For as long as I can recall, I’ve been artistic. I’d draw on anything handy, even paper towels, and after years of honing my napkin-art skills, I hoped to parlay them into a career. I became an “artist for hire,” doing everything from portraits to murals, but knew I’d need steady work, lest I literally starve!
My brother-in-law pulled strings to get me a job in a local market. There, I sliced lunch meats and learned the subtle differences between thin-sliced and shaved. This may not have been much improvement over my napkin-art era, but all the while I was also pursuing my creative endeavors. One day, hearing about my artistic leanings, my boss asked if I would take over from the retiring cake decorator. I had only made one cake in my life, but I was willing to learn. Within a week, I had made—and sold—my first professional offering.
Years passed, and my unexpected career continued, despite numerous attempts to escape. Then, in 2004, I decided to fully embrace the medium—but on my terms. I launched my own business in 2005, submitting my website (www.debbiedoescakes.net) for promotion to a pioneer in the field. She loved my work, but advised, “remove the dead-rat cake.” With this, I knew I was on to something, and have continued to embrace subjects others warn against, creating a niche for myself—“twisted cakes.” In this book, let me share with you my offbeat celebration of the weird, wacky, and wonderful.
Debbie Goard