Gecko Press Blog

Anna Fiske is an illustrator, author and cartoonist who lives in Norway. She has received numerous awards and been published around the world.

Anna Höglund is one of Sweden’s leading illustrators. She is the author of over 20 books, and her artwork is featured in the Gothenburg Museum of Art and the National Museum in Stockholm.

Anna Fiske is an illustrator, author and cartoonist from Sweden. She took over the Gecko Press Instagram account on Wednesday 8th July and here is a peek into her workroom, her artwork, her process – and lots of drawings of babies!

A challenge for publishers is to continue to be brave in what we choose to publish. Gecko Press has always chosen books that are not mainstream, that are curiously good and that look at the world in ways that surprise us. It is tempting to start looking towards the soft books that are likely to sell in droves. But if ever there was a time to not publish safe, it is now.

I am particularly fond of books which feature kind characters, especially when those books are for children and young people. Here are some that are new and some that have been part of my life for a long time.

I’ve lived my whole life with Joy Cowley’s stories and was totally stunned when I was invited into the Gecko Press office and asked if I’d like to illustrate a collection of them. I felt pretty daunted, but also very excited and I couldn’t wait to start drawing.

The Porirua Public Library’s children’s events are the stuff of local legend…then along came Covid19.

Find out what Bee from Porirua Public Library did to keep her library alive during lockdown.

Kitty Crowther — storyteller, illustrator, writer, children’s book advocate, recipient of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, author and illustrator of Stories of the Night — took over the Gecko Press Instagram account on Wednesday 13th May to give an insight into her life in lockdown and a peek into her studio. 

Annemarie van Haeringen, author and illustrator of My Mama, took over our Instagram on Wednesday 6th May. She shared her day including showing sketches and images from her new book and some upcoming projects.

Read on to take a look and find out more about her creative process.

Stina Wirsén is one of Sweden’s most popular and prolific children’s book illustrators. She took over the Gecko Press Instagram account on Wednesday 29th April to show us a day in her life and give a peek into her studio.