Each information-packed section ends with “Your pirate’s progress,” a short quiz that shows whether your child is reaching his or her pirate development milestones. For example, if your son has said “I’ll need another ration of grog if you expect me to eat these peas,” or told his teacher his homework was “eaten by a giant barracuda when the family’s ship wrecked on a coral reef near the Dry Tortugas,” you’re well on your way to having a pirate in the family.

Do you get along with your muse? What do you do to placate her when she refuses to inspire you?

TB: I ply her with rum. Cap’n Billy taught me to do that. It works wonders.

CB: Just make sure it’s not MY rum, me hearty.

As writers, what scares you the most?

TB: Mostly that I’ll meet a ninja who makes me write a book called Guide to Ninja Parenting. Pirates and ninjas are mortal enemies.

CB: If ye ever write that book, you’ll be walking the plank.

What type of book promotion seems to work the best for you?

TB: Guide to Pirate Parenting was a finalist in the Foreword Magazine Humor Book of the Year Awards. It didn't take the gold, which really upset Cap'n Billy.

CB: I like to take gold... and silver... and rum... and anything else that isn't nailed down.

TB: So, to appease the captain, I created two short pirate parenting videos and posted them at www.pirateparenting.com. The first video is a quiz to determine if your children are already pirates — a very useful thing to know. It might explain why your wallet is always empty. The second video tells the story of how I met Cap'n Billy and his persuasive reasons why you should raise your kids as pirates. For example, other parents will stop asking you to volunteer at school. The online videos have helped sell a lot of books, which means we can buy more rum and gun powder — a dangerous combination.

As authors, what are your greatest rewards?

TB: Finding buried treasure in my royalty statement.

CB: Just remember that half of that treasure be mine, me bucko!

Thanks for the interview, Tim and Cap'n Billy! Good luck with Guide to Pirate Parenting!