Whitney Bloom first appeared in Cherry Pies & Deadly Lies and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Whit.

What is your name?
Whitney Bloom, but my friends call me Whit. Back in high school, friend and academic nemesis, Jack MacLaren, used to call me Whitless. I wonder how long it took him to come up with that name (dramatic eye roll)? Anyhow, that was just one way Jack liked to get under my skin. But we’ve moved way past those days, I think.

How old are you?
Twenty-eight. Yep, I’m a millennial, and so are my best friends, Tay Robinson and Hannah Winthrop. My generation has grown up with technology and we’re not afraid to use it to our advantage. Sure we might have a mild addition to our cell phones and internet shopping. We also like watching YouTube and streaming videos. And millennial dating? Don’t get me started! My generation may have its issues, but there’s one thing we’re not, and that’s lazy.

What is your profession?
I went to school for advertising and had a short, illustrious career at one of Chicago’s largest advertising agencies. Let’s just say that my groundbreaking feminine hygiene commercial backfired. However, while I was job hunting I decided to embrace my lifelong passion for baking and started a specialty online bakery called Bloom ‘n’ Cherries!. I grew up on a cherry orchard and have a talent for creating delectable cherry baked goods. I never thought of returning home until Mom called with the news that our orchard manager had been murdered. That was a few months ago. I’ve now moved back home for good and have a real brick-and-mortar home for my bakery. I also help manage the Cherry Orchard Inn, my parents’ beautiful bed and breakfast. It’s the perfect job for me. I’m not only in charge of the inn’s advertising, branding and customer relations, but I also get to wow our guests with fabulous cherry baked goods. It’s truly the best of both worlds.

Do you have a significant other?
Well, that’s a little complicated at the moment. I’m still trying to get over my ex-boyfriend, Tate Vander Hagen. Tate lives in Cherry Cove too. He’s the owner of the marina and thinks that now I’m back home we’ll just pick up where we left off before he cheated on me. I have to admit that Tate’s changed for the better. He’s still totally hunk-a-licious, but he’s also grown up quite a lot over the years. I can’t deny that I still find him irresistible. However, there’s another man in town that’s gotten under my skin. I’m embarrassed to say it, but he’s the one I find myself daydreaming about lately.

What is his name and profession?
Jack MacLaren. We went to high school together. Back then we were friends, academic rivals and classmates. Mostly, however, Jack just teased me. He was also tall, lanky and a total geek in high school. Truthfully, I had no idea he was back in Cherry Cove. I found that out a few months ago when I got the shock of my life. I had just arrived home after learning of the murder in our cherry orchard. Dad was a suspect and the man investigating the murder was none other than Jack MacLaren. I was swiftly informed that Jack was now the town’s only police officer. Last I heard he was in Milwaukee working as a detective. Well, he’s back in Cherry Cove now and, like Tate, Jack has grown up quite a bit. In fact, I’m actually a bit disturbed at how much I like him.

Any children?
None that I know of. That’s a joke. Seriously, I’d love to have kids, but first I have to find the right man. I’m not entirely certain I’m even qualified to do that at the moment.

Do you have any sibling(s)?
I have a younger brother named Bret. At the moment he’s in Europe chasing ghosts. I wish that statement was metaphorical, but it’s not. He’s literally hunting ghosts. Bret is a paranormal investigator for a cable T.V. show.

Do your parents live near you?
Um, you could say that. Actually, since I’ve moved back home I’m literally back in my old childhood bedroom. Of course, the moment I went off to college Mom tore down the boyband posters and repainted the bright pink walls. Actually, she did a bit more than just paint. She transformed the room into a Victorian love nest, complete with antique furniture and a tester bed with a canopy. It’s romantic, floral, and, quite frankly, it’s giving me a rash as well.

Who is your best friend?
I have two. Tay Robinson and Hannah Winthrop. We couldn’t be more different in looks, personality or careers, but we’ve been best friends since grade school. I’m so happy that Tay and Hannah both live and work in Cherry Cove as well. Hannah’s tall, bendy and runs her own yoga studio. Tay is shorter, totally chic, and owns her own eclectic boutique, Cheery Pickers. I love going on adventures with Tay and Hannah. We have fun and never fail to make each other laugh.

Cats, dogs or other pets?
Well, at the moment I don’t have a pet. I’m pretty busy at the inn, but I do have a particular fondness for Jack’s dog, McDuff. McDuff (aka Duffy) is a black-and-white springer spaniel. He’s smart, adorable, and very brave. Jack also has two goats that live on the roof of his police station. He calls them Thing One and Thing Two, mostly because he’s too lazy to give them proper names. Jack’s goats are pretty adorable too, but they’re little hellions. They like to frolic on the roof and scream at tourists.

What town do you live in?
I live in a beautiful lakeside village on the Door Peninsula in Wisconsin. My town is called Cherry Cove. Because of its charm and the fact that the town is built along a picturesque cove, we have a lot of summer vacationers and tourists. But that just makes living and working here all the better!

House or building complex? Own or Rent?
At the moment I’m living in the family wing at the Cherry Orchard Inn. My grandma Jenn grew up in the large Victorian home near the cherry orchard. When my parents bought it from her they renovated the building, added on to it and transformed the place in to one of the area’s most iconic inns. The commute to work’s not bad either. I also really love being close to my family, but sometimes it can be a little too close. One of these days I’ll find a place of my own. For right now, however, living at the inn is pretty cool.

What is your favorite spot in your house?
The sunroom that overlooks Cherry Cove Bay. It’s the best view in the house. After a long day baking and working to make sure our guests have all they need, there’s nothing like kicking back, grabbing a cherry martini and taking a seat in the sunroom to watch a spectacular Cherry Cove sunset.

Favorite meal? Favorite dessert?
My favorite dessert is definitely cherry pie! We grow the best cherries in Door County so our pies are exceptional. There’s nothing like a slice of warm cherry pie with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s a specialty at the inn. It’s no wonder folks come from all over the world to stay with us. Our pie is worth the trip, and our inn boasts some of the best views on the peninsula. As for my favorite meal? I’d have to say anything Mom or Grandma Jenn makes. It’s ridiculous, but everything that comes out of their kitchen is mouth-wateringly delicious!

Favorite hobby?
Cooking. I really love hanging out it the family kitchen with Mom and Grandma Jenn. I like working in the industrial kitchen too, but there’s something very cathartic about working with quality ingredients and creating new recipes. I also love hiking, sailing, and pretty much all water sports. Oh, and yoga. I love taking yoga with Hannah!

Favorite color?
Cherry red, of course!

Favorite author?
J. K. Rowling. Harry Potter books were a huge part of my childhood. Hannah, Tay and I couldn’t read them fast enough, and we all were secretly crushing on Harry. While I’ve moved on to mysteries (I like all kinds. I raid Grandma Jenn’s book stash) There’ll always be a place in my heart for the wizarding world of Harry Potter.

Favorite vacation spot?
Truly, it’s hard to beat the place where I live. To me, Cherry Cove is the perfect vacation spot. However, I do love to travel. I’m always up for adventure! I hope to do more traveling in the future, but for now being in Cherry Cove is about as perfect as it gets.

Favorite sports team?
Green Bay Packers. When they’re not playing, I root for the Chicago Bears. Don’t tell my friends, though.

Movies or Broadway?
These days I’m so tired I mostly just stream movies on Netflix. However, we do have an extraordinary theater on the peninsula called, Peninsula Players. It’s America’s oldest resident summer theater and, in my opinion, the most beautiful. It’s set on sixteen wooded acres with a thousand feet of shoreline. Not only are the plays wonderful, but there’s usually a lakeside bonfire during intermission. Oh, and a beer garden. I imagine if you went there with a date it would be romantic. But I wouldn’t know about that. At the moment I’m flying solo.

Are you a morning or a night person?
I’m a night person by nature, but my profession has me up before dawn. That’s when all the baking gets done. I don’t mind it, though. There’s something very peaceful about early mornings, not to mention how breathtaking a sunrise can be. Since moving home I’ve seen a lot of sunrises, and I’m not sorry one bit.

Amateur sleuth or professional?
Oh, definitely amateur. I don’t normally like admitting this to anybody, but when investigating a murder, I’m way over my skis. Dead bodies freak me out. However, what freaks me out even more is the thought that somebody out there did the deed. Cherry Cove is a peaceful town and I intend to keep it that way. I may not have lasted long in the world of advertising, but I did learn that sometimes the best way to get a job done is to take matters into your own hands. I may not be a cop, but I am resourceful and determined.

Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
I’d like to say, Jack MacLaren, the town’s only police officer, unless I’m the one being accused. Jack can also be a little territorial when it comes to his duty. That’s when my friends step in. Tay and Hannah, my best friends, are a great help. Then there’s Gifford McGrady, my old assistant from my advertising days. The only thing Giff loves better than Grandma Jenn’s cooking is driving up to Cherry Cove and sticking his nose in my business. And I’m always glad he does. Giff has a way with people, and he’s darn good at helping me solve mysteries.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
I get up before dawn, throw on some clothes and stumble down to the inn’s kitchen. There I spend the morning whipping up all manner of delectable baked goods, most containing the inn’s signature fruit, the cherry. Once the baking is well underway, and the inn’s complimentary breakfast has been laid out in the hearth room, I hand the kitchen over to Mom or Grandma Jenn and take a shower. I then return to the inn and jump behind the bakery counter of Bloom ‘n’ Cherries for a few hours. Bloom ‘n’ Cherries is open to the public, and many folks come to the inn to buy a pie or to enjoy a pastry and coffee on the patio.

Once the morning rush is over, I had the bakery off to one of our employees and help Margaret at the front desk for a while or do some work in the office. Mom and I manage the inn. It’s our duty to make sure our guests get the best experience possible. Dad used to help Mom in this, but now manages the orchard fulltime. He loves working in the orchard, and it shows. Grandma Jenn is semi-retired but still likes to help with the baking and going over the dinner menu with our renowned chef, Bob Bonaire.

Once everything at the inn is running smoothly, I can slip away for a few hours and hang out with my friends. It’s great working with my family but spending time with Tay and Hannah is the best part of my day. Another special moment is at night just before I slip into bed. That’s usually when Giff calls. Giff has my old job in Chicago and I love hearing him complain about it. It makes me happy to know that I made the right choice. I’m now back in Cherry Cove, and I’m here to stay.

You can read about Whitney in Cherry Scones & Broken Bones, the second book in the “Very Cherry” mystery series, released June 8, 2019.

For the Cherry Orchard Inn, “Cherry scones to die for” turns out to be all too true

Tainted by a recent murder, the Cherry Orchard Inn is struggling to attract guests . . . until celebrated portrait painter, Silvia Lumiere, books a room for the summer. Whitney Bloom, the inn’s new manager, can’t believe her good luck. Between her scrumptious cherry scones and the painter’s remarkable talent, the inn swiftly becomes the center of the Cherry Cove art scene. However, all is not the bowl of cherries it appears. There’s a rotten core in the portrait painter that only Whitney and her friends can see. And just as Whitney’s baking skills and patience are pushed to their limits, another death occurs at the inn. With all fingers pointing at her, Whitney realizes it will take all her cherry-tastic talents to bake her way out of this one.

Includes recipes!

Purchase Link
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About the author
Darci Hannah lives in a small town in Michigan with her husband, three sons, lovable springer spaniel, Finley and golden retriever, Ripley. She is the author of Cherry Pies & Deadly Lies (Midnight Ink, 2018) and two previous works of historical fiction, The Exile of Sara Stevenson (Ballantine Books, 2010, 2nd edition by Piffle & Bombast 2016) and the Angel of Blythe Hall (Ballantine Books, 2011). When she’s not traipsing through the woods with Ripley and Finn, engaged in a rollicking adventure with her family, or working at the historic Howell Carnegie District Library, she’s either baking, drinking coffee or hard at work on her next novel. In fact, it’s a safe bet to assume she’s doing all three at the same time.

To learn more about Darci, visit her website at darcihannah.com.

All comments are welcomed.