Book Chat: Carla Hoffenberg

I’m really excited to have the chance to Book Chat with illustrator extraordinaire, Carla Hoffenberg. Carla is an incredibly versatile artist, who has produced spectacular collaborations with authors including Deborah Frenkel, Josie Montano and Dr Charlotte Birkmanis, with more to come later in 2025, including a collaboration with Mitch Tambo. One of Carla’s 2025 projects is Somewhere Lost, a thoroughly unique picture book, curated by Romi Sharp from Just Write for Kids Australia, in which multiple author-illustrators combine to take a pair of loveable animal characters on an extraordinary adventure.

Thanks a million for joining us to chat, Carla!

Firstly, I’d love it if you could share a little of the artistic journey that has led you to this point in your career as an illustrator.

Thanks so much for having me! My journey into illustration has been a bit of a winding path. I always loved drawing and art but never really considered it a career path that I wanted to follow. I worked in finance for over a decade and it wasn’t until I had kids and started reconnecting with picture books that I thought this is a part of the art world that makes sense to me. I started playing around with children’s book illustration in 2020 during the first lockdown and then threw myself into courses, portfolio reviews, and any opportunity to grow. It’s been a steep learning curve, but also an incredibly fulfilling one.

I find it very interesting, not to mention inspiring, that you were able to make the transition from working in the banking and finance industries to becoming a full-time illustrator. Was this a transition you were able to manage slowly, or did you make a swift leap?

It was somewhere in between! It was a bit of back and forth for a while, but once I committed to it, I really went all in—daily drawing, attending book fairs and conferences, joining critique groups, and submitting my work as much as possible. So, while it started gradually, the leap into treating it like a career was quite swift.

Although illustration is my full time job, it hasn’t replaced my income in finance, and it’s unlikely that it ever will. 

Having thoroughly enjoyed last year’s Just Write for Kids anthology, Our Australian Heart, and your stunning spread focusing on the Great Barrier Reef, I was excited to know that you were contributing to this year’s project, Somewhere Lost, and to see how you would approach it. Was writing and illustrating for Somewhere Lost a very different experience from your work on Our Australian Heart?    

Yes, it was very different. For Our Australian Heart, I was illustrating a spread based on a shared theme, but I had a lot of freedom in choosing the subject. I love drawing the ocean and was inspired by my own experience of diving into The Great Barrier Reef and seeing a large turtle. 

With Somewhere Lost, there were more creative constraints, but also a richer narrative to build on. It felt more collaborative, even though we were all working independently. It pushed me to think about visual metaphors, and how to keep the story moving forward within my own two pages.

Carla's spread in Something Lost

Given that Somewhere Lost features multiple illustrators interpreting and advancing the journey of the same two characters, I’d be keen to know of any particular insights that arose from having shared ownership of characters with so many other incredible artists.

It was such a unique experience to share ownership of characters with so many other incredible illustrators. It was so interesting to see all the different styles—each one so distinct, yet all working to carry the story forward. 

It really deepened my appreciation for the art of picture books, because it reminded me there’s no one “right” way to illustrate. As long as the characters are clear, have personality, believability, and feel alive on the page, any style can work beautifully. Every artist brought something new to the table, and yet the book still flows seamlessly, which is a real testament to the strength of collaborative storytelling.

Contributors to Somewhere Lost were required to include written and illustrative components that serve as metaphors for the concept of ‘lost’. I’d love to know how you approached this challenge, particularly in the earliest conceptual stages of your work on the book.

The inspiration for my piece came from those everyday mysteries—like socks disappearing in the laundry, Tupperware lids that never match, hair ties that vanish without a trace, and the ever-elusive TV remote. I started imagining a magical world where all these lost things might end up, and that’s how ‘Lost Sockville’ was born—a soft, silly, and slightly surreal place. I sketched lots of frogs and ducks and began exploring how they might exist in this whimsical world—what they’d be doing, how they’d move, and how I could play with perspective to bring the scene to life. From there, the illustration evolved organically, full of unexpected details and quiet chaos.

When it came time to produce your final art, did you know what was coming before and after your spread? And if so, did this inform the approach you took?

I didn’t know the exact spreads, but knew that everyone was working around the same concept. 

I was utterly blown away by how Romi managed to tie all the illustrations together so seamlessly. She kept the narrative moving forward in a way that was interesting, well-paced, and emotionally resonant. Because Walter and Scout are lost in each scene, the variation in artistic styles actually strengthens the storytelling—it feels like they’re wandering through different worlds, which works beautifully.

What has it been like seeing the book come together, and particularly seeing how your work fits alongside the other contributions?

It’s been the most magical experience. The way the final book flows—it’s so much better than I ever imagined. Romi did a phenomenal job weaving all the different styles and voices into a cohesive story. I’m incredibly proud to be part of this project, and also thrilled that proceeds from the book are going to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. It feels like a project that’s creative, meaningful, and truly collaborative in every sense.

Carla's artwork features on the cover of Somewhere Lost.

What’s next for Carla Hoffenberg?

I hope to keep illustrating children’s books for years to come! This year, I have three books being released: Boldilocks written by Deborah Frenkel, Harries the Lifeguard from Bondi by Anthony ’Harries’ and Emily Carroll, and I Am Me written by Mitch Tambo. I’m especially looking forward to doing school visits with these books. There’s nothing better than reading to kids, sparking their creativity, and hearing their brilliant questions and insights. It’s such a joy to share stories and inspire a love of books.

Where would you advise readers to go online to find out more about Somewhere Lost, and to keep up with your artistic adventures?

To find out more about Somewhere Lost, you can visit Just Write For Kids Australia for background on the book, its contributors, and to purchase a copy, where proceeds support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. It is also available through Booktopia or other online stores. To keep up with my artistic adventures, you can explore my portfolio at carlahoffenberg.com, follow along on Instagram, or subscribe to my Substack newsletter for behind-the-scenes updates and book news.

Many thanks, Carla! I really appreciate your generous insights, and have loved learning more about your journey and artistic process.

This post is part of a blog tour for Somewhere Lost, presented by Books On Tour PR & Marketing. Please keep following this wonderful book's journey on all of the fine blogs and sites below.