators that want to publish children's books." She also hopes to coach adults in the future."I would love to coach people through that process and to coach adults as well, because I think if you're going to try and influence children, you need to work on the adults and parents first, because children will always emulate what they see in the home."
Emma is a huge advocate of person development. Photo Credit: Emma Reed
Advice for aspiring authors & illustrators
For those wanting to become an author and illustrator in the future, Emma has plenty of words of wisdom, which start by emphasising the power of research. "I would do research, research what you like in children's books, and what you don't like." She added. "Learn as much as you can, what style do you like? And find what fit's you because you need to be as identifiable as that brand."
Emma gave the example of the specific fonts she uses for Whimsical Woodland Way, which makes the brand instantly recognisable. "I have got specific brand fonts, and I have a specific brand style, so when I posted in an illustrators group, somebody said to me, before I even read the post, or looked at the name, I saw the image and instantly knew it was Naughty Morty and Whimsical Woodland Way, because they recognised my style, in my art."
She also emphasised the importance of researching famous authors. "Research Julia Donaldson, research Lauren Child, there is so many fabulous children's authors out there, and just cherry-pick the bits that you like, and run with that, make your own recipe for a children's author, based on everybody else's ingredients."
If you're fresh out of uni or college and looking to start your own business - in whichever creative sector - Emma has advice for that too. "Read books like John C. Maxwell Failing Forward." She added: "Personal development books is what gives you motivation, and if you're constantly reading and fuelling your mind, then that helps."
So, whether you are wanting to become a Children's Author or Illustrator, or going into another part of the creative industries, this post has hopefully helped inspire you to follow your goals and ambitions.
Take a look behind the scenes by following Whimsical Woodland Way on the socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/whimsicalwoodlandway/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/tweet_morty
See you in the next post!
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