Welcome back to the First Stories blog, where I talk with children’s book authors about the stories that inspired them to dive into the world of publishing! But before I introduce today’s guest, please remember that pre-orders for my second picture book, Backyard Stew, are available on any website (your local indie bookstore – do this one first!, my publisher – Gnome Road, B&N, Bookshop.org, and Amazon, to name a few!)
BUT…if you’d like to pre-order a SIGNED copy, scan the QR code below to place your order through my local independent bookstore, Snail on the Wall. They ship anywhere within the continental US!
If you’re not quite ready to pre-order a copy of Backyard Stew, I would be SO grateful if you would click the “Want to Read” button on the Goodreads page for Backyard Stew! This helps people find my book and consider it for their home libraries. Thank you!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246356868-backyard-stew
Today, I’m delighted to welcome Maritere Bellas, the author of multiple bilingual (Spanish-English) picture books for kids.
Maritere Rodriguez Bellas is a Puerto Rican award-winning author, speaker, writer, podcast host, and bilingual parenting mentor. For over three decades, she’s shared education, resources, and support to families engaging in a multilingual, multicultural lifestyle. She created and hosts Mamás 411 Podcast, with listeners in 31 countries, and the Pa’lante G Live series, where she highlights Latinx and BIPOC children’s book authors and bilingual resources. Maritere is the author of two parenting books, published in English and in Spanish, and three bilingual children’s books. She raised two, bilingual, multicultural children. When not writing, she enjoys life in sunny Southern California with her Greek American husband. You can learn more about Maritere and her books at www.mariterewrites.com.
Me: Welcome to First Stories, Mari! It’s great to have you on the blog to discuss your book, Tio Ricky Doesn’t Speak English!
Mari: Thanks for inviting me, Heather, it’s great to be here!
Me: Let’s kick off the questions with the one that I love to ask first – tell me about your “first story.” The one that really pushed you to consider publishing. What inspired you to write it? What was it about?
Mari: It was 2017. I had written two books for parents. One about raising bilingual children and one about preserving the heritage culture. While I was as a book festival, an organization that published bilingual children’s books asked me to write a book for them. I never imagined I could write for children, but I accepted, and they published it as an e-book and paperback format. It is called Luisito’s Island/La Isla de Luisito, and it is the story of a little Puerto Rican boy that leaves the island with his family after hurricane Maria. In his new school, he shares all the landmarks he misses from the island with his new friends.
Me: How neat that your first story was written specifically for an organization, and that it was published! Where is it now? Still in print?
Mari: Oh, yes! I have copies that I give out for free when I go to book festivals. Actually, I would love to rewrite it with a new title and updated landmarks.
Me: I hope you get the chance to make some tweaks to your story! Are there any themes in that story that you can see in your writing today?
Mari: Language and culture, always!
I write the books my children didn’t have growing up. Books with characters that they could identify with and cultural themes they could relate to.
Me: This is one of the things that I most love about these interviews! So many times, the authors who answer these questions can see patterns of themes and subjects that they love and feel called to write about in their first stories. And it’s true for you also! Wonderful!
Looking back, were there any elements of that first story that made it unmarketable? Did you receive feedback on that story? What did that feedback teach you?
Mari: Well, my answer to this may be a little unique because it was a book that an organization asked me to write for them. And they had requirements, like the secondary characters of the book were three animals. Very cute. To get a copy, families had to subscribe, for free, to their website. The organization stopped offering free bilingual books to families so, I only have a few copies left. I did learn a lot about writing for children and I am grateful.
Me: Why is that “first story” special to you? How was it important for your writing journey?
Mari: It was about a moment in history that affected my little island. I wanted to honor that, and it launched my writing for children’s career!
Me: And that is HUGE!! So neat to hear about how you got started in writing and publishing for children! Now, I would love to hear about your latest project! Tell me ALL about Tio Ricky!! How did you come up with the idea for this book? Does it relate at all to your “first story”?
Mari: Tío Ricky Doesn’t Speak English/Tío Ricky no habla inglés is a bilingual picture book for ages 4-8, published in 2025 by Lil’ Libros. It is about a boy that finds himself translating…all the time!…for his visiting uncle who doesn’t speak English! This is a reality for many children in bilingual homes where the child becomes the voice of loved ones who don’t speak English. A story about family, kindness, love and the superpower of being bilingual!
Me: What a special book, Mari! Thank you for sharing about your first story and how it relates to Tio Ricky! And check out some of these cute interior spreads!
Me: Thank you so much for dropping by First Stories!
Mari: Thanks for having me!
You can snag a copy of Tio Ricky Doesn’t Speak English at the following links:
https://lillibros.com/collections/books/products/tio-ricky-doesn-t-speak-english
And
And you can follow Mari on Instagram at latinaboomermom, on X, on Threads, and on her website.
Leave a Reply