Cece sits down for a Q&A with dru’s book musings responding to ten or more questions so we can learn more about her. Are you ready? Let’s get to know Cece.
What is your full name?
Cecelia Van Ness Barton, otherwise known as Cece (pronounced CEE-cee). Thanks for inviting me over to meet your readers!
How old are you?
43
What is your profession?
I worked in various retail and admin jobs until last year, when I landed a position as a wine bar manager. Now I own Vino y Vida and have surprised myself with becoming something of a wine expert as well as a savvy businesswoman.
If you have a significant other, what is their name and profession?
Benjamin Cohen has been my steady date for the last year. So far, neither of us is ready to abandon our independence and move in with the other. Frankly, I’m not exactly sure what Ben does as a cybersecurity consultant, but I trust him with my love and my life, and that’s all that counts.
Do you have any children?
My daughter Zoe, my only child, is a college student. She’s finally begun to get over her father’s death over a decade ago.
Who is your best friend?
I’d have to say my fraternal twin sister, Allie, aka Alicia Van Ness Halstead. She’s the one who convinced me to move north from Pasadena to be closer to her family.
Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
I have two cats, Mittens and Martin.
What town do you live in?
I live in small Colinas, California, in the wine-producing Alexander Valley north of San Francisco. It’s quiet and scenic and the perfect place to settle, as long as neither homicide nor wildfire strikes.
What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I own a cottage with a walled-in back yard, and I love it.
Do you have any hobbies?
I’m not sure these are hobbies, but most mornings I meditate and then practice pilates. I also grow herbs and vegetables in my garden and ride my bike to work and around town.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
“Finding Love and Danger in Your Forties” – how does that sound? Or maybe it should be, “Discovering Myself in Middle Age: How Murder and Romance Can Bring Satisfaction.” Okay, both these make me giggle. You can rest assured I won’t be writing my memoir! Now, a novel? That could happen.
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I am apparently an amateur sleuth, and Allie is my loyal sleuthing partner.
A POISONOUS POUR
Series: A Cece Barton Mystery, Book 3
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: April 2026
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link
Since moving from L.A. to California’s verdant wine country, widowed single mom Cece Barton has gone from Colinas wine bar manager to wine bar owner—with a chaser of sleuthing . . .
It’s Memorial Day weekend and Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley is buzzing with activity. For Cece, business at Vino y Vida is going great, as is her romance with new beau, Benjamin. Meanwhile, Cece’s neighbor, Richard Flora, is stirring up controversy with his newest article, an exposé of Regan Greene, power-hungry director of a valley district organization. Also in the mix is the town’s big classic car show, paired with wine tastings . . .
At the show, Cece spots Regan, who is displaying her restored green ’72 Thunderbird convertible. As Cece pours tastes, she witnesses several heated discussions with Regan—including an argument with wine afficionado and new Colinas hardware store owner Greg Jardis. Otherwise, all goes smoothly—until Sunday brings shocking news. Regan has been murdered . . .
Rumors fly that Richard may have orchestrated the homicide—or even committed it. But Cece knows that’s absurd. And others in Cece’s orbit seem to have discomfiting connections to Regan, from Cece’s employee, Dane, to her winemaking teacher’s sister, Yolanda, to Colinas Mayor Guittierez. And after Yolanda visits the wine bar, Benjamin says he recognizes her from a road race.
Determined to clear Richard’s name, and failing to extract any clues from detectives, Cece once again enlists her twin, Allie, as her partner-in-sleuthing. But they’ll have to act quickly, before the trail goes sour . . .
About the author
Maddie Day writes the Cece Barton Mysteries and other gentle and historical mysteries; as Edith Maxwell, she writes Agatha-Award nominated short crime fiction. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and a proud lifetime member of Sisters in Crime. Maxwell/Day lives north of Boston with her beau and their cat Martin, where she writes, cooks, gardens, and and wastes time on Facebook. Find her at her edithmaxwell.com and at Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen.