Eight years ago, Richie Evans and I started a little company with a simple idea: to create a production platform for my writing—somewhere we could illustrate and design children’s books based on the stories I’d written. Very quickly, that tiny idea grew. We began helping other writers bring their children’s books to life, and before long, the whole thing snowballed. What started as a passion project became something much bigger. Bear With Us Productions is now a trusted global brand, helping writers become published children’s authors, earning award-winning recognition, and maintaining an excellent Trustpilot rating. We’ve built a team of more than 50 artists, designers, and project managers from all over the world. To say I’m proud is an understatement. But as many of you know, my health hasn’t been great this year, and the strain of running a company has been taking its toll. So today, Bear With Us Productions was sold to a wonderful businessperson involved in several children’s entertainment and educational companies. I’m confident the company is in very good hands. After eight years, I can finally put my feet up a bit and refocus on my own writing, my children’s books, and my personal author journey. In fact, I’ve got three school visits this week—and I’m absolutely bricking it. Pitching stories to a room full of ten-year-olds… they’re the toughest critics of all. Here’s to Bear With Us Productions and its new owner. A new chapter begins.

Free Online Workshop: Cracking the Code of Distribution – How to Get Your Children’s Book Stocked in Shops & Schools - Logged on the calendar!!! - https://www.skool.com/bwup-childrens-book-community-4707/calendar?eid=865533aacf404aa086f7086f9daaeba0 Have you ever wondered how retailers like Waterstones, indie bookshops, or even schools decide which children’s books to stock—and why some titles make it onto shelves while others don’t? In collaboration with Bear With Us Productions, this 1-hour workshop, hosted by Magic Moon Publishing, will dive deeper into the world of distribution, providing you with clear, insider knowledge on how to position your book for success. You’ll discover: - What distributors and retailers really look for when considering children’s books - How to prepare your book so it’s “retail-ready” (from ISBNs to metadata and design) - The role of wholesalers, reps, and catalogues in getting your book noticed - Why school visits and educational outreach matter to distribution decisions - Magic Moon’s retail reach and insights into how authors can align with opportunities Additionally, we’ll share practical next steps to help you confidently put your book in front of buyers, schools, and bookstores. Can’t make it live? Don’t worry—the recording will be available afterwards. Attendees will also have the opportunity to book a complimentary 1:1 session with the Commissioning Editor of Magic Moon Publishing for personalised distribution advice tailored to their book. This is your opportunity to unlock the mysteries of book distribution and give your children’s story the best chance of reaching bookshelves, classrooms, and young readers nationwide.

one of the old illustrations that still feels fun in the process of making it..

I invested in having a promotional trailer created for one of my books that has been accepted by Waterstones and will be on the shelves in other retail outlets soon . I have found it a great marketing tool and it has many views on my website too. Thought you might like to see what BWU team created 🌈

This is a fun little animated video that we actually made some years ago for the first release of Monsters' Brawl, when it was self-published on KDP. Now, it's been picked up by our publishing team and will be on the shelves of some major book stores here in the UK in time for Halloween. I just wanted to say that a fun animated trailer can work wonders for your books and is an important part of your marketing plans.