Welcome to #TheQuickSixInterview with Frances Mackay!
It’s a pleasure to welcome Frances Mackay to the blog, to share her latest picture book release; Baby Worries. This hilarious story creates wonder and delight for little ones with the ponderings, and perhaps some worries, about the family gene pool! Baby Worries is exuberantly told with cheeky and lively illustrations by Dotti Colvin. It’s a delight to get to know more about Frances and her hair-raising, giggle-worthy book. 🙂
About the Author
Frances Mackay has been a teacher for 20 years in Australia and the UK.
In 1997, she set up her own educational publishing company in the UK which was sold to a London based publisher in 2007.
She has had over 90 educational books for Primary School teachers published and now enjoys writing children’s books.
Find Frances at her website: Children’s Books | Frances Mackay |francesmackay.com Australia
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WHO wrote, illustrated and published this book?
Baby Worries is a picture book written and self-published by Frances Mackay and illustrated by Dotti Colvin.
WHAT is it about?
The hero of the story is ‘Baby’ who meets his extended family for the first time and starts to worry what he might look like when he grows up. His vivid imagination runs away with him and he imagines the craziest things, depicted in hilarious detail by the illustrator, Dotti Colvin. The book presents worrying in a light-hearted way and is the perfect discussion starter for parents to use when helping their children explore their own feelings and worries.
What is your favourite part of this book?
My favourite part of the story is the ending – but I don’t want to spoil the surprise! Let’s just say that the ending celebrates the fun between Baby, Grandad and the cat.
WHEN did you begin writing this book?
I started writing the story in early 2022.
When is its release / launch date?
The book will be launched on Kickstarter on 27th September, 2022.
(Click the image for more information.)
WHERE did the inspiration for this book come from?
When my nephew brought his baby son to meet his family at one of our family get togethers, the look on the baby’s face was hilarious. He looked at everyone with a very quizzical face as if to say ‘Who on earth are you lot?’ It set my own imagination spinning and Baby Worries was created.
WHY is this book meaningful to you?
I have always wanted to write a picture book. I have enjoyed writing ever since I was 9 years old when I had a teacher who encouraged me. I became a teacher myself and this enabled me to explore children’s literature more fully. I began my author career by writing teacher resource books – and now have over 90 educational books published. But picture books remain my first love – so to finally have a wonderfully illustrated book is a life-long dream come true.
Why would its message resonate with readers?
Today’s world can be uncertain and a little scary at times. We all need some light relief, a time to snuggle down together and share a book that delights us and makes us laugh. Baby Worries allows us to escape reality and simply have FUN! But ‘Baby Worries’ isn’t just a funny book – it can also be used as a starting point for discussions about worries and anxiety – so that our ‘baby’ worries don’t turn into big worries. Mental health and well-being strategies play an important role in a child’s education and are now being taught in schools. To support parents and teachers I have created several activity packs that help children explore their feelings and worries further.
HOW do you feel about the illustrations / cover design? How do they convey the feeling or mood you envisioned?
I just love the cover design and the interior illustrations. I searched high and low to find an illustrator who could bring the story alive with creative, humorous illustrations – and Dotti Colvin was the perfect choice.
How have you promoted this book and how can we find it?
Currently the book won’t be available until after the Kickstarter campaign finishes in late October. The book will then be available on Amazon. For more information about the book and the launch, you can visit my website www.francesmackay.com
OTHER information or experiences you’d like to share?
Reader reviews:
“A book to truly love and share. Cute, funny, sweet, adorable. The illustrations are vivid and amusing. Lots of things for young children to spot and name, lots of worries to discuss. A wonderful happy ending involving Baby, Grandad and the cat.” LoveReading4kids reviewer
“With a heavy dose of humour, Baby Worries opens the door for some gentle discussion about worries and fears. This is a great multi-purpose picture book that I would definitely recommend adding to your library.” thepicturebookpages blog review
Baby Worries is SUCH a fun book, but this kid has legitimate worries! From Mum’s lips to Uncle Max’s eyebrows and more, he could become one weird-looking baby! Luckily, it’s all just talk … or is it? Thanks so much for letting me have a read, I loved it! Adam Wallace, New York Times Best-selling children’s author
I’ve just read it and I’m still laughing! My kids will love this, the pictures are simply brilliant! Anibabs Bysarahviz, reader.
Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful story with us, Frances! 🙂
#thequicksixinterview #babyworries
One thought to “The Quick Six Interview with Frances Mackay on Baby Worries”
What a great idea for a fun picture book.