Boldilocks: Behind the scenes of my latest book
And how posting to instagram can lead to a book contract.
The year is flying by, but some things feel like they take forever—like the wait between signing a book contract and finally holding the finished book in your hands. But the wait for Boldilocks, my latest picture book, is over. It’s coming out in September 2025, and I already have my advance copies in hand. It’s surreal to finally see it in print!
If you’re anything like me, you love hearing the story behind the story—how a book came to life, how the author or illustrator got the job, and what caught the publisher’s eye in the first place.
In this case, EK Books already had the manuscript by the ultra talented Deborah Frenkel (author of The Cat Truck) and reached out to me to illustrate it. Why? Two reasons:
I’d emailed them a link to my portfolio.
When they checked my Instagram, they saw all my hair-focused DTIYS posts—swirling locks, bouncy curls, tangled manes—that caught their attention. (These weren’t in my official portfolio).
So even when it feels like you’re posting into the void, someone might be watching. Sometimes it’s not about likes or comments—it’s about the right person seeing your work at the right time. (Note to self: keep posting what you love.)
The manuscript itself was playful, bold, and full of heart. And in a fun twist of fate, I recognised Deb’s name from a house party we both went to back in 2009. I love when the universe folds little surprises like that into your life.
Character Design: Meet Boldilocks & Pa
When I first imagined Bellamy Boldilocks, I pictured electric-blue, unruly, gravity-defying curls—hair that was as wild and wonderful as he is. I also designed his outfit with Book Week in mind (wink): something unique, but also easy for a kid to recreate if they wanted to dress as him.
EK loved the character design and approved it with a tiny change (age Bellamy up a year or two)
Pa, on the other hand, went through a few tweaks. I initially designed him as a sport-loving dad with a “dad bod” and bold style. EK asked for a more conservative look (and for hair like Prince William 😄). The final version works perfectly, because the transformation is now more impactful and you’ll still spot the original design of Pa’s clothing in the last two pages—post-transformation!
Favourite and Most challenging Scene
One of my favourite pages is where everyone is pointing at Bellamy because of his hair. I chose to focus just on the hair and people’s reactions—then follow it with a page filled only with pointing hands and Bellamy looking overwhelmed. It was a challenge to find just the right pose to capture that sense of embarrassment.
Another scene I spent a lot of time on was when Pa says “enough.” I wanted his hand gesture to really land, so I played with the perspective until the enlarged hand felt just right. I love moments where I can stretch visuals and perspective for storytelling impact.
Throughout the book, I added a visual thread that hints at something unseen—a feeling like love or magic, that can’t be explained but is always there. You’ll notice a subtle rainbow whoosh that appears whenever Bellamy feels self-confident. It’s a little bit otherworldly, but also deeply familiar—especially for kids finding their place in the world.
So what’s it about…
Boldilocks is a celebration of being seen, loved, and boldly yourself. I hope you love it as much as I loved bringing it to life.
Boldilocks is a boy with hair so spectacular and shimmering that everyone looks at him, embarrassing him wherever he goes. But when Pa takes him to the hairdresser to do something about it, something unexpected happens. With a little salon magic and a whole lot of love, much more than hair is transformed. Boldilocks celebrates the power of community and being confident in your skin (and hair), and will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt a little bit embarrassed about how they look.
SPECIFICATIONS: Hardback | 32 Pages | 9781921966378
You can find out more at the EK Books website including teachers notes and a colouring sheet.
Until next time,
💙 Carla
Follow along on Instagram → @carlahoffenbergdraws
More about me and my books → carlahoffenberg.com
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My Books
I AM ME (Written by Mitch Tambo; Allen & Unwin; September 2025),
Harries - The Lifeguard from Bondi Beach (Written by Anthony ‘Harries’ Carroll and Emily Carroll; EK Books; October 2025)
Boldilocks (Written by Deborah Frenkel; EK Books; September 2025).
Somewhere Lost (Anthology, Daisy Lane Publishing; May 2025)
Our Australian Heart (Anthology, Daisy Lane Publishing; 2024)
Mia’s Glamma (Written by Josie Montano; IP Kids (Interactive Publications); 2023)
Little Shark Lulu is Sleeping (Written by Josie Montano and Charlotte Birkmanis; IP Kids (Interactive Publications); 2022)