BookView Review

Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.

Recently, we interviewed Lori Rotter about her writing and recently released book, Breezy Bakes Her Best, a sweet, a spirited celebration of messy mistakes, creative confidence, and unexpected talents (Read the review here.).

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Where did the idea for Breezy come from?

Early on, I wanted to make a series of alphabet books, with each character and theme matching a letter. For the letter B, I imagined a little bear in a bakery. My family knows I enjoy using their names for characters, and one of them goes by the nickname “Breezy” for Bree. Breezy felt just right for this little bear, and I could already picture her being curious and determined. I’ve loved baking since I was a kid, so this idea felt like the perfect recipe for a children’s story.

Why did you choose a bakery as the setting?

I have a sweet tooth, so it’s no surprise that I love stopping by a local bakery and deciding which pastry to pick. But it’s more than just the delicious smells. The beauty of the baked goods all lined up on the glass shelves, with their colorful icing, rainbow sprinkles, glazes, and chocolate chips, always catches my eye. I thought this would make a great setting for a children’s book!

Which scene is your favorite, and why?

My favorite scene is when Breezy is hard at work icing cakes in the bakery. All the colorful treats make the bakery so inviting. I also love how focused Breezy looks. She really seems comfortable and happy there.

How did you work with the illustrator to bring Breezy and the bakery to life?

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Vaughan Duck on my last three books, and this new one is no exception. One thing I love about writing children’s stories is teaming up with the illustrator. Vaughan lives in Australia, while I’m in New York. Most of our conversations happen over email, and lately, we’ve started using Zoom, too. Vaughan usually begins by asking about my ideas for the characters and setting. Next, he sends sketches of what the characters might look like. After that, he creates rough black-and-white layouts, and we talk through more details and action. This is when the story really starts to come alive. By the time the sketches become final color illustrations, we’ve spent several weeks with the story, and each step makes it feel even more real.

Did the illustrations turn out the way you first imagined them?

The illustrations and the world Vaughan created turned out even better than I hoped. The personalities he gave the bear characters, along with the funny chickens in the background, always make me laugh. I loved Breezy the moment I saw her on paper.

What advice would you give children who feel discouraged when they are not good at something right away?

I encourage kids to keep trying because practice helps everyone improve. If you still feel disappointed, try to stay curious and open-minded. Sometimes our mistakes lead us to new opportunities. By trying different things, we might find a hidden talent. That kind of discovery is truly special.

Will Breezy appear in another story?

I hope so! Maybe it will happen soon. Characters from Freckles’ Best Ribbit show up in this new story about Breezy. Kids can look for Freckles and his friends as they visit the bakery and try Breezy’s treats. It would be exciting to see all the characters meet and become friends!

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