With her debut novel Eat Post Like, local writer Emily Arden Wells serves up a story that is as much about food and travel as it is about love, loss and finding connection in unexpected places. Following protagonist Cassie through a culinary journey across Europe, the novel explores how grief can open the door to rediscovery — and how shared meals, memories and new experiences can forge bonds that feel like kinship. As Wells brings her passion for storytelling and flavor to the page, she invites readers to savor not just the meals, but the relationships that nourish us most.

This is your debut novel. What personal experiences or passions — whether culinary, travel or storytelling — shaped the heart of this book?

Eat Post Like is very much based on my own experiences, although the circumstances differ. I, too, was on a singular, specific career path before taking a sharp turn into something completely unexpected. In 2009, I launched the award-winning website Gastronomista, which led to writing for national publications. Over time, my writing “side gig” opened incredible doors: I was invited to lavish dinners, cocktail events and eventually to travel as press. These invitations took me around the world — to wineries in New Zealand, cachaça farms in Brazil, the Highlands of Scotland and the agave fields of Mexico. These trips became an invaluable education, offering opportunities to learn about the culinary arts, wine, spirits and the culture of each place.

I can certainly relate to Cassie’s career struggles in the book. While I trained as an architect (Cassie, the main character, is a lawyer), I deeply understand the pressures that come with high-profile jobs, as well as what it feels like to work in a field you love but for people who don’t value your time or efforts. Fortunately, today I work with a team that is incredibly supportive, and they view my multi-hyphenate tendencies as an asset rather than a detriment.

How did you approach writing the food and travel scenes so vividly — did you draw from real meals and journeys?

Some of the food and travel scenes are based on places I’ve visited and meals I’ve eaten. I’ve even stayed in a few of the incredible hotels featured in the book. That said, I needed to refresh my memory while writing, so I revisited photos from past trips and conducted extensive research on each location. Of course, detailed memories fade with time, so it’s fair to say I did just as much research for the restaurants I had visited as for those I hadn’t.

In the process, I turned to Google Maps, Instagram accounts, magazine articles, online review sites like TripAdvisor where travelers upload their own photos and independent blog posts. I found blog posts from other food and travel writers to be the most helpful — they often included menus, detailed descriptions and photos, which meant that I was able to extrapolate Cassie’s experience in a vivid way.

The book highlights how shared meals can create kinship, even among strangers. How has food served as a point of connection in your own life?

I think there’s something kind of magical that happens when you break bread with others; it wires the brain to create a deeper feeling of connection and closeness. I’ve always loved candlelit meals with friends that drift deep into the night, laced with conversation and laughter, nights that have bonded me closer to my friends and loved ones in a profoundly intrinsic way.

There’s a reason for this. The part of our brain that processes aroma and flavor is closely connected to the frontal cortex, where our memories and emotions live. That’s why the smell of cookies can take you back to your mother’s kitchen, why a certain roux recalls the night you fell in love with your husband or why a particular cocktail can transport you back to a trip from 20 years ago. Food is magic. It connects us not only to the people in the present moment, but also to our past — and even our future.

Now that Eat Post Like is out in the world, what do you hope readers carry with them after turning the last page?

I hope Eat Post Like inspires people to get out and experience the world. Travel gives people a wider perspective and a better understanding of history, art, cuisine, technology, the list goes on and on. My own experiences have been an integral part of crafting who I am as a per son and as an artist. That’s why, whenever I give advice, I always recommend travel. Get on that plane!