Follow along on my Storyventure for all the good times!
Welcome to the Blog

July 14, 2026
These cookies are soft and chewy with a touch of richness from the chocolate and a bright, tangy finish from the cream cheese frosting. Sure, Jules baked these in the dead of winter, but honestly, they’re delicious year-round. Enjoy! Happy baking, Ellie

July 9, 2026
In today’s bake-a-long, I’m featuring a reader favorite from A Batter of Life and Death for rich and creamy banana pudding. You can make this with homemade pudding or use a boxed mix for a quick hack. Enjoy! Happy baking, Ellie

July 7, 2026
We’re going back to the beginning, where it all began, as we bake our way through the Bakeshop Mysteries! This recipe is a childhood favorite. My mom would bake it on Saturday mornings, while my brother and I watched cartoons and waited very impatiently for a slice of this gooey, raspberry sweet bread, slathered with […]

December 2, 2025
This recipe is near and dear to my heart. When I was growing up, my mom would bake stollen for neighbor gifts and our Christmas breakfast. I took her original recipe and made a few tweaks, opting for a slightly softer dough and a layer of melted chocolate. If you’ve never made a stollen, this […]

October 5, 2025
The third annual Ashland Mystery Fest is almost upon us, and we’ve been prepping for the most joy-filled and bookish weekend since last year. It truly has taken a village to pull off the four-day mystery extravaganza, and I cannot wait to welcome you to Ashland. The main package includes: Additional events have been added […]

August 23, 2025
Laying Down the Latte, the 21st book in the Bakeshop Mystery Series, is finally here! This story is steeped in the vibrant flavors of Costa Rica—and I mean that literally. While researching for the book, the Tech Guy and I spent time on the ground in Costa Rica, trekking through lush coffee fields and savoring […]

July 24, 2025
As I’ve been revisiting the Meg Reed Investigates series (formerly Pacific Northwest Mysteries) in preparation for its rerelease, one character has been especially present in my mind—Gam. Meg’s grandmother is a Reiki healer, intuitive listener, and, perhaps most memorably, a master cookie baker. She’s the heart of the Reed family, always ready with a comforting […]

July 4, 2025
What happens when you hand a group of mystery writers a cozy town, a stage, and a fake murder to solve? That’s what this week’s Reality Writes episode is all about. I’m joined by my friend and fellow author, Emmeline Duncan—creator of the Ground Rules and Halloween Bookshop mystery series. If you haven’t read her […]

June 10, 2025
There’s something deeply comforting about the flavors of childhood. Maybe it’s the swirl of cocoa in a mug of hot, foamy milk, or the way a slice of homemade cake can instantly transport you back in time. While recipe testing for The Whisking Hour—book 22 in my Bakeshop Mystery Series—I knew Jules needed to create […]

March 17, 2025
If there’s one thing I love as much as writing mysteries, it’s baking. While working on Laying Down the Latte, the 21st book in the Bakeshop Mysteries, I had the chance to immerse myself in the flavors of Costa Rica. Jules, Carlos, and Andy take a coffee-fueled adventure in this book, and my research trip to Costa […]
