#GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Cynthia Mackey

Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting 2025 Creator Interviews blog series. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys. 

Our February featured creator is, Cynthia Mackey, a Children’s Author and Early Years Educator. Cynthia Mackey is the author of Katie Shaeffer Pancake Maker and The Lullaby Monsters and her poetry appears in The Toy, The Dirigible Balloon and Little Thoughts Press, Hit the Road magazine. Her debut picture book, If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe is set for publication with Yeehoo Press in April 2025. She was mentored by highly acclaimed Canadian author, Jean E. Pendziwol. With a Bachelor of Education degree, Cynthia views children as capable beings and works to bring elements of joy, playfulness, and social-emotional learning to her writing. For more information, visit her website at www.booksbycindy.com

1 – What inspired you to pursue a career in children’s literature, and when did you start creating?

Creative writing was my favourite school subject and I wanted to be a writer at a young age. I became a teacher first and I loved my children’s literature course at University, reading to my young students, and to my own children. I didn’t believe I could be an author myself until later in life. One day, I decided I had nothing to lose by trying. I joined SCBWI in 2015 to learn more about the craft and began the process of producing multiple picture book manuscripts.

2 – Can you tell us more about your journey from ideas to publication?

My debut picture book is titled If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe with illustrations by Vikki Zhang. It will be published by Yeehoo Press on April 15, 2025. 

I began with an idea to write a book about overcoming fear and it made sense to me to use the fear of bees as a starting point. At the time I began, the bumblebee population was declining and there was a growing concern that we would one day not be able to get some of the fruits and vegetables they pollinate like tomatoes and blueberries. It’s hard to imagine a world without those foods. I knew as a society, we need to find ways to better understand and not be afraid the pollinators who help sustain human life. (As a child, I was extremely frightened of bees.)

My first attempt was a character driven picture book, titled OSCAR AND THE BEES and I thought I had revised it well but when I submitted it to the CANSCAIP writing competition in 2017, it did not make the longlist. I did get feedback and that helped me realize I needed to try writing it in a new voice or develop the main character further.

Several years (and drafts) later, I had taken my nature preschool class for a picnic in the woods and a bumblebee did land on a child’s ankle. The child was so calm about it and it made me think about all the different ways people react to bees and wasps. I wondered – was this child so connected to nature that he was able to keep calm? I wrote a poem about that moment and that poem quickly became a picture book manuscript. Because I had such positive feedback on that manuscript, I submitted it widely and eventually received an offer from Yeehoo Press. 

3 – What part of the process, from the first draft to submissions, do you find the most challenging, and how do you overcome that?

For me the most difficult part is knowing when the manuscript is finished. To overcome that, I rely a lot on feedback from my critique partners and when I do decide to submit, I do it in small batches. If I don’t get much of a response, I look at the manuscript again to revise before sending out again. My mentor, Jean E. Pendziwol taught me the importance of doing this. I look for opportunities to get professional feedback at a reduced cost. Sometimes through SCBWI workshops, there are opportunities to get editorial level feedback.

4 – Who are your favorite children’s authors and illustrators that have inspired your work?

I love the lyrical quality of Julie Fogliano’s writing. And though I’m not an illustrator, I have huge appreciation for Elly Mackay and Ashley Spires and their work. And there are so many wonderful Canadian picture book writers I love including Monique Gray Smith, Sheryl MacFarlane, Lana Button, Jean E. Pendziwol, and for board books, Laurie Elmquist. My critique partners inspire me too. 

5 – What advice would you like to give aspiring kidlit creators looking to grow their writing?

Study the craft of writing. Get playful with your writing and try swapping out different introductions and endings, different plot points and characters. Try out different voices and formats for your book. Try writing in different genres.

And work with a critique group to support each other on the journey and regularly exchange work. Plan to stay with it for the long haul. It takes time.

And build community in the kid lit world. I wouldn’t be published without being part of a supportive community.

6 – What’s next for you as a creator?

I’m excited to say that I have another book forthcoming with a small Canadian Publisher, Tielmour Press. It’s a narrative non-fiction picture book titled Butterfly Sea, in which a child followed by a disruptive yet loveable sibling, searches for butterflies to photograph while exploring concepts of butterfly gardening. I’m super proud of all the layers I was able to get into the manuscript. 

Are you participating in the #GrowYourWriting Challenge this year? Cynthia has some advice to share on how to earn your PERCOLATING WITH PODCASTS badge.

 I’m not a regular podcast listener; however, The Children’s Book Podcast with Matthew C. Winner is excellent. You might also try You May Contribute a Verse with Brenna Jeanneret and Josh Monken; they have a nice banter back and forth. The Reading With Your Kids Podcast with Jed Doherty looks at kidlit from a parent’s point of view and how books can contribute to family life. What I like about the podcasts is that they are free. If you are a multitasker or you are short of time, the beauty of podcasts is being able to listen while you drive, go for a run, or cook dinner. Podcasts work well for auditory learners too. 

Guess What? It’s giveaway time! Cynthia has graciously offered to giveaway a picture book critique.

To enter, leave a comment on this blog post below. The entry period closes on February 10, 2025, at 12am PST. One Winner will be announced on February 11, 2025.