Welcome Ginger Bolton!

Meow! My guest this week is author Ginger Bolton!

Ginger Bolton writes the Deputy Donut mystery series—coffee, donuts, cops, danger, and one curious cat . . . Survival of the Fritters came out in February, 2018. Goodbye Cruller World appears August 28, and Jealousy-Filled Donuts is in the works. When Ginger isn't writing or reading, she's crocheting, knitting, sewing, walking her two rescue dogs, and generally causing trouble. She’s also fond of donuts, coffee, and cafes were folks gather to enjoy those tasty treats and one another’s company. As Janet Bolin, Ginger wrote the Threadville Mysteries—murder and mayhem in a village of crafty shops.

Hi and welcome Ginger! Would you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Thanks ROCCO!  As Janet Bolin, I wrote the Threadville Mystery series, murder and mayhem in a village of crafty shops.

Now I’m writing the Deputy Donut Mysteries as Ginger Bolton. Emily Westhill is a former 911 dispatcher. Now she and her father-in-law, a retired police chief, own Deputy Donut, a coffee and donut shop catering to, among others, cops. Whenever a crime occurs in the small town of Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, Deputy Donut is a good place to hear rumors and pick up clues. Emily’s mischievous cat is also named Deputy Donut. If Dep could talk, the murders might be solved sooner, but all Dep can do is arch her back and puff up whenever she spots someone she thinks she might not like.

When I’m not reading or writing, I might be cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, or when I feel especially brave, plunking out a few tunes at the piano. Occasionally, I get up and walk our two elderly rescue dogs, not always at the same time. Together, they like to weave their leashes around my legs, creating macramé with me in the middle.

Do you have anything you would like to say to your readers?

Be careful about believing that Dep is giving you a clue when she arches her back and puffs up. She likes herring. Red herrings . . .

Please tell us about your newest release  

Named after her beloved tabby, Deputy Donut, Emily Westhill's donut shop in small-town Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, is doing so well, she's expanding into catering weddings. But a killer is about to crash the reception . . .
 
Normally, Emily's eyes tend to glaze over when prospective brides go on about their wedding plans. But when the owner of the clothing shop, Dressed to Kill, asks Emily to design a donut wall for her reception, she’s immediately sweet on the idea. With the help of her father-in-law and business partner—the former police chief of Fallingbrook—she hangs the treats from dowels on the wall so guests can help themselves.

But that night, when the groom ends up on the floor with signs of poisoning, Emily suspects someone has tampered with her treats. When the groom dies, there's no way to sugarcoat it: she’s got a murder on her hands. Despite a list of suspects as long as the guest list, Emily vows to find out who created the killer confection to save her shop’s reputation and keep the bride out of handcuffs. She’ll have to move fast . . . before the poisoner takes a powder.

What was the inspiration behind this story?

I heard about donut walls and knew that one of them would be perfect for a wedding reception, and who doesn’t want to write or read about a wedding reception that goes horribly wrong?

Okay, many people don’t. But mystery readers and writers are, ahem, special.

Tell us about your main character.

Emily Westhill was a 911 operator who wanted everyone to live happily ever after, something that doesn’t always happen when there are life-threatening emergencies. On one fateful night when she wasn’t working, her life was forever changed. To console herself, she made donuts, lots and lots of donuts, more donuts than she and her friends could eat. She took some to the police station. One of the policewomen asked Emily for birthday cakes made of donuts stuck together for her twins. Soon all of the kids between 2 and 12 in Fallingbrook wanted Emily’s birthday cakes made of donuts. Their parents loved the coffee that Emily brought. Emily and her father-in-law ended up opening Deputy Donut, a donut and coffee shop catering to, among others, first responders. Emily loves making and serving delicious coffee and donuts, and she likes the people who flock to Deputy Donut to enjoy them and one another. Wanting everyone to live happily ever after means that Emily can’t help trying to be a matchmaker, especially for the two friends she’d known ever since junior high. Emily is courageous yet vulnerable.

Which is your favorite minor character and why?

Well, Rocco…when talking to you, I think it has to be Dep. a.) because she’s a cat; b.) because was kind enough to let Emily and Tom borrow her illustrious name for their donut and coffee shop; and c.) writing about her, I can feel her soft, warm fur and her comforting rumble of a purr.

Tell us something funny about one of your characters.

Dep has never learned to climb down trees and the carpeted pillars in the kitty playground she has in the office at Deputy Donut. She tried going down frontward once, and that was it. She won’t climb anything that doesn’t have an obvious, frontward way down. Her kitty playground has kitty-width ramps and stairs.

One of your characters is going on a shopping spree. Where does he/she go and what does he/she buy?

Emily goes to Dressed to Kill across the driveway from Deputy Donut. One of the owners, Jenn, designs the most wonderful sweaters. Emily buys a lot of them . . .

Please share a few favorite lines or one paragraph.

I threw on a red down-filled jacket and picked up the periwinkle step-on wastebasket that I’d trimmed with white lace and gold ribbon. “Goodbye, Dep,” I said. “I’ll be back really late. Don’t wait up for me.” She rubbed a paw over her head, flattening an ear. “Pretend you can’t hear me, Dep,” I teased. “I know you can.” She flattened her other ear.

Is there an author or book that influenced you or your writing in any way growing up or as an adult?

Sue Grafton’s mysteries taught me what that all-important quality in fiction, voice, is. And that a main character can be a little snarky and still be endearing.

Do you think you may ever go into another genre?  If so, which one?

I’ve tried my hand at writing suspense, and really like it.

Can you tell us some of your latest news?

The third Deputy Donut Mystery, Jealousy-Filled Donuts will be out about a year from now. Emily and Tom have a new assistant. The three of them provide jelly-filled donuts for the Fallingbrook Fabulous Fourth of July picnic. A half dozen of those donuts get into trouble later that night…

If you could live in the world you have created, would you? If no, why not?

I would love to live in Threadville and be able to walk to buy crafting supplies. I would have to move Deputy Donut there, too, for the delicious coffee and donuts. But…murders every year? Maybe not.

Do you have any upcoming appearances that you would like to share with us?

I’m participating with other authors in the Kensington Cozy Mystery Convention at the Forest Park Public Library, 7555  Jackson Blvd., Forest Park, Illinois 60130, on September 1, 2 – 5 PM

Where can we learn more about you and your books?

http://GingerBolton.com/

Random Quickies!

Favorite movie?

Working Girl

Favorite book or author? Yeah we know it can be hard to choose! ;)

Mary Stewart, for her suspense novels

Hardback/Paperback or eReader?

Hardback/Paperback

Favorite color?

Periwinkle

How many paperback/hardcover books do you own?

Too many!

Thanks for a great interview, Ginger!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Ginger will give away a signed copy of Goodbye Cruller World to one lucky commenter in either the US or Canada!

To enter, leave a comment on this blog post with your name and email address (entries without email will be disqualified). For extra entries, you can do any or all of the below:

* Follow my blog (+ 1 point)
* Follow me on Twitter (+ 1 point) (Link: https://twitter.com/RoccoBlogger)
* Tweet about the contest (+ 1 point)
* Friend me on Facebook (+ 1 point) (Link: https://www.facebook.com/ToniLotempio)#!/

* Mention the contest on Facebook (+ 1 point)
* Mention the contest on your blog (+ 1 point)

Winner will be chosen at random using random.org.  Don’t forget to mention all you’ve done in your comment. Good luck! Contest closes midnight August 31!