The Inspiration Behind the Story 

The Leopard and the Lemon Meringue Pie began with two of my favourite things: leopards and lemon meringue pie. But beneath the playful rhymes and jungle adventure is a story that's deeply personal to me.

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Growing up, some of my closest friends experienced the loss of a parent, and I often felt there weren't enough children's books that gently explored this experience in a way that felt hopeful. I wanted to create a story that acknowledges loss without being defined by it, a story that celebrates love, kindness, and the enduring bond we share with the people who shape our lives.

As a child, my favourite books weren't just stories...they were treasured companions. They were the books I reached for time and time again, the ones that stayed on my bookshelf for years and became part of my childhood. I wanted to write a story that children would return to again and again, one that families would share, cherish, and perhaps one day pass on to the next generation.

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I believe the people we love never truly leave us. They live on in the memories we treasure, the traditions they pass down, and the little pieces of themselves we carry with us every day. Those memories become part of who we are, giving us strength, comfort, and a way to feel close to those we've lost. For Lofty, that connection is found in baking his mother's favourite lemon meringue pie, a simple act that becomes a celebration of love, courage, and everything she taught him.

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Above all, I hope this story encourages children to be kind, to embrace what makes them different, and to see that even in life's most difficult moments, friendship, compassion, and sharing with others can bring light, healing, and joy. If Lofty's journey leaves families with full hearts, special moments together, and perhaps even inspired to bake a pie together, then I will have achieved everything I hoped for.