Book Title: A SMOKING BUN
Character Name: Jules Capshaw
How would you describe your family or your childhood?
Delectably eclectic. Growing up in the Shakespearean hamlet of Ashland, Oregon, made for a creative and adventurous childhood, especially since my parents owned a family bakeshop, Torte. After school, I would walk to the bakeshop and spend the afternoon watching my dad craft a magnificent eight-layer mocha, almond, and apricot cake. My mom listened like a pastry therapist as customers would spill out their problems while sipping a handcrafted latte. I learned so much in those formative years, from how to crack an egg perfectly to the deep connections that occur around food.
What was your greatest talent?
Baking with love.
Significant other?
My husband Carlos. We met when we were both working on a boutique cruise ship where he was the head chef, and I was responsible for the pastry kitchen. It was an incredible experience to sail across azure waters and stop at romantic ports of call. Food is our love language and our constant point of connection. We’re both happiest in the kitchen, sharing a glass of wine and whipping up a simple, yet elegant dish together.
Biggest challenge in relationships?
My name says it all—Juliet Montague Capshaw. Being named after one of the most forlorn heroines in all of literature comes with some baggage. For many years, I thought I was destined for heartbreak, but fortunately, with time, I’ve learned to embrace my romantic tendencies and lean into love.
Where do you live?
I live in Ashland, Oregon, my hometown, where I now run our family bakeshop with my mom and an incredibly talented team of bakers and chefs. Since returning to Ashland, my world has expanded exponentially. It’s funny because it took coming home to make me realize that I’d been living small on the ship. In addition to Torte, we’ve opened a small winery, tasting room, and a summer pop-up ice cream shop.
Do you have any enemies?
I haven’t sought out enemies, but unfortunately, I’ve stumbled upon an enemy—Richard Lord. He owns the decrepit Merry Windsor Hotel across the plaza from our bakeshop and has made it his mission to get under my skin. I know it’s because he’s envious of Torte’s success and has a not-so-secret crush on Mom, but there’s no reason for a rivalry in a town the size of Ashland. I’ve told Richard at least a hundred times that he can do his own thing, and we’ll do ours, but he continues to try to copy everything we do. Of course, his efforts just go to waste, but he won’t listen.
How do you feel about the place where you are now? Is there something you are particularly attached to, or particularly repelled by, in this place?
I don’t think I could live anywhere else. Ashland is truly a mecca for creatives—poets, playwrights, actors, singers/songwriters, artists, writers, and free-spirits. Our little town is nestled in the Siskiyou Mountains with golden summers and snowy winters. It’s a magical place to live where neighbors care about neighbors, and everyone is welcome.
Do you have children, pets, both, or neither?
I have a stepson, Ramiro, who has lived with us for the last year. He’s taking a year off from his studies in Spain to experience school in America. Having him in Ashland has been a complete delight, and Carlos and I are not going to know what to do with ourselves when he returns home.
What do you do for a living?
I’m a professional baker. It might sound glamorous, but really, it means waking up before the sun, constantly having my hands coated in flour, and juggling dozens of projects every day. Don’t get me wrong, I love it. There’s something about working out your challenges as you knead bread dough. The kitchen forces me to be completely and fully present. It’s a sensory experience and a collaboration unlike anything else.
Greatest disappointment?
That my dad didn’t live long enough to get to see me as an adult. I know that he would be so proud that I’ve followed in his footsteps.
Greatest source of joy?
My team at Torte. We’re like a family. Everyone has their own space and their own roles, which lends to such amazing creativity and collaboration. On a whim, we started offering Sunday Suppers, where we invited the community to gather for a shared meal. They’ve become the highlight of my career, and our entire team gets involved in coming up with a theme and setting the tone for a gorgeous, leisurely evening around the table.
What do you do to entertain yourself or have fun?
Hanging out with my best friend, Lance, who is the creative director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Lance has a flair for the dramatic, and there is never a dull moment with him. He also has a tendency toward amateur sleuthing and is always trying to convince me to take the stage—even in a guest-starring capacity. That’s never going to happen.
What is your greatest personal failing, in your view?
Being overly critical about myself and my work. When it comes to pastry, I tend to be a perfectionist. I expect a lot of myself. That’s led to putting too much pressure on myself. I’m working on being gentler with myself and trying to find a better work/life balance.
What keeps you awake at night?
New recipes. We’re constantly rotating menu items and experimenting at the Bakeshop. I dream about cardamon pear sweet bread and dark chocolate orange brownies. My palate can’t ever seem to take a nap, but I guess there could be worse things to dream about.
What is the most pressing problem you have at the moment?
My staff is growing and changing. I know as a chef that it’s my job to give them the tools and experience to shine and then let them carve out their own paths, just like I did. The thought of losing any of them is a tough pill to swallow, though.
Is there something that you need or want that you don’t have? For yourself or for someone important to you?
I’m content at this stage of my life, but I also realize that I don’t have all of the time in the world anymore. If I want to start a family, it’s going to have to happen soon, and that thought equally excites me and terrifies me.
Why don’t you have it? What is in the way?
It’s been easy to use the excuse of building my life and little baking empire in Ashland as a reason to put off making bigger life decisions about what’s next, but I recognize that it’s time to start having some of the hard conversations. If I want to start a family and really put down permanent roots in Ashland, I’m going to have to scale back and delegate, which is not my strong suit.
A Bakeshop Mystery #18
Another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, OR!
The mountains are calling in Ashland, Oregon, where pastry chef turned amateur sleuth, Jules Capshaw, is baking up a bevy of spiced curry buns and chai cookies for a moonlit snowshoe tour. Ramiro’s family is visiting from Spain and Jules can’t wait to take them up to her beloved Mount A with its charming and rustic lodge, backcountry trails, and star-filled skies that stretch for miles. Their winter wonderland adventure is nothing short of magical and the merry party opts to return to the slope the next day for the Downhill Dummy.
The annual competition is a favorite amongst snow lovers. Contestants strap makeshift dummies to skis and send them hurling down a death-defying ski jump in hopes of catching big air. The team at Torte is in the mix this year with their own replica of a tiered cake and a baker who closely resembles their fearless leader. It’s a fun and festive atmosphere as dummies sail past the crowd to huge cheers and applause. Until one of the dummies takes a deadly detour and lands atop Fitz Baskin.
Fitz is a guide on the mountain and his icy dealings have made for frosty relationships with everyone he encounters. Suddenly there are more suspects than snowdrifts as Jules dives into the investigation. She unearths a web of secrets and motives that threaten to shake the rustic mountain lodge to its core. Can she catch the killer before they strike again, or will the truth be buried forever under fluffy layers of fresh snow?
Mystery Cozy [St. Martin's Paperbacks, On Sale: February 20, 2024, Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781250854421 / ]
Ellie Alexander is a voracious storyteller and a lover of words and all things bookish. She believes that stories have the ability to transport and transform us. With over twenty-five published novels and counting, her goal is to tell stories that provide points of connection, escape, and understanding.
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