Quincy Kadin: On writing Frankie’s Fishy Feelings

Quincy Kadin is a high school student in Los Angeles, a mental health advocate, and the author of Frankie’s Fishy Feelings, a children’s book.

We are delighted to feature her on our site1

Growing up, I had a lot of anxiety. At times, it was so bad that I struggled to leave my house. My parents introduced me to therapy, and it truly changed my life. I wanted to allow other kids to experience this, so I started researching. My research revealed the extreme lack of accessibility to mental health care; it was either too expensive or not offered in some geographical regions. As I pried deeper, I saw that less than half of the elementary schools in my state don’t have anything like a behavioral health counselor. This was an issue that needed to be solved, but I wasn’t sure what to do next.

Then, during a trip, a pilot mistook my panic attack as an illness, and I was removed from a plane. I was stranded in a foreign country with nowhere to go, unsure if I would be able to get home. This experience propelled me to write Frankie’s story, as it showed me how misunderstood anxiety is.

I started brainstorming what would have helped me when I was younger. It would need a character or story I could relate to. The next step was finding a format that was easily accessible and distributable. These two thoughts led me to my final format: a children’s book. It was catchy, had a fun story, and could include coping mechanisms so that the book could be a resource within itself. To include the coping mechanisms, I worked with the Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine and the Director of the Pediatric OCD Intensive Outpatient Program at the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, Lindsey Bergman. This allowed me to add a clinical side to the book, adding tried and true therapeutic practices into the story.

Creating Frankie’s character was an interesting process. I worked with a fantastic illustrator named Adhemas Batista who really brought my vision to life. Together, we picked a color palette and design style. I originally started off with a fish but realized that an animal that is usually perceived as “scary” could be more impactful and be a way of destigmatizing anxiety. After all, everyone has a little bit of fishy feelings inside them. I decided to have a shark as the main character, specifically a tiger shark, as it was thought of as a fairly ferocious animal. The next interesting character was the therapist. To illustrate him, Adhemas and I wanted him to seem approachable. Eventually, we landed on an aquatic plant, which evokes a calm feeling.

When Frankie’s Fishy Feelings was released, I was able to fundraise enough money to send hundreds of copies of the story to schools and libraries. Seeing the direct impact through emails from principals and parents telling me that the book was able to help their kids was amazing. Since then, I have sold thousands of copies of my book, and it is amazing to think about the kids who are receiving even a little bit of help. I am so grateful to have had an experience like this so early in my life, and it has truly taught me a lot. I am looking forward to what comes next in my author and advocacy career!

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find out more about Quincy and her book: https://www.frankiesfishyfeelings.com/

FRANKIE’S FISHY FEELINGS

“Frankie’s Fishy Feelings” is a heartwarming children’s book that tackles the important topic of childhood anxiety in a fun and relatable way. Dive into the underwater world with Frankie, a kind-hearted 5-year-old shark who navigates through her fishy feelings and discovers coping strategies to overcome them. Frankie is a lovable shark who often finds herself feeling overwhelmed and worried about everyday situations. From the first day of school to playdates with friends, her anxiety makes her feel like she’s swimming against the current. But with the support of her parents and a therapist, Frankie learns valuable techniques to manage her anxious thoughts. In this engaging story, young readers will join Frankie on her journey of self-discovery and watch as she learns breathing exercises and visualization techniques.

Through this experience, Frankie gains confidence and finds the courage to face her fears head-on. With colorful illustrations that bring the underwater world to life, “Frankie’s Fishy Feelings” offers a relatable and accessible narrative that helps children understand and cope with their own feelings of anxiety. The book emphasizes the importance of self-care, empathy, and seeking help from trusted individuals when needed. Written with empathy and sensitivity, “Frankie’s Fishy Feelings” is suitable for children ages 4 to 8 and serves as a valuable tool for parents, teachers, and caregivers to open up discussions about mental health, emotions, and coping strategies in a safe and supportive manner. Join Frankie on her underwater adventure, where she discovers that even sharks can conquer their anxieties and embrace a world full of possibilities!

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Contemporary Women Writers