S2 E7: Oak Tree Life Release, Three Author Chats & Launching the ICAN Shop!

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 7! Hannah and Leanne return from Cloudberry HQ to unpack a packed week of milestone releases, upcoming literary festivals, and brand-new community initiatives across the network. Plus, Ben from Inkpot Audio gets a lot of love from multiple members this week for bringing their picture books to life! In this jam-packed episode, Hannah catches up with three inspiring authors: 1. *Katie Kett & Susie Reading* celebrate the publication of their second edition release, *The Oak Tree Life*, discussing how they funded their initial launch via Kickstarter, created an accessible audio version with Ben from Inkpot Audio, and prepared for their upcoming woodland reading at the Morley Literature Festival! 2. *Samantha Mattocks* drops by to discuss *The Kindness of Mr. Mishkins*, her third book in 13 months, working with Ben from Inkpot Audio on Spotify playlists, and preparing for 11 festive Christmas events! 3. *Alishea Gregory* breaks down her debut picture book *The Snack Fairies*, sourcing traditional watercolour illustrator Pixie Petal on Instagram, overcoming imposter syndrome, and running half-term library workshops! Plus, Hannah and Leanne reveal major updates regarding the upcoming ICAN Online Shop & Consignment Service, newsletter subscriber flurries, and early planning for the first annual ICAN Awards! If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and leave us a comment below! Guest Spotlight & Featured Links: 📖 Buy The Oak Tree Life: [https://www.cloudberryandink.co.uk](https://www.cloudberryandink.co.uk) 📸 Katie Kett & Susie Reading: [  / oak.tree.life  ](  / oak.tree.life  ) 📖 Buy The Kindness of Mr. Mishkins by Samantha Mattocks: [https://www.mrmishkins.com/](https://www.google.com/search?q=https...) 📸 Samantha Mattocks: [  / samanthamattockswrites  ](  / samanthamattockswrites  ) 📖 Buy The Snack Fairies by Alishea Gregory: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D9S7Y3M9](https://www.google.com/search?q=https...) 📸 Alishea Gregory: [  / alisheagregory_writes  ](  / alisheagregory_writes  ) 🎙️ Inkpot Audio Instagram: [  / inkpotaudio  ](  / inkpotaudio  ) 🎧 Inkpot Audio Spotify Playlist: [https://open.spotify.com/show/6sIXmtQ...](https://www.google.com/search?q=https...) 📌 Episode Chapters 00:00 - Intro: Road-Testing ICAN Hoodies, Tech Setup & Meeting Room Banter 04:15 - FEATURED INTERVIEW 1: Katie Kett & Susie Reading on The Oak Tree Life 08:20 - Kickstarter Journeys: Funding Debut Releases & Community Backing 12:45 - Second Edition Upgrades: Audiobooks, Inkpot Audio & QR Code Integration 15:10 - Community Events: Woodland Readings & Morley Literature Festival Booking 17:00 - Morley LitFest Lineup: Pop-Up Shops & Workshop Sessions with Rich Gemmell 22:40 - FEATURED INTERVIEW 2: Samantha Mattocks on The Kindness of Mr. Mishkins 25:35 - High-Volume Publishing: Releasing 3 Books in 13 Months 28:30 - Media Visibility: Eastern Daily Press Features & Library Outreach 31:10 - Audio & Digital: Inkpot Audio Spotify Playlists & Christmas Traditions 36:20 - Festive Prep: 11 Christmas Events & ICAN Member Friendships 41:46 - FEATURED INTERVIEW 3: Alishea Gregory on The Snack Fairies 44:00 - Real-Life Inspiration: Turning Late-Night Treats into Children's Magic 46:35 - Sourcing Illustrators: Working with Pixie Petal via Instagram 49:15 - Half-Term Events: Library Craft Workshops & Activity Sheets 51:17 - Interview Debrief: Sourcing Talent & Empowering Indie Creators 52:10 - Major Network Announcement: ICAN Online Shop & Consignment Service 57:30 - Directory Updates: Sharing Member Posts in Batches of Five 1:01:40 - Communication Strategy: Integrated Email Newsletters & Holiday Plans Connect with Us: 🔗 ICAN Network: [https://www.indiechildrensauthors.co.uk](https://www.indiechildrensauthors.co.uk) 📸 Instagram: [  / indiechildrensauthornetwork  ](  / indiechildrensauthornetwork  ) 🔗 Cloudberry & Ink: [https://www.cloudberryandink.co.uk](https://www.cloudberryandink.co.uk) 📸 Instagram: [  / cloudberryandinkbooks  ](  / cloudberryandinkbooks  ) 🔗 Leanne Beardsley: [https://www.leannebeardsley.co.uk](https://www.leannebeardsley.co.uk) 📸 Instagram: [  / leabeardsleyart  ](  / leabeardsleyart  ) 🔗 Hannah Welch: [https://www.hanwrites.co.uk](https://www.hanwrites.co.uk) 📸 Instagram: [  / han_writes  ](  / han_writes  ) ☕ Support us on Ko-fi: [https://ko-fi.com/ican](https://ko-fi.com/ican) Tags: #childrensbookillustration #howtopublishachildrensbook #indiepublishing #illustratorportfolio #authorpodcast