Sometimes the best way to know a person is by asking questions, where you can learn more about what makes them tick. Let’s see what Michael has to say with his answers below.
What is your full name?
Dr. Michael Portman
How old are you?
I’m twenty-eight, the same age as my fiancé, Maddy.
What is your profession?
I’m a veterinarian. I’m also an Army veteran and I serve in the reserves.
Do you have a significant other?
Oh yeah. I recently got engaged to the love of my life.
What is their name and profession?
Madison Renee Montgomery used to be a social media influencer and a fashionista. But, after her Great Aunt Octavia died, she left Maddy her house, Baby Cakes Bakery, and her 250lb English mastiff.
Do you have any children?
No two-legged children, but as a vet, I have a host of what Maddy refers to as, “furbabies.”
Do you have any siblings?
No.
Are your parents nearby?
No, but my grandmother, works at the bakery with Maddy.
Who is your best friend?
I’m an Army veteran and my best friend is a fellow soldier named, Jeremy Foster. However, he’s been deployed overseas for years. My best friend in New Bison is probably Leroy Danielson, the head baker at Baby Cakes Bakery.
Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
Oh yes. I have a St. Bernard, two cats, a bird, two horses, and a goat.
What town do you live in?
New Bison, Michigan
What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I own a farmhouse on the property with my animal clinic. It makes my commute to work really fast.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
I love having land so my animals can run.
What is your favorite meal and dessert?
I love Mrs. Love’s fried chicken and Miss Octavia’s Chocolate Soul Cake.
Do you have any hobbies?
I love running. I’ve been preparing for a marathon.
What music do you listen to?
I’m a jazz fan. I love Najee, Boney James, and Brian Culbertson.
What is your favorite color?
I love navy blue.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
I haven’t taken a vacation in such a long time that I don’t remember, but I’m looking forward to my honeymoon with Maddy. She’s traveled all over the world, but I’m still hoping to surprise her.
Are you a morning or night person?
I’m a night person.
What is your idea of a really fun time?
I love hanging out at New Bison winery with Maddy. I also love running on the beach with Maddy’s English mastiff, Baby.
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m a rank amateur, but since I started dating Maddy, I’ve gotten involved in several mysteries with our friends Tyler Lawrence, Leroy Danielson, Sheriff April Johnson, and my grandmother Hannah. Maddy calls them the Baker Street Irregulars.
What is a typical day in your life like?
Working with animals means each day is different. One day, I may be delivering a cow at one of the local farms. Or, I might have to remove a sock from the belly of a sock obsessed lab. Sometimes, I supervise Maddy’s champion dog, Baby, as he performs stud duty. Every day is an adventure.
Icing On The Murder – A Baker Street Mystery, Book 4
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: July 2025
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link
Influencer-turned-bakery-owner Maddy Montgomery has sold plenty of wedding cakes before, but before she turns one out for her and her fiancé’s wedding, she’ll have to solve a little case of murder . . .
Aunt Octavia would be so proud! Maddy has turned Baby Cakes Bakery—named for her 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby—into a runaway success, and she’s marrying the love of her life, veterinarian Michael Portman. #DreamWedding! Plus the timing couldn’t be better: the country’s biggest bridal expo has come to New Bison, Michigan, and Maddy has secured a spot for Baby Cakes to showcase their cakes. She’s also entered a contest for an all-expenses-paid wedding extravaganza offered by world-renowned wedding planner Serafina.
Unfortunately, supremely nasty Serafina truly takes the cake—she makes the worst bridezilla seem like a shy flower girl. But there’s one thing the wedding planner didn’t plan on—being impaled by one of the skewers Baby Cakes uses on their tiered wedding cakes.
While Maid of Honor Sheriff April Johnson rounds up suspects at the expo, Maddy and her aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, and even Baby join forces to unveil a killer hiding in plain sight . . . before wedding bells start to chime.
About the author
Valerie (V. M.) Burns is an Agatha, Anthony, Edgar, and Next Generation Award-finalist. Writing as V. M. Burns, she is the author of the Mystery Bookshop, Dog Club, and RJ Franklin Mystery series. As Valerie Burns, she writes the Baker Street Mystery series. She also writes the Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery series as Kallie E. Benjamin. In addition to writing, Valerie is an adjunct professor in the Writing Popular Fiction MFA Program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA. Born and raised in northwestern Indiana, Valerie now lives in Northern Georgia with her two poodles. Connect with Valerie at vmburns.com.