Sage Caplin sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we, the readers, can get to know her better.

What is your full name?
Sage Caplin.

How old are you?
I’m 28.

What is your profession?
I co-own a coffee roastery and two coffee carts. I work in the carts, manage our small roster of baristas, and also handle the sales side of the business. My co-owner Harley is the genius behind the coffee roasting portion of Ground Rules.

Do you have a significant other?
Yes, I have a boyfriend.

If so, what is his name and profession?
Everyone calls him Bax, but his full name is Lukas Evan Baxter. He co-owns a video game development company, Grumpy Sasquatch Studio.

Do you have any children?
I do not have children, but Bax has a son.

Do you have any siblings?
I have an older brother, Jackson, who owns his own law practice specializing in child advocacy.

Are your parents nearby?
My father lives in Portland, but no one knows where my mother lives. Although the FBI would love to find out, as she’s a notorious grifter wanted in multiple countries.

Who is your best friend?
My brother Jackson is high on the list, as is my business partner, Harley. There’s also Manny, one of my lifelong best friends, who works as a social worker. Plus Erica, and my cousin Miles, who always has my back.

Do you have any pets?
I share a house with my brother, and he has an Australian shepherd, Bentley. I also share a cat, Kaldi, with Bax. Kaldi adopted us when I worked at the Campathon music festival.

What town do you live in?
I live in Portland, Oregon.

Do you live in a small town or a big city?
Portland is a city that, at times, feels like a small town.

What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
My brother (technically half-brother) inherited a house, and I rent the attic suite.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
I split my time between the room I rent at my brother’s house and my boyfriend’s bungalow. One nice thing about Bax’s bungalow is he has a fantastic covered deck that looks out over the backyard. It’s shady in the summer and out of the rain during the rest of the year, making it a fantastic spot to cuddle up with a blanket on a crisp autumn day.

What is your favorite meal and dessert?
My favorite meal changes by the season to feature whatever is local and fresh. Fresh salmon is definitely on the list, along with carnitas tacos. Also, a plate with local cheese, fresh fruit, and a crispy baguette is always a hit.

On the dessert side of life, I’m a fan of cheesecake and salted peanut butter cups. And anything sweet that goes with coffee. I also like to mix it up and try out different local bakeries and chocolatiers because you never know what gems you’ll find when you try new things.

Do you have any hobbies?
I’m a cyclist, hiker, and occasional surfer (although I’m not very good). I root for the Portland Timbers and Thorns. I read and like to soak up trivia. In the winter, I snowshoe and occasionally snowboard, followed by recovering with cookies and a hot cup of coffee.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
For a quick weekend getaway or short vacation, I mix it up between visiting the gorgeous Oregon coast or heading to Bend in Central Oregon for hiking in the summer and snow sports in the winter. If I have enough time, I’d love to revisit Australia and also spend a few days surfing in Bali.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
I really like spending time with my friends doing things. Like hiking, going to Timbers games, or just hanging out in a coffee shop. Or playing pool in The Tav, the bar my Uncle Jimmy owns, and my cousin Miles runs.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
The Barista’s Guide to Solving Murders and Brewing the Perfect Cup Of Coffee

Or I’d go simple and title it Just Brew It. I’m sure one of the largest companies in Oregon wouldn’t mind me tweaking their tagline!

Amateur or professional sleuth, and whom do you work with?
I’m definitely an amateur sleuth. I tend to investigate on my own, although my brother, Jackson, and my cold-case detective father are both great resources.

What is a typical day in your life like in general and when you are on a case?
My typical workday involves getting way too early to open our main coffee cart at the Railyard to catch the morning commuter traffic. One of my baristas will usually join me for the morning rush. Then either I’ll leave the cart in their hands and head to the roaster and my office, or they’ll go off to one of their college classes, and I’ll work the cart through lunch.

I still handle my day-to-day business when I’m on a case since running Ground Rules is my dream. But I find time to low-key investigate by talking with people and researching what happened because setting the world to rights is important to me.

Double Shot Death, A Ground Rules Mystery #2
Genre: Cozy
Release: April 2022
Purchase Link

Sage Caplin is taking her Portland coffee cart on the road to a sustainable music festival, but murder is an unwanted special guest . . .

At Campathon, an annual eco-friendly festival held on a farm outside of Portland, fans celebrate the Pacific Northwest’s music scene in quintessential PDX style—with gourmet food carts, reusable utensils . . . and lots of coffee. How else to get through three days of nonstop entertainment? Sage has scored a coveted place for her Ground Rules coffee cart thanks to her new-ish boyfriend, Bax, who’s friendly with Maya, one of the musicians performing.

The festivities begin with a stream of customers, friends, and acquaintances stopping by for Ground Rules’ world-class blends, expertly brewed by Sage and her newest barista. But there are tensions between Maya and her former bandmates, who are on the cusp of making it big, and with Ian, the band’s manager. When Sage stumbles upon Ian’s dead body in the nearby woods—his hand still clutching one of her coffee mugs—it’s clear that someone’s grudge boiled over into murder. Can Sage work out who’s responsible before another innocent life fades out, and the curtain falls on Campathon, and maybe her own future, for good?

About the author
Emmeline Duncan is the Portland, Oregon-based author of the Ground Rules Mystery series, including 2021’s Fresh Brewed Murder and Double Shot Death, which comes out from Kensington in April 2022. Emmeline also writes for teens as Kelly Garrett. Her debut YA novel, The Last To Die, was an Oregon Book Awards finalist. She was also a 2020 Oregon Literary Fellow. You can find Emmeline online at emmelineduncan.com and on Instagram at @WriterEmmelineDuncan and Facebook at  @WriterEmmelineDuncan.

All comments are welcomed.