win a curious book for creative minds

Byron Bay’s Dr Kori Nemme has spent years studying the relationship between creativity and learning. It’s led her to complete a PhD in children’s spirituality and become a go-to educator for people and businesses who want to enhance the creativity and development of their teams.

Equipped with some serious knowledge about the way we learn, connect and create, Kori has written a number of interesting papers, including two theses. But it’s her debut fiction book (an illustrated picture book for all ages) that caught our attention. Titled The IDEA (or the inevitable and wonderful cycle of creative existence), it's crammed full of curious ways to consider the creative process. 

We’ve got three copies to give away. To be in the running, pop your name in the prize draw here and tell us in 25 words or less how you begin your creative process. Entries are open to frankie subscribers and close at midnight on Wednesday, July 28th.Want to hear about Kori's thoughts on creativity, curiosity and careers? Read on.

Tell us a little about yourself and how you became an educator and speaker. I live near Byron Bay and have two wonderful, full-of-life daughters and a surf-mad partner. I thrive in learning and following curiosity and that’s where I find my adventure. When I was five, I would line up my cabbage patch dolls and little brother and pretend to be a teacher. The seed was planted early.

During my uni days, I was fortunate to be involved in research projects which opened my eyes to what I now believe to be the most important things we can offer young people: a character-driven, purpose-driven education bounded by creativity and connection. I have a vision of living in a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single day inspired and connected to themselves, others, and the planet.

How did your book The IDEA come about? The IDEA wrote itself in an evening and then took three years to meet the world. I haven’t known what I’m doing any step of the way and I draw like a left-handed baby, but this book has been the biggest of joys to create. I was also super-fortunate to have had the help from a bunch of wonderful people along the way (most of whom I’d not met before) and this has been key to this project coming about.

The story comes from my child self’s adoration for writing and how I felt grounded in that space. And although I didn’t know it at the time, writing The IDEA has been a process of coming home to myself. I'm also very nerdy and fascinated by different academic ideas and research. So although The IDEA is a simple short story, it’s speckled with theories I’ve been exposed to in the realm of narrative and creativity.

Who should read The IDEA and what might they learn? Everyone. But seriously, everyone. If you’ve ever had an idea or a flash of creativity and experienced difficulty making it happen, you probably will enjoy this book. My hope is that anyone who reads The IDEA resonates with the familiarity of the tale and feels pumped to push against any self-doubt, critics or feelings of distraction they may be experiencing. If a reader feels just a tiny bit more supported to share their creativity with the world, that is gold.

What keeps you motivated and feeling creative? Through my work I get to see people connect to themselves and others and the beauty this meaning-making has in their lives. There’s nothing much more motivating for me than this. I am also inspired by new conversations and hearing other people talk about their curiosities, particularly in a completely different discipline to what I’m used to. It can unleash something in my brain. It’s such a good feeling.

See more of Kori’s work at korinemme.com and on Instagram @drkorinemme.