Patrick BeranekWith perseverance and the right network to the heart project
A poem inspired by Patrick Beranek’s five-year-old son and his stuffed animals was turned into a children’s book that not only tells the story written down, but also one about creativity, collaboration and perseverance. Three perfectionists worked on their dream for five years to create the finished children’s book. Here you can find out how the realization succeeded and what role the C hoch 3 network played in it.
A poem, a child and lots of stuffed animals
It all began with a poem. Tanja Hagenhofer, author and mother, was inspired by her then five-year-old son. The little night owl conquered his parents’ bed with his stuffed animals. An almost finished poem emerged from this everyday scene. But the punch line was missing. Patrick Beranek, Tanja’s partner and the father of the person who came up with the idea, provided the decisive twist. Together they developed the ending and decided to turn it into a children’s book. What began as a spontaneous idea turned into a long, creative process.
From moodboard to storyboard and illustrator
The first step was a mood board, which quickly turned out to be an almost finished storyboard. But one major challenge remained. How can the design of a children’s book be professionally implemented with a limited budget?
This is where the C to the power of 3 network came into play. Patrick shared the idea and the dilemma via the program’s Facebook group. The solution came from the C to the power of 3 community. Kordula Brunner, an illustrator from Friedberg in Styria, was recommended.
Even after her first draft, it was clear that she was the right person. After a Zoom call, it was clear that the project would not happen without Kordula. They solved the budget issue as partners. In an online session, everyone agreed on a 50:50 share. It was a perfect collaboration with the same ideas and the same passion.
Efficient processes instead of endless meetings
The collaboration was almost exclusively digital. Everyone involved had children and time was short. This is exactly what made the process efficient. The work was also structured. First, sketches of all pages were created, which were coordinated in feedback loops. Only then did the coloring follow. This allowed adjustments to be made at an early stage without getting lost in the details. Their way of working was innovative: remote, efficient, without endless meetings. Many good ideas fail because meetings are too long. The opposite was the case here. Fewer meetings, more implementation and that was good for the project.
The biggest challenge? Patience
Months of fruitless research passed before Patrick found the right illustrator. And then it took five years from the initial idea to the final realization.
One of the most important insights from the C to the power of 3 program for Patrick is matchmaking. Bringing the right people together is crucial. Consistency and perseverance are just as important. This is where many projects fail. Here, however, both were present.
From the creative process to sales and new worlds
For Patrick, distribution was completely new territory. He had never created a real, analog product before. The first edition was printed and he went from place to place like a proud dad to place the book. It was the least creative part of the project for Patrick, yet incredibly fulfilling. Being presented with a product that he stands by one hundred percent gives him strength. Networking was easier for Patrick than ever before. A real product opens doors that were previously closed. This experience shows how much the perspective changes when creative people take the step from digital to analog product.
Especially in a time full of AI books
The children’s book market is currently flooded with AI-generated works. This book was created completely analog. “Not one byte of artificial intelligence” was involved, and Patrick, Tanja and Kordula are proud of that.
Patrick’s Learnings
- Networks are worth their weight in gold. Without the C to the power of 3 network, this project would never have come about.
- Patience pays off. Five years is a long time, but feasible.
- Remote works. With the right tools and clear processes, even complex projects can be realized without face-to-face meetings.
- Appreciate the value of your work. Only through in-house production does it become clear how much is behind a book and how difficult it is to be economically viable if you want to produce sustainably and in a way that conserves resources.
