Interview with Crystal Marcos and #Giveaway *ENDED* of BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale

Today I have Crystal Marcos on the blog with an interview and  giveaway of her new book, BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale.  This book is very cute and you must check out my review here.

It’s great to have you on the blog Crystal! 

It is wonderful to be here!

Can you start out by telling us a bit about yourself and your book?

I have been a storyteller my entire life. According to my mother, I was quite a talker at an early age. Being the oldest of five children, I had a lot of entertaining to do. I would write skits, plays, and put on penny carnivals for the younger neighborhood children. I was always creating and still am. I currently live on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State with my husband and our 21 month old daughter, Kaylee. Incidentally, she is quite a talker too.  BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale is my first book.

A lip-smacking, mouthwatering, absolutely delectable debut, BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale by Crystal Marcos is a literary feast for ages seven and up. In the vein of Roald Dahl's best-loved adventures, Marcos offers a mystical, character driven escapade that intertwines strands of reality with a larger-than-life fantasy world. When Peter Fischer sets out to help his grandfather at Papa's Sweet Shop, he will quickly learn that sneaking sweets and covering up his sugar-dusted tracks will have major consequences. As Peter is transported to a mysteriously delicious, faraway land, a curious people known as the Candonites, some of whom have no time for a non-Candonite, will teach Peter a lesson on what it means to be different and what it means to forgive.

BELLYACHE has been well received in the industry.  Accomplishments include, nominated for the 2010 CYBILS awards, featured in South Sound Magazine, and book write up with cover art in the first ever PW Select section of Publisher’s Weekly magazine.

What was your inspiration for Bellyache? 

My love for children and children's books inspired me to write BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale. I also thought about what books I really enjoyed and which ones stuck in my mind from childhood. Oddly enough, all those books featured food and treats. I imagined what I would want my children to read about someday and I wanted it to be something I felt comfortable with them reading. I wanted them to be transported into a place that was so fantastic that they would always remember it.

When you started writing the book did you know where it was going from the beginning or did it come as you wrote? 

Majority of the book came as I wrote. I actually rewrote the ending shortly before it was published.

Did you have any concerns about kids craving candy and sweets while reading it?  I have to say that I had some trouble in the beginning.  My kids started chanting “candy, candy, candy” but once I got into it further and explained his bellyache from eating so many sweets then they got it.  For a minute anyway ;) My kids were technically too young for the book, so it probably wouldn’t be such an issue with the right age group.  

No, I had no concerns. There are many beloved books that feature food or sweets and they are some of the best loved books of all time. Many are my favorites.

Maybe I just have hyperactive kids.  Any talk of sweets sets them over the edge.  

Is this book based on any real life experience?  (You know, maybe a crazy dream? LOL) Or having spent time as a child in a sweet shop?

I didn’t create this book based on a real life experience. It was based off personal preference.  I wanted to write a book I know I would have enjoyed as a child and still would enjoy as an adult and I wanted the same for my readers.

What was your biggest obstacle to overcome when writing this book?  

Right now, my biggest obstacle is time management. As I had mentioned earlier, I have a 21 month and she keeps me very busy. I want to spend as much time with my daughter during these precious years as possible. I can always write, but she is only little once.  So, I do much of my work at night after she is asleep. I have had many late nights.

I've put off even trying to write a book because of my kids.  It's too hard to balance everything out.  So I do applaud you for managing it!

Do you have a favorite book or author (children and/or adult)? 

My favorite book is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Roald Dahl’s books had an influence in me becoming an author.

Oh yeah, definitely see that! 

If you could have one super power what would you pick?

I guess if I have to have a super power, it would be to never get tired. Do you know how much I could get accomplished! I bet you could imagine how much you could accomplish with all that extra time!

Oh yes!  If I didn't have to sleep I could read two books a day AND blog to my hearts content!

Do you have any books in the works that you can tell us about? 

My current project is writing the sequel to BELLYACHE. Future projects will include picture books I have been working on for years and a young adult project I can promise will be unlike anything you have ever read before.

Can't wait!

Find Crystal on the web:

You can purchase my book from Amazon the direct link: http://www.amazon.com/Bellyache-Delicious-Tale-Crystal-Marcos/dp/0984389903 or check my website to see other options.

My website: www.CrystalMarcos.com  please check out my writing activities for children.

My blog http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3437107.Crystal_Marcos/blog

Twitter @crystalmarcos

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CrystalMarcos

Thanks for joining us today!

The Giveaway: *ENDED*

Crystal is giving away one copy of BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale to one reader.  This giveaway is open to US or Canadian addresses only. You must be 13 years of age to enter (or ask parental permission).  It is open until April 22nd, 2011. 

To Enter:

Tell us one of your favorites as a child (book, treats, etc) in a comment with contact info.