Author Q&A with Mary F Davis about her Children’s Book – Crumbach and Mr. Crazy Chicken

Author Interview

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written?

I grew up on a farm in New Jersey as one of seven children. From a young age, I dreamed of becoming an elementary school teacher and writing a book. I went on to teach for over 20 years in a variety of settings, from public to private schools. Most recently, I fulfilled my other childhood dream with the publication of Crumbach and Mr. Crazy Chicken.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

Years ago, I worked as an assistant at a Montessori school. One of my daily responsibilities was supervising the children during lunch. Since I’ve always loved telling stories, I asked if they’d like to hear one while they ate. Their enthusiastic “yes!” was all the encouragement I needed.

After a brief pause, I announced, “I think I’ll tell you stories about Crumbach and Mr. Crazy Chicken.” To this day, I’m not sure where those names came from—they just popped into my head! But from that moment on, every lunch period became a journey into a magical world. The children were always part of the adventure.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes. I wanted to highlight that each of us has the ability to grow and change, transforming negative traits into positive ones. I also aimed to show the importance of bravery—having the courage to face challenges—and the value of showing compassion and forgiveness toward others.

How did you come up with the names for your characters?

I chose five names from the group of children I supervised during lunch at the Montessori school, drawing inspiration from their personalities and how they might react in different situations. I kept most of their names, except for Peyton, whose name I changed to Pei-Ling so that Asian children could identify with her. I also recreated Ned as a boy of color for the same reason, though I kept his original name.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

I think the biggest challenge was making all the pieces fit together seamlessly, without leaving any loose ends. I had to constantly ask myself why each event happened and how it connected to the overall story.

Did you learn anything from writing your story?

I learned a lot through the process, but one key lesson I’ll carry into my next book is the importance of ensuring that the text aligns closely with the illustrations. Every detail matters.

What has influenced you most as a writer?

My greatest inspiration was my father. He was a writer who published several books and used to tell us delightful Joe Mouse stories at bedtime.

What is your favorite quote?

“Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets through” is from a Leonard Cohen’s song

What is your favorite movie and why?

The Sound of Music—because I deeply connected with Maria, especially her love for children and the joy she brought into their lives.

What are you working on now?

I’m writing real-life stories based on lessons I learned during my childhood on our family’s Amity Farm. I’m making them interactive by including questions that encourage children to reflect and respond to the experiences I share.