BCM- How did your life change when you became a mom?
Victoria - I had thought my life was complete before I had children. But once I had my children I became inspired in new ways that I never could have imagined!

BCM - What has been your most memorable moment as a mom?
Victoria - Each moment is memorable, whether they are smiling or crying! And each memorable moment is quickly replaced with a new one. You have to stay in the present because as a mom you are so sleep deprived you forget the past!

BCM - If you could give another mom or expectant mom one piece of advice, what would it be?

Victoria - When things are really tough, your child probably has an ear infection!
Just remember kids go through stages, so just when everything seems really hard, it actually gets easier because your child is just pushing boundaries and growing and about to move onto the next stage. They are always one step ahead!

BCM - Congratulations on the success of all of your books, products, and your show!  How did you come up with the original idea for Pinkalicious?
Victoria - When my daughter was three she lived in a pink Princess dress for a year. She loved it so much that she never took it off. She also loved the color pink and cupcakes. As an April fools joke I sent out an email to my friends and family telling them that she had turned pink after eating too many pink cupcakes. One of my friends wrote back to me telling me that it would make a good children's book. Another asked me if Pinkititis was contagious and if I thought her child might get it as well!

BCM - Do you have any tips for inspiring authors/illustrators?
Victoria - Keep at it! Write from the heart, go to whatever feels good and gives you joy. Trust yourself and your inner voice. If you are creating something and it doesn’t feel right, start again. Keep going and don’t give up.

BCM - How do you manage your work/life balance? Any advice for moms?
Victoria - Between writing, creating illustrations, working on Pinkalicious dolls, toys, games, clothes, spending time with my family, exercising, preparing meals, keeping track of all the after school activities and homework I have a very full schedule. When I get overwhelmed I say to myself, “everything eventually gets done” and everything does get done. Of course it may not get finished as soon as other people want it done.

If I have a choice between getting organized and doing something with my kids, I try to choose the latter. So if you come and visit me, wear a helmet before you open a cupboard or closet in my house!

 
BCM - What type of activities do you like to do with your kids?

Victoria - We love to hike and tell stories while we walk. We also like to draw, make jewelry or do craft projects, kayak, bike, sing, travel, visit museums, and cuddle up in bed and watch movies.

BCM - Whats next?  New books?  More musicals?

Victoria - Silverlicious is my latest picture book. It is coming out February 1st. I have a pinkatastic line of learn-to-read books about the further adventures of Pinkalicious. There are really great Pinkalicious toys at Walmart now, where one can buy gorgeous sparkly dress up outfits, tiaras, slippers, a fun activity easel, dolls in a variety of sizes, and a plush Goldilicious unicorn! FAO Schwarz has amazing Pinkalicious dolls, games and puzzles and clothing as well. In addition, I have a line of beautiful Pinkalicious bicycles which you can find online.

I have also worked really hard to make a pinkeriffic web site (www.ThinkPinkalicious) where kids can play games, download coloring pages, and one can post pictures of your very own Pinkerella. I really LOVE seeing the pictures and am blown away by the children's happy faces and wonderful drawings! I look at the pictures while I am working and it inspires me to keep going. If you are a teacher or a librarian, the web site has a curriculum that you can download. There is a newsletter you can sign up for to keep updated on my latest books and where I will be  doing book signings. You can also see all my toys and products. Can you tell I have been having a blast? There is so much fun stuff out there now to inspire creativity and imagination for all the pinkerbelles and pinkerellas!

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FUN FACTS:

I’m totally obsessed with……

Victoria - Cupcakes!

My biggest influence is…..

Victoria - When I was a child I read Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans over and over and over again. I would look at it and say ‘I want to do children's books when I grow up.’ Of course, I also wanted a horse farm and a candy store!

My favorite drugstore buy is…..

Victoria - Cotton balls. My girls call them ‘snowman poop.’ Tee hee.

Products I can’t live without…….

Victoria - My GPS, my Macintosh computer and instant hand warmers.

My guilty pleasure is ….

Victoria - Long walks on the beach with my good friend.

My favorite NYC restaurant is………

Victoria - I love going down to 6th street and having Indian food! All the restaurants are delicious!

My favorite color is.....

Victoria - PINK!!!! And purple and gold and silver and...