I don’t usually watch reality tv, but Master Chef Junior blew my mind.  What those kids could do in the kitchen was amazing, no matter their age! Today’s picture book reminded me of that once again.

Laura Bower has visited my blog before.  She lives in Westchester, New York with her husband, three kids and their loveys Puppy, Petunia and Nedburt, who have gone missing thousands of times over the years (most often right at bedtime). They have dealt with their fair share of imposters, but have figured out how to keep it real and all get along! When not reading or writing, Laura loves traveling to new places, live theatre, walking her dog Clover, and starting her morning with a strong cup of tea (necessary for the late night lovey searches). THE IMPOSTER is her debut picture book. Learn more about her at her website.

EMILY SNOOK, THE WORLD’S SMALLEST COOK is a story all about little Emily who loves to cook with her grandfather.  He encourages her to pursue her dreams and she enters a cooking contest.  But when she meets her competition, she doesn’t exactly measure up.  She is the smallest cook there.  Despite many challenges thrown her way, Emily shines through.  If you are a fan of cooking competitions or culinary delights, this book is for you!

Welcome back Laura!

Me: I love the idea of a kid’s cooking competition where the main character is the smallest.  What gave you the idea for this story?

Laura: I love to bake with my kids and have been doing it with them since they were toddlers who could barely reach up to the counters (they are now 14, 12 and 10). I cooked up the idea for this story during one Christmas cookie baking session. My daughter was very little but was determined to help with EVERYTHING from cracking the eggs, sifting the flour, to rolling the dough – even if the tasks were difficult/not going as she had planned. Her determination inspired my story about Emily Snook, a young chef who doesn’t let her size stop her from dreaming BIG.

Me: This is your second book with Gnome Road, who is now closed to unsolicited submissions.  Can you talk about the marketing of this story? How did you get so lucky as to have two books published with them?

Laura: I feel very lucky. I initially connected with Sandra Sutter at an SCBWI NY Conference (she was attending as a writer). When I heard the news that she started Gnome Road Publishing, I decided to take a chance and submit. I was able to send her two stories (one was The Imposter which published in March 2024 and the other was Emily Snook). The timing wasn’t right for Emily Snook, but she really liked it and held onto it. When another submission window opened again, I submitted a different story, which she passed on, but she let me know that the time was right for Emily and Gnome Road wanted to publish it. Holy Cannoli! Sandra is wonderful to work with. I am so impressed with her ability to start a publishing company and do it so well! She works extremely hard for her GRP author/illustrators, and I am proud to be a Gnomie. Gnome Road does an excellent job creating marketing materials authors can use in their promotions and with overall marketing efforts such as submitting for awards/reviews, social media initiatives, connecting with libraries, etc.  

Me: I love the details you included in this story.  Emily’s food choices, as well as some of your food similes are delightful.  Were these details always part of the story?  Or did they come about during revision?  How many revisions did this story undergo?

Laura: Thank you! I had a lot of fun writing this story. The book changed a lot and went through MANY different revisions. The first iteration included a contest where contestants had to make the world’s best soup, instead of trying to become the world’s best kids cook. Over time (and based on feedback I received), I expanded the contest and added in a main dish (mac and cheese) and a dessert (sorbet). I also revised the overall plot line to make the stakes higher and give Emily more of an emotional arc. I worked on this story for years — I wrote a first draft in 2016. I would get feedback, get rejected, revise and repeat. I am thankful to critique partners and paid critiques I signed up for as they all contributed to getting my story out into the world. I signed the contract in 2022 and Emily hits shelves on October 8, 2024!

Me: What is one thing that surprised you in writing this story?

Laura: It surprised me how connected I felt to Emily. She felt like much more than just a character and I was rooting for her the entire way. I received a lot of rejection, but never gave up because I believed so much in the story and in Emily!

Me: I love the relationship Emily has with her Grandpa.  It’s rare to see intergenerational relationships take center stage like this.  Why was it important to you to share a story like this with young readers?

Laura: I am inspired by the wonderful grandparents my children have in their life. My kids have loved cooking and baking with their grandparents over the years. The relationship between grandparents and grandkids can be so special, and I wanted to write about the strong bond that Emily has with her own grandfather. He is an amazing chef, and he passes his knowledge down to Emily. Children can learn so much from their grandparents. Finding a shared interest can lead to an increased connection where both parties are learning from the other.

Me: The illustrations by Rekha Salin are perfect for this story.  I loved the color palette and textures she used.  Were there any illustration surprises for you?  Any favorites?

Laura: Rekha did an amazing job with the art. She nailed the “small but mighty” look for Emily Snook. I love the bright colors she used and all the awesome food illustrations. Every time I look through the book, I discover something new. Yellow is my favorite color, and I was thrilled that Rekha decided to put Emily in a yellow dress. The other characters are all so adorable – grandpa, the other contestants, the judges, etc. One of my favorite illustrations is where Emily finds out she won the grand prize, and it looks like she is floating on air (as light as meringue on a honey-glazed pear!). It is so whimsical and charming and really encapsulates Emily’s can-do attitude/determination. The book overall is bright, cheerful, and inviting, and I think readers will really connect to Rekha’s illustrations!

Me: What made this story perfect for you to tell it? Are you a great cook or foodie like Emily?  Do you have a favorite food that’s included in the story?

Laura: I do like to cook/bake, but I wouldn’t say I am a cooking pro like Emily. However, there are a lot of cooking pros in my family who have taught me so much over the years. One thing I really enjoy cooking is soup — which is why a soup contest was in my first draft of this story. I love trying out different recipes especially during the chilly winter months (one of my favorites is a creamy chicken and edamame soup). I love that it is an easy one-pot meal that can be served with salad and crusty bread (not quite hard enough to make a stool out of yet like Emily does ;-). and voila! dinner is served. I also enjoy eating 🙂 and love trying out new restaurants! We are lucky because there is no shortage of places near where I live to check out.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today Laura.

Dear readers, this book just came out last week.  If you’re looking for an underdog story with a foodie twist, this story has it in spades.  Or should I say in spices?  Regardless, this is fun read you won’t want to miss.