Meeting Madeline: How a Coffee Led to Magic on the Page

When I first started writing Only Child, Not a Child Alone, I knew that finding the right illustrator would be key to bringing the story to life. What I didn’t know at the time was that the perfect person for the job would be someone living just upstairs!

It all started when I came across Madeline Pinkerton’s Instagram. Her art immediately caught my eye. There was something so enchanting about her paintings. Her style felt like a warm hug and the perfect match for my book. I knew I had to reach out to see if she might be interested in collaborating. After a few messages back and forth, we decided to meet up for coffee to discuss the possibility.

I was very nervous meeting Madeline in person, as I had never done this before. As we sat down with our coffees, the conversation flowed naturally, not just about the project but about life, creativity, and everything in between. The more we talked, the more it became clear that we shared similar visions for how the illustrations could complement the story.

Then, something truly amazing happened — we discovered we were neighbours! The fact that we lived so close to one another made the collaboration feel even more like it was meant to be. That connection added a layer of trust and ease to our working relationship, and from that moment on, it felt like we were embarking on this creative journey together as both collaborators and friends.

Working with Madeline has been a dream. She has this incredible ability to translate words into visual magic. Every character, scene, and moment in Only Child, Not a Child Alone has been brought to life in ways that exceeded my wildest expectations.

Her attention to detail is astonishing — she listened to every story I had to tell her about my childhood and somehow included them in the book. She has a way of making the emotions of the narrative come alive in a way that speaks directly to young readers, helping them connect deeply with the characters and the story.

I am so grateful to have worked with such a talented kind wonderful person and I cherish every board game night we now have together.

She really is the Quentin Blake to my Roald Dahl.

Please take a look at her website at www.madelinepinkerton.com