By Melissa Heckscher, contributing writer
It takes talent and imagination to turn COVID into cookies, but Rolling Hills Estates teen Storey Kuo has both.
The Chadwick School tenth grader recently wrote, illustrated and published a children’s book called, “The Magical Arguing Cookies,” a story she thought up after losing hearing in her left ear due to COVID-19.
In the story, a group of cookies bicker about which one is the best — only to realize they’re all unique.
“I grew up reading a lot of children’s books and that’s how I learned a lot of important life lessons,” Kuo said. “I wanted to teach the lesson that everyone is different and has special traits.”
It was last January when Kuo developed an asymptomatic case of COVID-19. About a week later, she lost almost all hearing in her left ear and developed chronic tinnitus — a ringing in her ear. Doctors told her both conditions were likely permanent.
“When I first lost my hearing, I felt lonely. I was scared I would be judged,” said Kuo, who was 14 at the time. “It was really tough.”
But when things got tough, Kuo got down to business. A seasoned artist and avid reader, Kuo channeled her fears about being accepted by her peers into creating a book that could inspire other children to accept the things that made them different.
“The Magical Arguing Cookies” follows a group of cookies arguing over which one is the top cookie. Is it Snickerdoodle? Or chocolate Chip? How about Fortune Cookie or Shortbread?
Eventually, with the help of the main character — a boy modeled after Kuo’s little brother, Brad — the cookies realize there is no “best” cookie.
“The cookies just relate to the message,” she said. “They’re all special and they’re all different among themselves.”
But publishing a book as a 14-year-old isn’t easy. Storey had to find a publisher, write a complete manuscript, draw the pictures, edit the copy, design the cover and spine, and handle all the contracts and agreements to make her idea a reality.
“Storey really did this all on her own,” said her mother, Nancy Kuo, who said she only helped by looking at her drawings and signing off on paperwork when necessary. “She is very independent; she does really everything on her own.”
The high school sophomore is no stranger to starting a business. In 2020, she made and sold thousands of “mask chains” that she beaded by hand. Distributing via the online marketplace, Etsy, her business made about $10,000, Storey said.
More recently, she came up with the idea for hand-sewn pouches that stick on to cell phones for people to store cash or credit cards. She calls them KayPouches, and they also have an Etsy page.
“Storey is such a budding entrepreneur,” said Chadwick’s Director of Teaching and Learning Erin Nordlund, who calls herself one of Storey’s mentors. “She is a doer, someone who does what she says she’s going to do, and does it all with excellence.”
The newly published writer and illustrator chose to self-publish her book through Archway Publishing, an Indiana-based company that guided her through the process and handled all of the printing and sales via Amazon and Barnes and Noble online. The book was released in April.
“It was definitely a long process,” said Storey, who did the work on nights and weekends — after homework, studying and varsity tennis practice. “I’ve become more independent, responding to e-mails, going on calls alone, trying to manage everything. It was a really good experience for me.”
While Storey has yet to break even on the family’s financial investment into the book, she is working to spread the word. To do this, she has read the book to various elementary school classrooms and set up booths at local fairs and farmer’s markets.
“I sometimes re-read the book and it helps hearing the message and knowing that I’m probably not the only one who has these difficulties,” she said. “Writing the book really helped that process.”
And, said Storey’s mom, that’s what really matters.
“When she lost her hearing, I feel like that’s when she withdrew from outside life and school and friends,” Nancy Kuo said. “She put all her energy into this book. That was a way she got all of her anger out. That’s what made her feel better.”
Storey Kuo is learning to live with her hearing loss.
Despite months of injections and oral steroid treatments, she still has what doctors call “severe hearing loss” in her left ear. And the chronic tinnitus continues.
“I had to learn how to compensate,” she said. “I’m always on the left side of people when talking with friends, and on the left side of the classroom in school.”
“The Magical Arguing Cookies” is available on Amazon or BarnesandNoble.com.