We Found Carrot Candles

Every once in a while something happens that reminds you how magical and unexpected life can be, especially when you write books about a porcupine with a lot of personality.

While wandering through a little gift shop  in NYC, something stopped us in our tracks. Well, I say "us," but it was actually Cody, the real Cody, who spotted them first: carrot candles. Bright orange, slightly bumpy, and shaped exactly like the kind of carrot Annie the Porcupine might stick on top of her favorite cake.

Before I could blink, Annie (riding along in my bag like the VIP she is) was squealing with delight. "They do exist!" she seemed to say with her big round eyes and her ever-curious snout. Okay, maybe that was me squealing, but the excitement was real.

And here's the part. I am  not the only ones obsessed with carrots, carrot cake and porcupines anymore. We all doing the  thing now? Finding things that show Annie the Porcupine's quirky world is a family tradition. 

Moments like this remind me that these books are more than just stories. They're part of our family now. What started as a quirky snarky porcupine with big feelings—has turned into something we live and breathe every day. And yes, even shop for.

So here's to carrot candles and all the unexpected ways stories come to life.