Introducing Nora Escapes the Bakery
A Story Born from Imagination
This story began during a season when I had to trust my imagination again. In the same way, Nora Escapes the Bakery shares the world of a spunky little cookie who dares to explore her dreams, all with a handful of courage and a heart full of crumbs.
About the Book
When a curious cookie named Nora decides she’s meant for more than life inside a jar, an unexpected adventure begins.
This Butterscotch cookie lives in a cozy seaside bakery where she can hear waves crashing and children laughing. But Nora isn’t one to sit still! She dares to see what lies beyond the sweet shop she calls home.
Fully illustrated and recommended for ages 5 to 9, Nora Escapes the Bakery is perfect for storytime or early readers. It’s also a wonderful resource for parents and educators who want to spark imagination, creativity, and courage through interactive storytelling.
Meet the Cookie Crew
Nora
A curious cookie who a spark of courage and hear full of crumbs and questions. She’s always wondered what lies beyond the bakery door, and she’s just daring enough to find out!
Preston
A clever macadamia cookie who believes in loyalty, laughter, and second chances. He’s the kind of friend who would follow a crumb trail anywhere even into the unknown.
Yellow Dog
A playful puppy with a nose for mischief and a heart as golden as his fur. Wherever he runs, adventure (and a little chaos) are sure to follow.
Gayle (The Baker)
A kind, creative, and warm soul who believes every cookie has a purpose, even the ones who dream too big. The bakery is her world of sugar, stories, and imagination.
The Spark Behind Nora
I began writing Nora Escapes the Bakery in the spring of 2020, during a time when the world felt uncertain. Around that time, I learned that my earlier stories had inspired children at a local daycare including one girl named Nora, whose imagination was boundless.
In her honor, I decided to trust my own inventiveness again. When I read the first draft to a group of children, they couldn’t stop laughing. They thought Nora and her friends were bold and funny. That was my kite-lifting-from-the-ground moment. I realized this was the kind of joy I wanted to bring to life.
Over the next five years, I polished the story and collaborated with an illustrator to help Nora and her world take shape. If you’ve read my last five poems in The Path of Becoming series, you’ve already met her spirit: she dreams, she’s brave, and she’s ready to let the wind take her wherever it pleases.
Nora Escapes the Bakery is ultimately a story about adventure and growth — how taking that first small step can lead us into unexpected lessons about connection, courage, and finding our way home.
A Glimpse Inside Chapter One
Before Nora takes her first step into the unknown, she’s just a cookie in a jar. Curious, restless, and dreaming of something more. Here’s a sneak peek inside Chapter 1 of Nora Escapes the Bakery:
Gayle loved the Butterscotch cookies most. She offered her favorite treats, but all the children answered, “No thank you!” Gayle grinned and packed the desserts each child had chosen into a gift box. They all scampered out the bakery and back to the shore. Gayle tapped the glass jar of Butterscotch cookies and giggled, “You may be trapped here forever.”
All the Butterscotches waited patiently for a child to take them home… well, everyone except one little cookie named Nora.
“I’m tired of sitting in this glassy old jar,” Nora pouted, folding her arms. “Nobody picks us— not near, not far!”
“Nora, sweet cookie, be still and have peace of mind. Butterscotches are chosen at just the right time,” the others chimed.
“That will never happen,” Nora wailed as she threw her arms in the air and wagged her head. “Maybe there is more to life than waiting inside a bakery!”
What Nora doesn’t know is that adventure sometimes begins with a single crack in the lid.
What’s Next on Nora’s Crumb Trail
Subscribe to this Substack to follow Nora’s Crumb Trail, the behind-the-scenes journey to publication! You’ll be the first to know when Nora Escapes the Bakery hits the shelves in Fall 2026.
Each month, I’ll share exclusive sneak peeks:
Character color reveals
Early sketches and concept art
Reflections from my creative process
Interactive activities and coloring pages for kids
Thank you for being part of this adventure from the very beginning. Nora’s journey is just getting started. Trust me. She can’t wait to meet you.