Publishing duo and sisters Sophia and Anna Egan-Reid are the proud ‘parents’ of children’s imprint Little Love. Life-long readers, Sophia and Anna were born into the family publishing business Mary Egan Publishing, formerly Egan Reid Limited. Sophia is a publisher and project manager; Anna, an award-winning designer.
Anna, Sophia, Malcolm and Hayley (AKA Flox)
Photo by Sacha Stejko Photography
The desire to create a new publishing entity had been percolating in the background for years. Often, after Sophia and Anna had been enjoying a few wines! Happy working together and buoyed by the success of their daily collaboration, it was a natural next step for them to create Little Love. Inspired by Anna’s then two-year-old son Louis, who they have always regarded as their “little love,” imprint Little Love was conceived. Now, they just needed to commission and publish their first book!
Cut to a chance meeting in a bar with Malcolm Clarke, who had just written children’s book Tu Meke Tūī and was looking for a publisher. How could Sophia and Anna resist, particularly when they found out the illustrations in Clarke’s book were by acclaimed aerosol and stencil artist Flox (aka Hayley King). Rhetorical. The fit couldn’t have been better – a great story meets funky art – Sophia and Anna had found their publishing niche.
Little Love is all about publishing beautiful, sophisticated and extraordinary books for Kiwi kids to cherish. Enjoy!
For more information about Little Love, please contact Sophia on sophia@maryegan.co.nz
“Dreams of a Moa” by Carly Waddleton
“Kara the Kakapo”, Danni Rae
“Tu Meke Tuatara!”, Malcolm Clarke and FLOX
"Tu Meke Tui", Malcolm Clarke and FLOX
"A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies", Kate Hursthouse
"A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies", Kate Hursthouse
“Kiwis and Koalas”, Sarah Milne
“The Girl Who Was Scared of Everything”, Emma Pascoe