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On The Table Read, “the best book magazine in the UK“, children’s author Alison McGregor talks about the story of her new book, Antoinette And The Story Of The Invisible Giraffes.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed children’s author Alison McGregor about her life and career, what inspired her to start writing, and the story of her new book, Antoinette And The Story Of The Invisible Giraffes.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
I live in Innisfil, Ontario Canada with my family where we’re lucky enough to enjoy a lot of outdoor time and take full advantage of the four seasons. When I’m not taming the chaos of two toddlers at home, I’m able to relax and unwind by writing.
When did you first WANT to write a book?
Since I understood the concept of books! Storytime was always my favourite part of the day. I even loved the feel and the weight of books in my hand, it was such a sensory experience for me. I would dictate my early stories to my mum and preschool teachers before I was able to write on my own. As soon as I was able to print, I took matters into my own hands. My early work required heavy translation due to my unique way of spelling things in those early days.
When did you take a step to start writing?
I dabbled in writing in my early working years to support myself but never found the courage to write in my own voice until the pandemic hit. I think the need for a creative outlet and to create something of my own for myself became an overwhelming need when I couldn’t leave the house for a long period of time. It was just the push I needed.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
The idea for the first book had been around for years. I knew the story by heart from it being told so many times growing up. So I thought it would be a simple and quick process. Boy was I wrong! When writing for picture books especially, having the text match the images is so important. I really wanted to make sure the right moments of the book were being captured by accompanying images and that became quite a process to map out. But well worth the time spent on it. For me, it took around 10 months from submitting the completed story to being published.
How long did it take you to complete your latest book from the first idea to release?
Since I was a bit more familiar with the publishing process it took slightly less time for my most recent book – around 8-9 months.
Focusing on your latest release. What made you want to write Antoinette And The Story Of The Invisible Giraffes?
I love children’s book series and was thrilled to have the opportunity to pursue that avenue and write a second. Being able to grow with a character and get to know them over several books is such a fun concept to me. And my mum, the real Antoinette Barbour, has the best stories to get to know her over. Plus, my latest book involves one of my favourite animals so how could I resist?
What were your biggest challenges with writing Antoinette And The Story Of The Invisible Giraffes?
Finding the right rhythm with the rhyming. A lot of the places and animals mentioned are a bit of a mouthful, so making the couplets more manageable for young readers while also keeping them challenging enough and engaging is a difficult balance to strike.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?
My mum is the real Antoinette Barbour and it’s her stories from growing up all over the world which inspired me to turn them into a children’s book series. She had the most unique upbringing in the most unique places that I thought it would make for the perfect picture book. Having stories geared toward young readers which are equal parts silly and true are hard to come by.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?
Once you read the books, you’ll know what I mean when I say that little Antoinette is her own worst enemy. She plays a dual role as both the protagonist and antagonist.
What is the inciting incident of Antoinette And The Story Of The Invisible Giraffes?
In my latest book, the trouble starts when little Antoinette’s tunnel vision kicks in on their journey to their new home. A cautionary tale to encourage people to smell the roses along the way because you never know what you might be missing.
What is the main conflict of Antoinette And The Story Of The Invisible Giraffes?
Although Antoinette feels she is in conflict with the environment around her, it’s truly with herself and not being open to the world at large around her.
Did you plot Antoinette And The Story Of The Invisible Giraffes in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?
All my stories in the Growing Up Antoinette series are based on real-life adventures my mum had. The fact they are deeply rooted in actual events made it easier for me to map out the stories into a picture book format for young readers. It’s also very helpful to have such an adventurous, interesting mum, isn’t it?
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Antoinette And The Story Of The Invisible Giraffes need?
The editing would never end on my part if I didn’t give myself deadlines to meet. I find I’m always tweaking and rearranging so I can get things to read perfectly. And then, of course, what I considered perfect yesterday is totally different from my standard of perfection today and I’m back at it again with a red pen. Although there was an initial rudimentary editing job with the publishing team, it largely fell on my shoulders to finesse. This is fine by me as I like to have that level of control over my work.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?
If you have a story you’re itching to tell, don’t wait for the right time, don’t wait until you find the courage, just DO IT. Go for it and take that leap without giving it a second thought. You’ll be so happy that you did. I think the idea of failing stops a lot of people from telling their stories and it’s a real shame. Set your own markers for success and if you’re writing to make yourself happy, I guarantee you’ll feel successful.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
I’m planning the next book in the series around my mum’s time in Pakistan where there are some famous British royals involved. And a lot of desserts!
And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
I am incredibly proud of myself for completing this book. There were a lot of obstacles in the way that made this project increasingly difficult to complete. It meant a lot of late nights and early mornings to put in the time needed, but it was well worth it. I still can’t get over the immense sense of satisfaction when my daughter snuck a copy into her school bag to have her teacher read to her class. She loved sharing her granny’s stories with her friends and that’s a memory that will stay with me for a long time to come. Â
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Current books in the Growing Up Antoinette series:
-Antoinette and the Story of the Jellyfish Monster
-Antoinette and the Story of the Invisible Giraffes
@thealisonmcgregor on Instagram
Books are available on Amazon US and CA, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Apple Books, iTunes, Google Play and through my website.
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