What is the title of your latest release?
ICING ON THE MURDER
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Maddy Montgomery is engaged! But planning a wedding involves a lot of decisions, and Maddy isn’t up to the task. When she learns that celebrity wedding planner, Serafina, will be attending a local bridal expo and offering one couple a dream wedding, Maddy’s determined to win. But winning isn’t everything. When Serafina is murdered, Maddy needs to figure out Whodunit if she wants any chance at her happily ever after.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I used to live in Southwestern Michigan, which is where this story takes place. The town of New Bison, Michigan is fictional, but is inspired by the town of New Buffalo, Michigan
Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
I would totally hang out with Maddy Montgomery in real life. I love her fashion sense and social media savvy.
What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Loyal, smart, indecisive.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
This book takes place at a casino which is owned
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I wait until I’m done with the first draft to edit. If I edited as I wrote, I would spend too much time writing and rewriting the same paragraphs over and over and over.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Twizzlers, turtles, Fannie Mae Pixies and Dixies. Basically, any candy with chocolate, nuts, and caramel.
Describe your writing space/office!
A large window brings in natural light. I have bookshelves filled with books. There’s a sofa for relaxing with a good book and multiple dog beds where my poodles curl up while I’m writing. It’s my favorite room in the house.
Who is an author you admire?
I admire a lot of authors, but one of my favorites was Victoria Thompson. She wrote the Gaslight Mystery series and was a great inspiration and a good friend.
Is there a book that changed your life?
THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE by Stephen R. Covey was life changing for me. It helped me reprioritize my life. Instead of waiting for some supernatural miracle that would allow me to quit my job and start pursuing my dream, I “put first things first.” I stopped waiting and started pursuing my dreams.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
After years of rejection, I was shocked to finally get some good news. I was excited and terrified at the same time. My book was going to be released into the world and people I didn’t know would read it. What if they didn’t like it? What if they left negative reviews? What if my publisher changed their minds? Finding out that my dream was finally coming true was probably one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. It has also been the most rewarding.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
I love reading cozy mysteries.
What’s your favorite movie?
Pride & Prejudice – all versions.
What is your favorite season?
I love fall. It’s not too hot or too cold—sweater weather. Plus, the fall foliage is beautiful.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
I like to relax and spend time with my friends and family.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I’m excited to read The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I love good food, but I’m partial to seafood.
What do you do when you have free time?
I love to read, spend time with my poodles, and surf the internet for funny dog videos.
What can readers expect from you next?
In addition to the Baker Street Mystery series, I also write the Mystery Bookshop Mystery series as V. M. Burns. The 11th book in the series, MURDER FROM A TO Z will be released in 2026.
Baker Street Mystery #4
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.
Mystery Cozy | Mystery Amateur Sleuth [Kensington Cozies, On Sale: July 29, 2025, Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9781496753403 / eISBN: 9781496753410]
Valerie (V. M.) Burns was born and raised in the Midwestern United States. She currently resides in the warmer region of the country with her two poodles, Kenzie and Chloe. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Dog Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime. Valerie is also a mentor in the Writing Popular Fiction MFA program at Seton Hill University. As V.M. Burns, she writes the Next Generation Indie Finalist, RJ Franklin Mysteries, Dog Club Mysteries, and Agatha award-nominated, Mystery Bookshop Mysteries. She is also an Edgar award-nominated short story author.
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