Lantana Team Members Spill the Tea!

At Lantana, we believe that stories shape us – the ones we read, the ones we share, and the ones we create together.

So, for a bit of end-of-year fun, we asked the team four simple questions:

What did you love reading as a child? What trends are you enjoying right now? What matters most in your work? And, of course, what’s in your mug while you work?

Here’s what they said.

1. What was your favourite book growing up?

Alice: I loved Christmas by Jan Pienkowski because of its stunning illustrations. I was completely mesmerised by them. Decades later, I was lucky enough to work with Jan on a book, and he signed my copy of Christmas, where I had written my name in wobbly five-year-old handwriting. It still makes me smile.

Katrina: As a young girl, my favourite book was Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I adored fantasy, and this story made me question who gets to have magical adventures and why we accept things simply because “that’s how the world works.” I love it even more now that I’m older. The fact that the heroine becomes a Granny, creaky bones and all, is brilliant and so relatable!

Cindy: Osmanthus Rain by Qi Jun.

Christofere: IT by Stephen King. I was a big horror fan, and Stephen King never failed to captivate me. I read most of his books growing up.

Kristel: As a small child, I loved No Matter What by Debi Gliori. But the book that really made me a reader was Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman.

2. What current trend would you get behind?

Alice: Bleisure—combining business trips with personal leisure time. If you're travelling for work, why not extend your stay for a few extra days to immerse yourself in the local culture?

Katrina: Right now, I’m all in on K-Pop Demon Hunters! My daughter and I belt out the songs every chance we get. It’s pure fun, and fantastic for representation and girl power!

Cindy: Buying pre-loved goods, clothing, books, furniture, and random artifacts. I have a blue glass turtle and a wooden sculpture of a man bathing in a bowl of udon noodles on my desk.

Christofere: Growing my own food and documenting it. Last year, I grew simple herbs and strawberries. Next year, I’m aiming to grow potatoes, pears, and replant the strawberries (after the London foxes destroyed my last batch!). 

Kristel: As the social media manager, I try to get behind most trends 😂 but the one I’ve been loving (though it’s starting to fade) is the ‘my x curriculum’ trend. As an adult, it can be hard to prioritize reading and learning, so I love how this trend is encouraging people to embrace their passions and keep learning!

3. What is most important to you in your job?

Alice: Feeling that what we do matters. It makes all the hard work and challenges of independent publishing worth it.

Katrina: The most important part of my job is finding meaningful ways to get our books into the hands of young readers. Building relationships and connecting with people across the industry is essential to making that happen.

Cindy: Having the faith that someone, somewhere, will come across a piece of work I’m part of and feel it’s made a positive difference in their life.

Christofere: Being present and occupying space. As someone from an underrepresented background, I’ve often been “the only one” in the room. Simply existing and taking up space in this industry is an act of resilience for me. 

Kristel: Staying motivated and persistent. The landscape isn’t always encouraging, but the mission is my passion. I’ll never stop shouting about inclusive books!

4. Tell us about your favourite beverage to drink while working.

Alice: That depends on the time of day! I start with a cup of tea in the morning, have coffee mid-morning, and finish off with some sparkling water in the afternoon for a little pick-me-up.

Katrina: Coffee. Always.

Cindy: Tea! Plain, with no milk or sugar.

Christofere: In winter, I start the day with black tea with a splash of oat milk. After lunch, it’s coffee with frothy oat milk. In summer, I love homemade iced tea throughout the day.

Kristel: Matcha! I know it’s a very “social media girl” answer, but I genuinely love it.

If you would like to know more about the Lantana Team please visit our About Us page here.