Cat TrickI really like Mayville Heights. It’s very different from Chicago. I haven’t been here long, but it’s already starting to feel like home. I think it’s going to be a good place to raise my daughter, Emmy.

I do some of the baking for Fern’s Diner and I have my own little cupcake business, Sweet Thing, as well. I’ve been dreaming of doing this for years. Most days I spend the morning at Fern’s and the afternoon baking and decorating cupcakes—and coming up with new recipes.

My first major catering job in town was providing cupcakes for the reception after the final concert at the Wild Rose Summer Music Festival. People seemed to really like my Maple Crème cupcakes. It’s such a simple recipe, my grandmother’s actually, but it’s one of my bestsellers along with Chocolate Mint Madness and Devilishly Decadent Chocolate.

Now I’m making enough money that I can share kitchen space with two other Mayville Heights businesses. Decadence specializes in handmade truffles and caramels. The Earl of Sandwich runs two lunch trucks that service pretty much all the construction sites in the area. (Yes, the owner’s name really is Earl.)

Olivia Ramsey, who runs Decadence, suggested I take part in the festival, A Taste of Mayville Heights. It was planned as part of a pitch to Legacy Tours, to convince them to base an executive getaway around the town. I had no idea that Mike Glazer from Legacy would be so…challenging to work with.

Mike said there were too many chocolate cupcakes on the market. He said chocolate was overdone. He actually suggested I make peanut butter jalapeno cupcakes. They’re supposed to be the latest celebrity favorite. Peanut butter and hot peppers in a cupcake instead of rich devil’s food cake with dark chocolate frosting and bittersweet shavings? I don’t think so. After all, there’s no such thing as too much chocolate, is there?


Sofie is giving away one (1) copy of CAT TRICK and COPYCAT KILLING. Contest open to US and Canadian residents only and ends February 6. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Books will be shipped directly from the author.


You can read more about Georgia in Cat Trick, the fourth book in the “Magical Cats” mystery series. The first book in the series is Curiosity Thrilled The Cat.

Meet the author
Sofie Kelly is the pseudonym of award-winning young adult writer, Darlene Ryan. As Sofie, she writes the New York Times bestselling “Magical Cats” mysteries. The next book in the series, CAT TRICK, will be available February 5th. Visit Sofie at www.sofiekelly.com

Books are available at retail and online booksellers.