What is the title of your latest release?
THE GINGERBREAD THIEF
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
A grumpy wizard and a chatty widow are thrown together on a quest to win a wish promised as the prize in a magical baking contest. The wish would give Ansgar the chance to restore his waning powers and stave off death—and it’s Josephine’s only hope to find out if the odd cat she’s toting around is actually her late husband under an enchantment. On their way to the contest, they’ll face fiery trials, dubious soup, and raging rivers. Only one of them will win the wish, but in the end, they’ll both discover that life’s sweetest ingredient is love.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
France seemed like the perfect place for luxury-loving Ansgar to begin a new life after leaving the wilds of a German enchanted forest. At the end of The Gingerbread Queen, he’d just broken the years-long spell that had confined him within the body of a duck, so he was more than eager to celebrate being human again with every indulgence nineteenth century France offered: the latest fashions, rich cuisine, and fawning mistresses.
Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
would happily hang out with my female main character, Josephine. She’s warm-hearted, a clever crafter, and believes the best of people. And although she’s led a sheltered life, she’s brave enough to risk everything to get what she wants.
What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Ansgar is determined, short-tempered, and stylish.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned that I am truly a slow writer who enjoys the novel-creation process much more when given the luxury of several years to finish a project—rather than just one year. It’s okay to be the tortoise and not the hare, I guess! Despite the challenges, I ended up with a book I’m proud of.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I do a bit of editing while drafting. I can’t help myself.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I’ve only had them a few times, but I’d say the June bug-shaped chocolates from Eclat Chocolate in West Chester, Pennsylvania. My favorite bug has a lemon-mint filling that’s astonishing. It tastes like a walk through a springtime garden. They’re an out-of-body experience for your tastebuds!
Describe your writing space/office!
My cozy little upstairs office is painted lovely shades of green and gray, and decorated with shelves full of childhood mementos and favorite books. The windows look into the trees, which are beautifully leafy half of the year, and dramatically stark the rest of the time.
Who is an author you admire?
I love Rebecca Ross’s writing. Her lyrical prose and amazing world building sometimes leave me breathless. I highly recommend her Elements of Cadence duology.
Is there a book that changed your life?
When I was a teenager, I borrowed Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake from the library. I’d never read writing like his. Peake, a contemporary of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, was a painter and a poet, and it showed in the way he created atmosphere, mood, and characters. I’m amazed that Peake’s Gormenghast Trilogy is not better known and loved by today’s fantasy fans. He inspired in me a love of picturesque language that I’ll never lose.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
Nothing dramatic here, I’m afraid. When my publisher agreed to take on THE GINGERBREAD QUEEN, I offered to write a sequel, and she thought it would be a good idea. The rest is history.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Fantasy, with a good helping of sweet romance. Happy endings are a must!
What’s your favorite movie?
The 1995 version of SENSE AND SENSIBILITY with Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, and Hugh Grant. It’s witty, poignant, romantic, and beautifully shot. Makes me laugh and cry every single time.
What is your favorite season?
Autumn. Give me a fuzzy cardigan, a cool breeze, and pretty leaves to wade through, and I’m as happy as can be.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
With Chinese takeout, homemade chocolate cake, and all my kids gathered around the table.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
The Great Pottery Throw Down. It’s like The Great British Bake-off but the contestants make different types of pottery, everything from plates to elaborate sculptures. The hosts and contestants are all kind, encouraging, and so talented. It’s a cozy watch, for sure. (Josephine from THE GINGERBREAD THIEF would love it. Ansgar would roll his eyes at all the good-natured camaraderie.)
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Is cheese a cuisine? I could eat cheese and crackers all day. Give me a giant block of Irish cheddar and let me call it dinner.
What do you do when you have free time?
I love to spend time in the woods, especially hiking with my sons—although I do tend to fall behind as I touch moss and take pictures of cute mushrooms.
What can readers expect from you next?
My next book is TROWBRIDGE AND FYE, a YA fantasy set in the late 1980’s. When a fairy tale-obsessed teen girl gets a wrong-number telephone call and unknowingly befriends a bridge troll with questionable intentions, she finds herself enmeshed in a dangerous, real life fairy tale—one she can only hope to escape with the help of her middle-aged English teacher, the school misfit, and her not-so-charming ex-boyfriend. It’s due to release in May 2026 from Oliver Heber Books. Can’t wait!
THE GINGERBREAD THIEF by Carrie Anne Noble
Journey afar to a secret baking contest—and win the wish of your heart.
Armed with a stolen gingerbread recipe, ornery wizard (and former duck) Ansgar sets out to compete in a contest unlike any other. The prize? A single wish. Three years after fleeing the witch’s forest, his strength and magic are vanishing—and he’s counting on the enchanted recipe that once beguiled Hansel and Gretel to fend off his death.
Meanwhile, newly widowed Josephine receives an invitation to the same contest . With a cat—who she believes is her bespelled late husband—in tow, she embarks on a journey to save herself from destitution and, perhaps, her husband from feline form. If she fails, at least she’ll have one grand adventure to remember.
When fate throws the unlikely pair together, Ansgar’s plans crumble faster than a stale biscuit. He’s allergic to cats, exasperated by Josephine’s chatter—and utterly undone by her kindness. Together, they’ll face fiery trials, raging rivers, dubious soup, and the greatest challenge of all: the bake-off for the wish that could change everything.
The Gingerbread Thief is book two in The Gingerbread Legacy duology by award-winning author Carrie Anne Noble. An enchanting adventure full of heart, laughter, and slow-burn romance—perfect for fans of Sarah Beth Durst, Heather Fawcett, and T. Kingfisher.
Fantasy Historical [ Oliver-Heber Books, On Sale: December 2, 2025, e-Book, / ]
Buy THE GINGERBREAD THIEF: Kindle | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Carrie Anne Noble
Author Carrie Anne Noble writes fantasy infused with folklore and fairy tales. Her debut novel, The Mermaid’s Sister, won the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for Young Adult Fiction and the 2016 Realm Award for Book of the Year. Her 2024 release, The Springborn, was a Realm Award finalist. School Library Journal has described her writing as “lyrical and enchanting.” Carrie lives in the Pennsylvania mountains, where she enjoys wandering in the woods, frolicking with her half-Corgi, and drinking too many cups of tea.
No Comments
Comments are closed.