Karen Hendriks reading Vesper Jones and Marshmallow at a recent book launch. Photo: Supplied.
A chance friendship formed in a coffee shop has inspired award-winning Shellharbour author Karen Hendriks’ latest children’s picture book, Vesper Jones and Marshmallow.
Hendriks said the title character Vesper was based on a young girl she met some years ago while writing at Bean Roasted in Shellharbour Village.
“Because I procrastinate, I write a lot in our local coffee shops,” she said.
“I get a coffee and say, ‘Right, you’re going to work’, but also it’s a chance for your community to get to know you and what you’re doing.
“I became friends with a young mum called Sephora and she would come in every day and we’d say hello.”
Sephora, who is profoundly deaf, formed a friendship with Hendriks over the regular coffee shop encounters.
When Sephora had a baby daughter named Vesper who was also born profoundly deaf, Hendriks promised to use the name in a future story.
“I said, ‘One day I’m going to write a story, and the character’s name is going to be Vesper,'” she said.
Launched at Badu Eatery and Bar in Shellharbour Village on Sunday (24 August), Hendriks contacted Sephora about the book launch, who organised for Vesper to attend.
Vesper Jones and Marshmallow tells the story of Vesper, who has grown tired of scary things entering her dreams.
With the help of her trusty dream changer and brave cat, Marshmallow, Vesper decides it is time to take control.
But when scary things enter her dreams again, Vesper becomes fearful and must use her imagination and courage to send them away.
Hendriks said the concept for the book emerged from Flinders University research about helping children with their dreams, combined with her experience as a teacher.
“It’s about empowering children so they can take control and learn how to manage their dreams with their imagination,” she said.
She said the book featured “atmospheric and expressive illustrations” by Francesca Corso, an Italian artist living in Spain who was selected as one of the 20 most promising children’s illustrators in Italy at the prestigious Bologna Children’s Book Fair – a “Nirvana land for anybody who creates picture books”.
“Her images are incredible,” Hendriks said.
“The way she’s interpreted my words has made it a very special book.”
At a recent book launch at Lake South Primary School, children enthusiastically engaged with the story, particularly loving the character Marshmallow, a “big, soft, fluffy, pink and white cat” and being able to repeat lines from the story.
She said it was important to her that the book included interactive elements and refrains that encouraged reader participation, while also helping young readers overcome bedtime anxieties.
“First and foremost, it’s a story that empowers children, but it’s loads of fun too,” Hendriks said.
She said her 2023 self-published book Our Shellharbour, which aimed to help Shellharbour kids feel connected to the community and have a strong sense of belonging to where they lived, had opened many opportunities for her.
“I backed myself and, really, that’s been the making of me as an author,” she said.
“My community has been sensational supporting me on my journey.”
Three earlier books also received awards and her popular book Feathers was featured by the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson on her YouTube channel.
Vesper Jones and Marshmallow will be available through Starfish Bay Publishing, online bookstores, and Amazon.
