Pauline Mackay was born in Inverness. She completed an MA (Hons) in English Literature and French Language and Literature at Glasgow University.

Pauline spent 5 years living in Poland, 2 of which were spent teaching English as a Foreign Language. After engaging in a variety of business ventures in Poland and Britain, she set up Ablekids, an online retailer of language learning products for children. In July 2007 she launched Ablekids Press as a vehicle for her children's stories, poems and language learning ideas.