October may be ending, but there’s a lesson in its awakening: every leaf (and cookie) falls and rises again.
Autumn and The Art of Change
The month of October signaled a new season. Leaves are drifting softly. The air is cooling. Jackets and scarves are returning to their rightful places.
Nora, the main character of my upcoming children’s book, is a perfect reflection of fall itself. From her earliest sketch to her final form, she embodies transformation. Through her adventures and little hiccups, she’s taught me how to embrace change and press on with courage.
The Birth of the Butterscotch Cookie
Nora’s story began as a whisper in the springtime during a walk around Lake Artemisia. Her words landed in my notebook like a secret I was meant to keep.
Her butterscotch flavor was intentional. Not the most popular cookie in the jar but soft, sweet, and unforgettable. Butterscotch melts fast and lingers long; it can’t be ignored, even among more decadent aromas.
So my pencil spun the butterscotch chips, flour, and sugar. My breath gave her life, and inspiration brought the heat. When the oven bell rang, Nora the Butterscotch (with a capital B) cookie had risen. I then shared her with a few little friends whose joy lit up the room.
Three years later, she whispered again, asking to be seen by other children. That’s when I knew she needed to become a book filled with illustrations to match her courage.
From Pencil Lines to Possibility
Here she is — the earliest version of Nora, drawn long before she ever escaped the bakery.
She’s round, soft, and full of joy, her dotted surface hinting at the butterscotch chips she’ll one day wear proudly. With her bow perched high and hands on her hips, this Nora radiates confidence and sweetness all at once.
I drew her to capture her spirit: a cookie who already knew she was meant for more. She had her friends, her dreams, and plenty of attitude, even before her world was fully baked. This little sketch became the seed of everything that followed.
The Nora Concept Drawing
For the book, I wanted to work with someone familiar with digital illustration. There had to be someone who could truly understand Nora and all she is. Before I knew it, my cookie had started becoming.
This is the concept I created to help her step out of the sketchbook and into her world. With her golden butterscotch hue, bright blue bow, and joyful expression, I wanted to capture her curiosity and warmth before she was fully realized.
In this version, she stands proudly on her cookie hills, smiling into a wide blue sky. Nora is already beaming with confidence and wonder. I hoped the illustrator could feel her spirit through this drawing. It became the spark that set everything in motion.
So nervous little me reached out to an illustrator. I made my pitch, crossed my fingers, and hoped for the best for Nora. And before I knew it, I was delighted.
The Nora You’ll Meet
Here she is — the Nora you’ll meet in the pages of Nora Escapes the Bakery. This final illustration was beautifully completed by Brandon G. Gunning, a talented artist and illustrator whose vibrant style brought Nora’s spirit to life.
Brandon captured everything I imagined and more. I see her confidence, her warmth, and that spark of curiosity that started it all. From her expressive eyes to the soft glow of butterscotch light, he gave Nora the presence of a true storybook hero.
This is imagination coming full circle. From pencil lines to concept art to this polished illustration, Nora grew alongside me. She was changing, brightening, and finding her voice. Creativity, like fall itself, is full of transformation.
The Seasons of Nora
Looking back at these three versions of Nora feels like watching the seasons change. The first sketch was a quiet winter, full of potential. The concept drawing was colorful spring bursting with possibility. And this final version by Brandon is a golden autumn that is confident and fully alive.
Each version carries its own beauty, and together they remind me that stories grow just like we do. They need patience, revision, and trust in transformation. Nora changed with time, but her heart stayed the same. She’s always hopeful, curious, and ready to leap into the unknown. And maybe that’s the real art of becoming.
What’s on the Other Side of the Jar?
This cookie began as a conversation and turned into a concept. Once I caught the sweet smell of butterscotch determination, I knew Nora had to enter her next stage of becoming as a fully illustrated story ready for the world.
Even as my own October brought unexpected change, Nora reminded me that life is never complete without its seasons. She whispers that courage isn’t found in staying still, but in daring to see what’s on the other side of the jar.
Just like the little girl who once inspired this story, I find myself inspired by the character I created. Nora is a manifestation of transformation, and I’m learning to follow her crumbs, one adventure at a time.
So tell me, which version of Nora speaks to you most: the sketch, the concept, or the final?