Q&A: Emily Arden Wells, Author of 'Eat Post Like'

We chat with author Emily Arden Wells about Eat Post Like, which is a heartwarming debut novel of self-discovery, resilience, and the transformative power of food.

Hi, Emily! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi! My name is Emily Arden Wells, and I best identify as a multi-hyphenate. I went to school for architecture, later started a career in beverage writing, and I own a marketing agency. Now, I’m adding author to the list!

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I started Gastronomista in 2009 with a dear friend, when the world was in a recession and more architects were firing than hiring. While the platform was originally focused on food and women, it quickly pivoted to cocktails and spirits because I found cocktail recipes to be easily accessible, and I fell in love with the industry. After a few years, I was invited on my first brand trip, which turned into more brand trips, and I can say without hesitation that these trips were some of the most amazing experiences of my life. I would wake up in glamorous hotels, eat in Michelin restaurants, seated next to the most fascinating people – it planted the seed that I wanted to write stories that wove these experiences into a bigger narrative. Eat Post Like starts to scratch at the surface of this dream, and there are so many more stories to tell from that era of my life!

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

The first book you ever remember reading: I was an early reader – “Sam’s Ball” around 2 years old? I remember reading it and feeling very proud. But now that I have my own kiddo, I’m pretty convinced I just had it memorized.
The one that made you want to become an author: Anything by Anthony Bourdain.
The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Like Water for Chocolate.

**Your debut novel, Eat Post Like, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?**

Armchair Travel. Delicious. Visceral. Transformative.

What can readers expect?

Eat Post Like is a story about Cassie Brooks, a woman who has been focused on her career for as long as she can remember. When her boyfriend tragically dies, she discovers that he’s been keeping a secret from her, one that will break her free from the challenges that have been holding her back, and catapult her into an entirely new life. She accepts an invitation to an all-expenses trip to Europe on his behalf, where she stays in five-star hotels, eats in some of the world’s best restaurants, and is forced to re-think her life and everything she has been working so hard for.

This is a book for food lovers! Readers can expect lots of visceral descriptions of cuisine, drink, and the scenery, a story of self-discovery, and of course, a little romance.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Ruby! Cassie’s best friend is Ruby, and she is inspired by my incredible girlfriends. She is strong, opinionated, and an incredibly supportive friend. She’s funny, sharp as a tack, and she always knows just what to say.

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Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I feel like I can confess this because Eat Post Like is my debut novel, but writing is hard! I write quite a bit for my work, but it’s a lot of recipes and always cocktail specific, so when I started this project I kind of had to learn how to write all over again. Conversation, character development, and the flow were all steep learning curves. But the food writing? That came naturally.

This is your debut! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

Originally, I was working on a cocktail book that had a travel element, but Covid hit, and my agent pitched the idea behind Eat Post Like to me. The story he relayed was so similar to my own personal journey that I thought it would be foolish to say no. Especially since writing a novel inspired by my travels has always been a dream of mine. It was true kismet.

What’s next for you?

I think there will be a cocktail book coming next. Or maybe the next part of Eat Post Like – I’ve already been day dreaming about where Cassie goes next and what kind of trouble she finds.