Penguins Don't Send Postcards

The Tawaki, Fiordland Crested Penguins, inhabit the most remote corner of the South Westland coast, Fiordland and Rakioura Stewart Island.

Little is known about these secretive birds, so when an injured Tawaki arrived at the Wild Life Rescue in Westport on the West Coast it was a privilege to spend time observing this wild creature who thrived in the care of Julie Leighton a retired Doctor caring for sick and injured birds.

This penguin brought with him a story of endurance, adaption and survival .

Stories bridge the gap between self and other like nothing else. I believe one of the most fundamental ways of connecting is by telling stories. We all need stories that capture the complexity and the fullness of what it means to live a life.

In this case a penguin life.

This Boosted campaign is to raise funds for the production, printing and shipping of Penguins Don’t Send Postcards, a children’s picture book, which features one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s threatened species.

I have written and illustrated the story, it is almost ready to go to print.

ESTIMATED BUDGET

Book design and cover design $2,500Printing costs 1,200 copies. $5,000Shipping $1,400PR $1,400Boosted fee $1,000

Total $11,300

WHO AM I?

My name is Jeanette Goode. 

It was always my ambition to write and illustrate children’s books but I took a different career path and spent 30 years working in the New Zealand Film Industry. While working full time I studied, by distance learning, for a Diploma in Children’s Literature. The manuscript for my first book called A Little Blue was submitted as paper toward the Diploma. When I retired I decided it was now or never. I authored, illustrated, published and distributed A Little Blue in 2020.

A Little Blue flew off the shelves and I sold the first print run of 1,000 books in four months. The second print run has been slower but it still sells well.

Penguins Don’t Send Postcards has been floating around for two years waiting for the funds to publish.

A friend suggested I try crowd funding to raise the capital I need to complete the project.

 I find it hard to ask for money but she explained I am offering people a chance to be part of story that raises the awareness of the threatened species who have lived here for thousands of years. 

If we don’t know about these creatures how can we protect their fragile habitats to ensure they are safe for many more generations to come.

Penguins Don’t Send Postcards is a captivating story. 

It is definitely a story that deserves to be shared with the world.