This month on our book recommendation insert we chat with Dawn Faith Mackay (maiden name, Mlotshwa), Dawn was born in Durban, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa and currently resides in Melbourne, Australia with her family. “I actually dropped out of university, which is one of the only regrets I have thus far in life but I have worked so hard and received many blessings that have led to where I am today”, she said.
Please share the name of the book, why that TITLE, when did you start writing it and what inspired you to go for it? “This is my second book, actually. It is called “Let’s Eat, Babe! …And Drink! (Oh! And Feed The Kids, Too!). I had the idea about a year ago and then life really got tough and it just felt like I didn’t have the capacity to do this. In the end, it took me about four months to complete my first draft of it".
"I never set out to be a home cook, let alone put together this book. I’m just a woman who’s been trying to feed her family through a pandemic".
"At some point during the thousands of meals that I've cooked, I realized I was pretty good at it. That inspired me to reflect on when and how I learned to create a meal. I’ve since come to understand the incredible mosaic that is my background and how it has shaped my food story”.
What kind of challenges did you face when you started writing it and prior publishing – and how did you tackle those? “Like most writers, I had to overcome intense ongoing imposter syndrome. As I mentioned, I’m just a home cook and not a chef – so I felt I had no authority to speak to anyone about food let alone share tips! I guess I had to accept that though I wasn’t a chef, I certainly am a home cook and this book is for all other women just like me. Women who have to cook endless meals and run out of ideas as I do. When I owned up to the truth and accepted what I am and what I was not, I was able to write from that authentic space”.
Share a bit with us; what is the book is about? "This book is a collection of almost everything I have learned about feeding myself and the fussy three humans who live with me. With over 50 recipes, I hope what I share somehow makes the readers’ time in the kitchen a little easier. The book is dedicated to the many home cooks who churn out thousands of meals day in and day out. The past couple of years have brought even greater pressures, expectations, anxiety and stress on women, in particular. I admire and celebrate women for standing, or sitting, or crying, or crawling through one of the most horrid times in living memory".
Lastly, when not pushing and talking about your book, what else do you do? “I'm a momtrepreneur, yeah that's a thing, babe! Simply put, I'm a full-time mum & a full-time entrepreneur. To get the job done, I've found unconventional ways that work for my family & me. As an entrepreneur, I run my company called MYZIZI Publishing House. The company produces content (books, audio e.g. podcasts and television e.g. talk shows) that aims to lift the human spirit. As a full-time mum, I have two wonderful children (6 years and 2 years) that I love and am dearly devoted to. I also share all the different tools I use to make my life simpler”.