Sometimes the best way to know a person is by asking questions, so let’s meet Emily.


What is your name?
Emily Westhill.

How old are you?
Thirty.

What is your profession?
I co-own a donut and coffee shop, Deputy Donut, that caters to, among others, cops. Before that, I was a 911 operator.

Do you have a significant other?
No.

Any children?
No.

Do you have any sibling(s)?
No.

Cats, dogs or other pets?
I have a cat named Deputy Donut. She graciously allowed us to use her name for our café. I often shorten her name to Dep.

What town do you live in?
Fallingbrook, Wisconsin.

House or building complex? Own or Rent?
Own a house, a small Victorian cottage.

What is your favorite spot in your house?
Probably the sunroom, just off the kitchen in back. On three sides, windows overlook Dep’s and my walled garden. That is definitely Dep’s favorite spot in the house!

Who is your best friend?
I have two. Misty, Samantha, and I have been best friends since junior high. Misty is a police officer and Samantha is an Emergency Medical Technician. They both live and work in Fallingbrook, and we get together whenever we can, which can be difficult since they are often on different shifts.

Amateur sleuth or professional?
Amateur.

Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
I have a friend who is a detective. He wouldn’t say we work together, but . . . And no, in case you’re thinking it, he and I are not romantically involved.

Favorite meal?
Grilled Salmon with fresh asparagus, rice, and a salad of baby greens and grape tomatoes.

Favorite dessert?
Donuts! I wouldn’t dare say anything else.

Favorite hobby?
I barely have time for hobbies while we try to make a success of Deputy Donut, but I love hiking and clambering around in the woods. I also like to read mysteries and suspense.

Favorite vacation spot?
Fallingbrook Falls. There’s a campground near the falls where my parents have rented a site since before I was born. Because the campground and the falls are close to town, Samantha and Misty spent a lot of time with me there when we were growing up. We know every inch of the trails, including some very dangerous inches. And feet. And yards . . .

Favorite color?
Periwinkle.

Favorite author?
Sue Grafton.

Favorite sports team?
The Packers, natch.

Movies or Broadway?
Movies. I’d love to see live theater in Fallingbrook. Wouldn’t a theater group be fun here?

Are you a morning or a night person?
Morning, fortunately. People like our coffee and donuts first thing in the morning.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
I take my cat, Dep, to work with me very early each day. When she was a kitten, my late husband and I taught her to wear a halter and walk on a leash. She stays in the office of our coffee and donut shop. My partner, Tom, who is also my father-in-law (I was widowed really young) and I make our donuts from scratch and serve daily specials in coffee and donuts. Tom does most of the work in the kitchen, while I do most of the interacting with patrons, including first responders. Occasionally, suspects in murder investigations have come in for drinks and sweet treats. I learn a lot from these people! We close at four thirty and then tidy for the crew that does the heavy cleaning. I often eat dinner and/or spend evenings with friends. Since Dep usually awakens me a few minutes before my alarm is set to go off, I never stay up very late.

Giveaway: What is your favorite donut? Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Goodbye Cruller World. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends August 31, 2018. Good luck everyone!


You can read about Emily in Goodbye Cruller World, the second book in the “Deputy Donut” mystery series. The first book in the series is Survival of the Fritters.

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.

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About the author
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 appeared August 28, 2018, 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.

All comments are welcomed.