The Quick Six Interview with Chelsea Davies on Come Home Ella

Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Chelsea Davies!

We are thrilled to welcome author, Chelsea Davies to the blog, to talk about her new book (based on personal experience) of waiting for a premature baby to come home; an important and beautifully told story for families in similar situations. ‘Come Home Ella’ is a highly emotive story with all the feelings associated with the early arrival of a new baby, told through the voice of baby Ella’s older sister. It is raw, and real, yet gentle and light-hearted, with a message of the value of family togetherness and plenty of good ‘bear’ and ‘kangaroo’ hugs.

Thanks for joining us, Chelsea! 🙂

About the Author

Chelsea is an emerging author and mother of three living in the picturesque Margaret River Region of Western Australia.  Forever gaining inspiration from her surroundings, Chelsea writes poetry and picture books to engage, empower and intrigue young minds. She aims to encourage children to understand and deal with emotions, and mental well-being, in a compelling, yet nurturing way.

When it’s time to put down the pen, Chelsea might be found practicing yoga, engrossed in a novel, trying her hand at arts and crafts, or enjoying sun, sand and surf with family and friends.

Chelsea describes creative writing as her ‘bliss’ and is excited to create a little magic of her own.

You can find Chelsea and her work at the following links:

Facebook | Instagram

WHO wrote, illustrated, and published this book?

Come Home Ella was written by myself (Chelsea Davies), illustrated by Lisa Coutts and published by Empowering Resources.

WHAT is it called and what is it about? What is your favourite part of this book?

Come Home Ella light-heartedly follows the emotional journey of a family after their baby’s early arrival. Told by the voice of baby Ella’s older sibling, it aims to educate children about premature babies and help families experiencing similar situations deal with the emotions involved.

My favourite part of the book would have to be when baby Ella’s sister finally gets to meet her for the first time. I will never forget the real-life moment my own sons met their tiny NICU warrior sister, eight weeks after she was born. I watched their initial looks of confusion and hesitation instantly transform into love and a promise to protect, the moment they saw her. That’s when I realised, siblings are NICU warriors too!

Of course, I also love the part with the sword wielding, germ fighting, warrior princess baby!

WHEN is its release / launch date?

 The official release date was 1^st September 2020.

WHERE did the inspiration for this book come from?

 Seven years ago, my third child unexpectedly entered the world a whole three months early! Life for my little family was about to get bumpy, as we embarked on our NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) journey.

WHY is this book meaningful to you and why would its message resonate with readers?

Come Home Ella is the book I would love to have read to my children throughout our own NICU journey.

As parents we naturally want to protect our children from hurt and worry but in some situations this protection can be perceived by our children as exclusion. Often, they want (and need) to be part of the journey, however small that part may be, like coming along for the ride to visit a sick or premature newborn sibling, even though they know children are not permitted inside the NICU.

I hope Come Home Ella will become a valuable resource for future families of NICU babies, encouraging discussion and quality family time in what can be a confusing and stressful time for everyone involved. Siblings of premature babies can especially relate to Ella’s sister journey, and the roller coaster of emotions she shows along the way.

By reading Come Home Ella extended family and friends of NICU families will benefit from gaining insight into what NICU life is like.

With an average of one in ten babies born prematurely, I feel it is important to educate all children on this topic. Picture books allow topics such as prematurity to be introduced to children in a way that is relatable, nurturing, and empowering.

HOW do you feel about the illustrations? Do they convey the feeling or mood you envisioned?

 I absolutely love the illustrations!

Lisa Coutts has done a remarkable job capturing emotions throughout the story with her cute and quirky illustrations.

Although Come Home Ella is told light-heartedly, Lisa’s charming style of illustrating helps to soften, what may be considered, a heavier topic for a children’s picture book.

How have you promoted this book and how can we find it?

Come Home Ella has been busy making her own journey throughout NICU social media network channels. We have already teamed up two amazing Australian Neonatal foundations and are excited to welcome international foundations in the near future.

Currently, the best place to purchase a copy is directly from the Empowering Resources website www.empoweringresources.com.au

Come Home Ella will be available to request or purchase from bookstores from 1^st September 2020.

Pre-signed copies will also be available from www.chelseadaviesauthor.com in coming weeks.

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