Behind The Human with Marc Champagne The Hidden Story Behind Winnie the Pooh: Lessons in Creativity and Courage (Ft Lindsay Mattick)
Nov 9, 2025
Lindsay Mattick, creative director and author of the bestselling 'Finding Winnie', shares the fascinating tale of her great-grandfather purchasing a bear cub during WWI, which inspired Winnie the Pooh. She discusses her leap into entrepreneurship, the challenges of writing while pregnant, and how she found the perfect illustrator through serendipity. Lindsay emphasizes the importance of storytelling in branding, reflects on the role of AI in creativity, and shares her daily sunrise walks as a source of inspiration and clarity.
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How The Real Winnie Originated
- Lindsay recounts her great-grandfather buying a bear cub in 1914 for $20 that became the London Zoo's Winnie.
- That real bear inspired A.A. Milne's stuffed-winnie stories through Christopher Robin's visits to the zoo.
From Family Tale To Picture Book
- Lindsay describes growing up with the family story and later deciding to turn it into a children's picture book.
- She persisted despite initial publisher rejection and published after meeting an editor who 'got it.'
Finding The Perfect Illustrator
- Lindsay researched illustrators in libraries and chose Sophie Blackall after finding an adult-illustrated book that captured moments.
- That serendipity led to Sophie illustrating Finding Winnie and later winning the Caldecott Medal.
