Here I am, gearing up to publish my third book, and instead of celebrating, I’m questioning if Amazon will one day send me an email saying, 'Sorry, we made a mistake. You’re not actually an author.' It’s classic imposter syndrome, folks—like Oliver the Owl losing his button and wondering if he’s still a real chef without his apron. But, spoiler alert: the only way to quiet the doubts is to keep writing, keep creating and hitting the darn button!

You won’t believe what just happened. Picture this: I’m cozied up with a bowl of knoepla soup, chatting with a friend, when they casually mention spotting a book on Amazon with a character eerily similar to Oliver the Owl. Naturally, I had to investigate. Lo and behold, there it was—an enchanted-world-living, owlish-looking character that made me do a double take. Will the real Oliver please stand up?! I don’t know whether to laugh or grab a cookie for emotional support. One thing’s for sure: this little detour has lit a fire under my feathers. The real Oliver is ready to shine, and trust me, you won’t want to miss his next adventure!

Oliver the Owl was never about making millions—unless we’re talking about millions of memories. For every book sold, I make about $4.19 (yep, enough for a coffee without the fancy extras). But what really keeps me going is hearing from families who’ve bonded over my stories or kids who’ve tried their hand at the recipes. I’m building more than just books—I’m creating a legacy for my kids and a community of little chefs who see cooking as an adventure.

I didn’t always dream of becoming an author, but turning 50 had a funny way of sparking new ideas. It all started with a puffy tulle skirt, a crown, and a photo shoot. As my mom and I reviewed the pictures, the photographer said, “You should write a book!” And just like that, a seed was planted. Fast forward two years, and I was knee-deep in rhymes and children’s stories, trying to figure out how to bring Oliver the Owl to life. It wasn’t easy—there were plenty of challenges and moments of doubt—but turning that dream into a reality has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.