Torte: Better Together by Jack Johnson The team at Ashland’s beloved artisan bakeshop, is always better together. Torte is so much more than a bakery. It’s a gathering space for the entire community and a place to linger in one of the cozy booths by the front windows, watching the activity in Ashland’s bustling plaza with a steaming hot latte and a fresh-from-the-oven banana nut muffin. Jack Johnson’s laidback soundtrack is on rotation in the bakeshop, especially on a lazy Sunday morning when sunlight floods into the dining room while the team pulls strong shots of espressos and makes sure the pastry case is stocked with mouth-watering savory breakfast bites.   Juliet Capshaw: Love Story, Taylor Swift Our pastry chef, turned amateur sleuth, comes by her romantic tendencies naturally. Who can blame her with a name like Juliet Montague Capshaw? When named after one of Shakespeare’s most romantic heroines and living in the sweet hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, Juliet (but please call her Jules), it only makes sense that her theme song and the theme song for the entire Bakeshop Mysteries is Taylor’s ultimate love anthem. Does she secretly—or not so secretly—play it at full volume while she’s baking orange…

Book Title: A SMOKING BUN Character Name:  Jules Capshaw   How would you describe your family or your childhood? Delectably eclectic. Growing up in the Shakespearean hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, made for a creative and adventurous childhood, especially since my parents owned a family bakeshop, Torte. After school, I would walk to the bakeshop and spend the afternoon watching my dad craft a magnificent eight-layer mocha, almond, and apricot cake. My mom listened like a pastry therapist as customers would spill out their problems while sipping a handcrafted latte. I learned so much in those formative years, from how to crack an egg perfectly to the deep connections that occur around food.   What was your greatest talent? Baking with love.   Significant other? My husband Carlos. We met when we were both working on a boutique cruise ship where he was the head chef, and I was responsible for the pastry kitchen. It was an incredible experience to sail across azure waters and stop at romantic ports of call. Food is our love language and our constant point of connection. We’re both happiest in the kitchen, sharing a glass of wine and whipping up a simple, yet elegant dish…

1–What is the title of your latest release? DONUT DISTURB 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? This is the 15th book in my Bakeshop Mystery series featuring a lush wedding in Ashland’s charming Lithia Park, delectable donuts, and a side of murder. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Lithia Park in the Shakespearean hamlet is known as Ashland’s crown jewel. It’s the perfect setting for a late spring wedding. The park is a real place that I walk through nearly every morning. I love watching celebrations of all kinds—from birthday parties to graduations to weddings and everything in between. I’ve been waiting for a chance to have Jules cater a park wedding and this book was the perfect opportunity to bring it to life on the page. 4–Would you hang out with your sleuth in real life? Absolutely! I love her passion for food and community, her quirky sense of humor, and her romantic tendencies. Plus, I would totally want to sleuth out a killer with her. She’s not particularly great at figuring out whodunit, which is one of the things I adore most about her. Because after all the odds of…