Checking in with...Allyson Ames:

What do chicken soup and cupcakes have in common? Uh, nothing really, but bear with me — I couldn’t resist the metaphor. Wonderland Bakery owner Allyson Ames has a story in a book by one of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” masterminds and it comes out today. So this week we thought we’d catch up with Allyson.

First of all, tell us how Wonderland Bakery got started.

My inspiration and passion for baking was there as early as I can remember. When I was 5, I would sneak downstairs while my family was sleeping to bake and decorate. When I got older, I couldn’t wait to get home and have fun creating in the kitchen surrounded by my cookbooks and imagination. In college I created the business plan to open Wonderland Bakery. This is the initial business plan we followed to open Wonderland, however, we have expanded and updated the plan each year.

Tell us a little more about your participation in the new book?

It’s a new book by bestselling “Chicken Soup” author Mark Victor Hansen — “Richest Kids in America — How These Kids Earned It, Spend It and You Can Too.” The book teaches people to “dream big” and “build a brand to command and live big.”

My story is featured in the book and I have also shared business tips and strategies to help other entrepreneurs start their business.

For me, Wonderland is my dream, it has been long hours, seven days a week; however, it never feels like work. I am doing what I love in an amazing environment that makes me feel happy, working with my and talented staff, touching people’s lives in a sweet and powerful way.

What’s it like working with your mother?

My mom encouraged and empowered me to follow my love, passion and dream. When it came time to start the business she provided the start-up capital. She has been a trailblazer in business and taught me to be an entrepreneur and to “think and dream big.”

Now we work apron to apron every day, I am the culinary creative and she runs the business and marketing side of the business. Our talents complement each other and I think this how we have been able to grow so quickly. She is the best partner. Not only do we have the business side of creating together, [but] our relationship continues to grow.

Kobe Bryant’s a fan and you serve other celebrities. Can you share a favorite anecdote or two about some of your more famous customers?

The mayor of Newport, the governor of California and even President Obama and the First Family enjoy Wonderland cookies.

With no advance notice in December 2008, Whoopi Goldberg on “The View” proclaimed our Gingerbread Man cookie the best in the country. We found out later that someone from the ABC staff ordered the cookies online for the taste test.

Within minutes of the segment, with a 5-million viewing audience, we shipped thousands of cookies to new customers who were introduced to our brand with this endorsement. It was the best Christmas present although we worked 24/7 during the month of December getting all the orders out on time. Whoopi has become a loyal Wonderland Bakery fan.

We ship cookies to family, staff and friends and she loves our frosted sugar cookies too.

What’s your own favorite baked good and why?

Frosted sugar cookies. Creative shapes, not too sweet. Gingerbread cookies and cupcakes too.

Judging by the name of the bakery and your website you seem to like Disney-type fairy tales. If so, what’s your favorite fairy tale and why?

“Alice in Wonderland,” “Candyland,” “Wizard of Oz” and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”

In my imagination, the concept of Wonderland would be an enchantingly delicious and whimsically fun place to visit and enjoy yummy treats.

Staying focused on every attention to detail…from the finest ingredients in my recipes to the quality manufacturers of our Wonderland brand of products has always been a top priority for our customer experience as we continue to expand and brand our products nationwide.

I am excited about the introduction of our new product line of Bake Memories at Home collection of mixes, aprons, tea sets, bakes sets, Wonderlicious Storybook and the animated Allyson Wonderland Storytime Bear by Gund.

We are working on some really exciting projects that we will announce later this year. It all started in Orange County and we are very grateful to our loyal following of customers and friends.

What are some of your favorite children’s books and why?

Dr. Seuss was always great reading fun for me. When I was 5, I remember taking green food coloring to make my version of green eggs and ham. I think I tried pink eggs with fairy dust too.

I was inspired to write “Wonderlicious — The Enchanting Wonderland Bakery Adventure” that is a read-a-long to the “Allyson Wonderland Bear” by Gund. The book is a bestseller and was a favorite at the LA Times book fair in April.

We are working the next in the series that incorporates a cupcake caper adventure in the bakery with all the great characters that come to life in our whimsical illustrative style.

And with the encouragement and mentoring from Mark Victor Hansen, I am writing my first business book, “The Sweet Necessities of Business” slated for fall 2010 publication.