Meet Gayle in Full Color: The Warm, Whimsical, and Wonderful Baker
How she embodies the joy and wonder of December
December and the Glow of Giving
December arrives like the gentle bell chime above a bakery door. A sound that is soft, warm, inviting. It brings light into dim corners, sweetness into the air, and a sense of gathering that wraps itself around us like a scarf. The world leans into baking, gift-giving, and small moments with the people who bring us joy.
Gayle, the baker in my upcoming children’s book, carries that same spirit. From the moment she first appeared in my imagination, she felt like December itself: generous, creative, colorful, and full of wonder. She is the warmth inside the bakery when the weather outside cools, the first whiff of something sweet drifting from the oven, and the reminder that joy is made with intention.
Her presence shapes Nora’s entire world.
The Heart Behind the Apron
Long before I knew Gayle’s exact features, I knew her feeling. I felt the presence of a warm, nurturing African American woman with smiling eyes, someone whose spirit could touch a whole neighborhood. I saw hints of her purple apron with playful white polka dots, a soft green blouse, a classic black skirt, and brown curls bouncing whenever she laughed. Her entire look needed to carry the colors of the holidays. She needed to be fun, familiar, and full of comfort.
I always imagined her bakery as whimsical and cozy, filled with marble shelves and glass jars, each one lined with treats ready to be shared. Apple pie on display, lemon cake cooling on the counter, and the beloved butterscotch cookies resting in their glass jar with the lid ever so slightly tipped. Outside, the bell above the door would ring and purple shingles would glow in the sunlight, with the beach just a few steps away. Gayle’s bakery needed to be a place where imagination rises like dough and dreams feel possible.
But more than any shape or color, Gayle needed to be a baker who makes treats out of both sugar and stories. Someone whose kindness flavors every creation.
How Gayle Took Shape
Gayle didn’t come to life through early sketches like Nora and Preston did. She arrived in pieces of description, voice, and personality of someone I already know and hold close. She is in fact a real life person whom I love very much. So Gayle, the Baker, was a full-grown character waiting patiently for her turn.
She’d be seen as warm and nurturing, creative and intentional, round and comforting like a soft hug. She needed to love her bakery deeply and see potential in every cookie resting in her jars. In my mind, she was the anchor of the bakery. She’s the one who dreamt up the flavors, arranged the shelves, and kept the magic alive. She is the adult many of us needed growing up: steady, bright, imaginative, and full of love. She is essentially a mother. My mother.
When it was time to bring her fully into the world, I passed her into the hands of my illustrator, Brandon D. Gunning, whose talent and sensitivity captured her beautifully.
The Gayle You’ll Meet
Here she is! The baker who is radiant, joyful, and fully alive.
Brandon brought Gayle to life with such intentionality. Her warm brown skin, bright eyes, and purple apron glow with the spirit of December. She stands in a welcoming pose, almost as if she is mid-laughter, inviting you into her bakery with open arms. In her presence, you can almost smell the butterscotch cookies cooling on the counter, the apple pie steaming in the display case, and the lemon cake singing its citrus song. Right now in this moment, her spirit is lighting the Christmas tree.
Gayle feels like Christmas. Her hands are busy, her smile is wide, and her heart is full.
Why Gayle Matters
Gayle unknowingly shapes Nora’s courage. She designs the bakery, fills the jars, decorates the shelves, and creates the world Nora longs to explore. Through her gentle routines and creative spirit, she teaches without ever needing to say a word. Creativity, in her world, is a gift meant to be shared. Kindness makes people brave. Warmth has a way of helping others take their first steps. And joy, when given freely, always multiplies.
Gayle is the reason Nora believes something beautiful waits on the other side of the jar.
The Spirit of Gayle
If Nora represents courage and Preston represents gratitude, Gayle represents wonder that fills December with sparkle and warmth. Through her, I’ve learned that creativity is sacred, generosity leaves gentle ripples, and a sense of home can be crafted with your hands. She reminds me that love can be tasted, especially in something baked with intention.
Gayle is the magic inside the bakery windows. She is the glow that makes Nora dream. She is the steady heartbeat of the story.
Your Turn
What part of Gayle reminds you most of December. The warmth, the color, the creativity, or the sense of home?
I’d love to hear your thoughts below.