Virtual assistance for creatives: a chat with Children's Author and Illustrator Helen Stephens
Meet Helen, author, illustrator, picture book maker of The How to Hide a Lion series and many more books for children. Helen’s books can be read in over 25 languages and have been selected as ‘Book of the Year’ in The Guardian and The Times. Her How to Hide a Lion book was adapted for the stage by the Polka Theatre and toured the UK.
I've been working with Helen since March 2021 when she was looking for help with her overflowing to-do list so that she had more time to do what she loves! I was delighted when Helen agreed to feature on my blog and I hope you enjoy reading her interview.
Hi Helen, please introduce yourself
Hello! I am Helen Stephens, I write and illustrate children's books, including Fleabag and the How to Hide a Lion series. I also founded The Good Ship Illustration with my pals, Katie Chappell and Tania Willis. I started the hashtags #walktosee for drawings of our daily walks, and #childhoodillustrated for drawings of our childhood memories on Instagram.
What challenges did you face before you started working with me?
I was absolutely overwhelmed by the number of jobs on my to-do list. It was leaving me no time to actually make my books which is my biggest passion.
Did you try to resolve this challenge prior to working with me? If so, what happened?
I thought a VA sounded scary, I imagined I might lose touch with what was on my to-do list, or lose control. But of course, that's exactly what I needed to do! In practice, I still know exactly what's happening, but I can happily relax and make books, knowing Emma is doing some of the other work for me.
What made you decide to work with a VA rather than employ someone?
I didn't want the commitment or added pressure and workload of actually employing someone.
What was the most important consideration when choosing the right VA to work with?
I wanted someone who could follow instructions and then be left to get on with it. I didn't want to spend so long explaining what to do, that I might as well have done it myself! One of the great things about Emma is that if I forget something, she chases me up. That is amazing! I love that.
What difference has working with me made to your business?
I can rest assured knowing that Emma is doing some of the jobs on my to-do list while I get on with creating courses and making picture books. I don't feel so frazzled anymore. I also love that I can bounce ideas off Emma, it's like having an ally behind the scenes making sure everything runs smoothly. Emma has lots of tech know-how that I don't. It saves me learning EVERYTHING! Phew! Oh and she corrects my bad spelling.
What three words best describe your experience of working with me?
Organised, reliable, and efficient. And if I can add five more words: she makes me feel calmer!
What would you say to someone thinking about working with me?
Go for it, if Emma has a space, grab it!
"Emma is everything I had hoped for in a VA and more! She is super organised, really good at chasing me up when I forget stuff, which is just what I need, and on top of that, she is lovely! She has a brilliant system for communicating and she gets so much of my to-do list done, I don't know how I managed before!" - Helen Stephens
If you want to learn more about Helen, visit her website here, or follow her on Instagram @helenstephenslion. If you're a budding picture book author, check out Helen's Picture Book Course which she created with her pals at The Good Ship Illustration.
If you’re thinking of outsourcing to a VA, get in touch and tell me what you need. I’d love to help!
