Creative Kids Tales a Success

After being made COVID redundant from her full-time job in July 2020 and with the prospect of securing another full-time job virtually non-existent, with COVID crippling offices around the globe, Georgie Donaghey refocussed her energies to turn her 10-year ‘hobby’, Creative Kids Tales, into a full-time business.

‘CKT is my heart and soul, but as anyone in the Arts would know, rarely do authors make enough to sustain a full-time living, especially with a large family to support.’

With author school visits no longer an option. Georgie engaged the services of a business coach. The exercise helped her to see things differently. With Creative Kids Tales already an industry recognised site, Georgie capitalised on her strong foundations. After six months of planning, Creative Kids Tales underwent a major change.

Some of the new features CKT launched in celebration of their 10-year milestone:

·      New branding

·      New website

·      New Membership package

New Services Include:

·      CKT Writer's Hub

·      CKT Writing Academy

·      Workshops with top industry professionals

·      CKT Publishing

·      Creative Kids Tales Writers' Festival

·      More online critique groups

‘We take our commitment in assisting the authors of tomorrow, very seriously. Creative Kids Tales has always been a no pressure, community-minded home for creatives. We have paved the way for many aspiring authors and have helped over 100 authors realise their publication dream.’

Influential people in the industry were starting to really take notice of the changes at CKT. One such person was fellow author Jackie French AM. As ex-Australian Children's Laureate and Senior Australian of the Year, Jackie knows the importance of nurturing emerging authors. A long-time supporter of Creative Kids Tales, Jackie reached out to Georgie offering her seven exclusive workshops.

‘Offering our audience workshops with one of this country’s best storytellers, was a dream come true.’

The CKT Writing Academy Workshops offer content that is not offered through any other writing organisation. Also attracted to the new platform are top industry professionals – Wendy Orr, Jacqueline Harvey, and Susanne Gervay.

With COVID completely reshaping how authors connect with audiences, this year’s Creative Kids Tales Writers’ Festival was pivoted into an online event. Almost two hundred participants joined in the online, two-day event, to hear speakers like Treehouse series author Andy Griffiths, current children’s Laureate, Ursula Dubosarsky, Nickelodeon’s Tina Harris (Lah-Lah) and a star-studded line-up of award-winning authors.

Twelve months from her redundancy, Georgie continues to break new ground in the children’s writing industry by launching the CKT Speakers Agency, which helps match children’s authors and illustrators with school events around the country.

Early this year, Georgie won a grant through Create NSW to launch CKT Publishing. Their first picture book, Tortoise’s Home, will be released in February 2022.

In August 2021, Georgie was announced as a finalist in the 2021 AusMumpreneur Awards in four categories. NSW/ACT - Business Pivot Award, Creative Entrepreneur, Author Award and Women's Business School Student of the Year.

She has also been nominated for president of the NSW Society of Women Writers.

‘I feel as if I have earned my stripes and can totally own my success. I don’t believe I would be where I am if I had skipped steps. It’s important to turn a negative into a positive. There is nothing stopping you from turning your passion into a business.’

Georgie Donaghey is an award-winning Author, Mentor, Educator and Speaker. Her picture books Lulu, Clover’s Big Ideas and In the Shadow of an Elephant appear on the Premier’s Reading Challenge, Kinderling Kids Radio, Kindergo and the Virgin and Qantas inflight entertainment channels.