BEYOND THE BOOK: Personal Branding for Children’s Book Creators

AUGUST 2025 INTAKE:
A 4-week workshop to help you stand out, stay relevant, and build a brand that lasts longer than your latest launch.

Your book isn’t the brand. YOU ARE!

Whether you're an Author or an Illustrator - if you want to grow your audience, get more speaking gigs, school visits, or just sell more books, then you need more than a one-off marketing push. You need a Creator Brand that tells people exactly who you are, what you stand for, and why they should remember you.

BEYOND THE BOOK: Personal Branding for Children's Book Creators is a 4-week, no-fluff personal branding workshop designed specifically for children’s book creators who want to build a strong, strategic presence both online and offline.

What You’ll Learn (Week by Week)

Week 1: Know Your 'Why'

• Uncover your core message and purpose
• Identify the values that drive your work, and how to communicate them
• Get clear on the ‘why you’ beyond the book

Week 2: Define Your Brand Identity

• Discover your unique positioning as a creator
• Choose the tone, look, and voice that aligns with your audience
• Build a brand profile that’s consistent across every platform

Week 3: Connect Through Story

• Learn how to use storytelling to build connection and trust
• Craft your origin story, your brand pillars, and your signature messaging
• Use your lived experience as a bridge to your audience

Week 4: Put It into Practice

• Build a brand blueprint you can actually use
• Apply your brand to your website, socials, bios, and books
• Learn how to evolve your brand as you grow

Who This Workshop Is For

Perfect for you if:

• You’re a picture book author, illustrator, or both
• You’re tired of being one of many and want to stand out
• You’re pitching to festivals, schools, or media, and not getting traction
• You’ve got multiple books but no clear throughline
• You want to future-proof your career beyond your next release

Whether you’re just starting out or ten books deep, this workshop will help you define your voice and build a brand that works as hard as you do.

What You’ll Get

• 4 x 90-minute live sessions (recorded for replay)
  Brand worksheets, and Companion Booklet with templates and real examples from the industry
• A repeatable framework to update your brand over time
• Supportive Q&A access via the Publishing Matters Facebook Group + feedback on your brand work with additional information and ongoing support from Mary
• Lifetime access to all materials

Led by Mary Anastasiou (that's me!) a multi-published children’s author, creative director, and mentor with over 30 years of experience in branding, design, and publishing, this live workshop offers more than theory. 

I’ve helped develop, position, and launch over 400 children’s titles across indie and traditional publishing, and I know what makes a creator stand out in a crowded market. From writing bios that land school visits to crafting brands that attract publishers, I’ve done it all, and I’m here to walk you through it.

This is an intimate, in-person experience designed to give you personalised feedback, direct access to expert insights, and the creative clarity you need to move forward with confidence.

Minimum 6hr commitment (90 minutes every Thursday evening for 4 weeks)