Discover how Eileen O'Hely turned her character Poppy into something real.

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Back in 2019, I had what I thought was a winning idea for a book. I would single-handedly solve the gender imbalance in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths workforces by writing a book for Australian girls about Australian girls who grew up to achieve amazing success in STEM fields.

I interviewed 37 women working in various STEM areas, and they all thought it was a great idea too. They very generously gave their time and personal information in the hope that young high school/upper primary school girls would be inspired to pursue a career in STEM if that is where their aptitudes and interests lie. Some publishers thought it was a good idea as well, but it was too academic for the trade children’s publishers and not the right demographic for the marketers at the academic publishers. One editor missed the point of the book entirely and said the fact that I had excluded male STEM workers was problematic.

Not being one to give up – especially when so many brilliant women had been so generous in sharing their stories – I then thought about running the articles as a serial in a magazine for girls. The problem with girls’ (and, IMHO, women’s!) magazines is that most focus on fashion or celebrities, and my articles just would not fit, so I didn’t even bother pitching to them.

But then I discovered Poppy for Real.

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Poppy for Real is issued monthly, has no advertising, and contains serialised stories, animal facts, art and craft projects, and at least two articles on female role models. I thought my articles would slot in nicely. And happily, the editor did too.

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