A day in the life, that’s what I’m supposed to be writing about today and truth is, it should be easy. But here’s the thing. There’s the life I thought I’d be leading. And then there’s the life I ended up with.
The one I thought I had planned out for myself went something like this . . .
I would wrap up my life in Manhattan without a whole lot of fanfare. My attorney there would take care of the details: selling the condo, forwarding mail, handling any questions that might arise. And me? I’d wing my way to South Bass Island, a vacation paradise three miles off the Ohio coast in Lake Erie, where I’d just purchased a monstrosity of a Victorian house and turned it into Bea & Bees, the island’s premier inn. I would spend my days reading, relaxing, and taking care of the needs of my guests, and thanks to all the hard work I’d done back in NYC, I’d have staff to help–cooks who would take care of breakfast, cleaners to do the grunt work. That would leave me to play hostess, and believe me, I can smile and be gracious with the best of ‘em.
It all sounds terrific, doesn’t it? But then, plans always do. Of course, there’s that old saying about the best laid plans and in this case, it came true in spades.
Sure, I left Manhattan just like I said I would.
And yes, I restored that big ol’ Victorian house to perfection.
As for the relaxing, the reading, and the part about being the perfect hostess . . .well, I should have known better than to count my gracious-living chickens before they hatched. You see, when I was planning, I never in my wildest dreams figured in the part about crazy neighbors.
Yet here I am on South Bass island handling the cranky neighbor across the street who thinks my renovations have resulted in too much traffic. And the out-there-in-woo-woo-land lady next door who burns incense and plays sitar music at all hours. And have I mentioned that she’s the owner of Jerry Garcia, the cat who insists on using the potted plants on my front porch as his personal bathroom facility?
My well-thought-out plan also never included ending up in court with these ladies, again and again, as we bickered and squabbled (have I mentioned that all she has to do is keep Jerry indoors?). The magistrate’s solution to our problem was stunning and pretty darned creative–we were neighbors, he told us, and we needed to learn to talk to each other. Consequently, he sentenced us to one full year of being a book discussion group.
I guess the only good thing about the situation is that we found a book we all agreed we’d like to read, the classic Agatha Christie mystery, “Murder on the Orient Express.” Little did we know that soon, we’d be using Christie as our inspiration for solving our own mystery at the Orient Express, the island’s newest Chinese restaurant.
I certainly didn’t plan on that, or on learning to depend on the other members of the League of Literary Ladies to help me solve a murder.
What? I didn’t mention the murder?
Let me tell you, that’s something else I never planned on!
Thanks to Penguin, I have one (1) copy of MAYHEM AT THE ORIENT EXPRESS to give away. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. Contest ends June 6; US entries only per publisher’s request.
You can read more about Bea in Mayhem at the Orient Express, the first book in the new “League of Literary Ladies” mystery series.
Meet the author
Kylie Logan has a dual personality! As Casey Daniels, she writes the Pepper Martin mysteries, as Kylie, she’s the author of the new League of Literary Ladies mysteries, the Button Box mysteries and the soon-to-come Chili Cook-off mysteries. Kylie learned to love mysteries and detection early thanks to her dad, a Cleveland Police detective who looked for stolen cars on his days off and took Kylie along for the ride. In “Mayhem at the Orient Express,” she’s thrilled to have the opportunity to pay homage to one of her favorite authors, Agatha Christie. When she’s not writing, Kylie enjoys weaving, knitting and checking in on the two hives of bees in her backyard. Kylie’s brand, spanking new website will be up and going soon. You can check it out at: www.kylielogan.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Love the cover…can’t wait to try this new series. Thanks!
I hope her bees are thriving as so many others have died . We need bees! The book sound like fun. Dee
Another new series, thank you for the chance to win this book.
I love the Button Box series so I am sure I will love this one! Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.
i love new cozy series!!! thank you for the giveaway!!!
Would love to experience Kylie’s new series. Bea sounds great! Thanks for the intro and chance to win!
Love the title and the cover is great. Can’t wait to start a new series! Thanks for the update.
Love the cat-looks like mine-and especially his name. Can’t wait to try this series.
Sounds like a great new series. Really want to read it 🙂
This is a new to me author, would love to win a copy of the book!
Great day for a new series to begin. Can’t wait to read it!
What a great way to start off summer reading, with a brand new series!.
I<m interested in the area as my grandson is working at Cedar Point this summer and I spent part of a summer near Sandusky as a kid. I also look forward to reading a new aurthor.
I live in a co-op building just filled with people like Bea’s neighbors. I can’t believe she bought the place sight unseen and that her broker wasn’t under legal protocols to inform her about the neighbors. Here in Brooklyn, you must tell prospective buyers about the neighbors, and if it’s a co-op or condo, about the people above, under and beside you. LOL She got suckered.
I’d love to win a copy so I can laugh myself silly at the predicaments these three frenemies get into.
NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com
This looks great!
Oh my, another new series to add to my “must read” list! Bring it on! This one sounds delightfully entertaining.
This sounds like a very amusing book and I look forward to reading it. Thanks, Dru Ann for interviewing Bea and introducing us to her.
Kylie here, thanking you all (so far!) for your enthusiastic comments. Bea and the League of Literary Ladies was great fun to write about. Glad it sounds like a good time to readers, too!
Sounds like a great series. I’ve visited an island in Lake Erie near Cleveland! Didn’t have a murder…but it was lots of fun!
This book sounds like it will be a hoot to read.
Thanks for a chance to win. This book sounds great.
I love your writing as Casey Daniels, so I can’t wait to read this series. Hope to read more about Pepper. I get a kick out of reading the series and I laugh out loud…Thank You
saba121167(at)usa(dot)com
I love Kylie’s writing style! This series is sure to be a winner.
I love “Murder on the Orient Express”. It is one of my favorite Agatha Christie books. The movie was good too. Kylie/Casey’s book sounds like a hoot. I live in the Cleveland area yet I have not been to any of the islands off the coast in Lake Erie.
Ah, the best laid plan mixed with neighbors! An explosive combination.
Sounds great! I can’t wait to read it!
Love the cover. Sounds great!
Two winning series. Sign me up, please. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
I want to know more about the cranky neighbors.
I’ve been looking forward to the release of this new series. It looks like it is going to be a new favorite. Looking forward to her Chili Cook-off series too. Thanks for the giveaway. Fingers crossed. 🙂
scouts579(at)aol(dot)com
Looks & sounds wonderful !! I would <3 to win this book !!
xoxo
This one sounds good, thank you for hosting this giveaway.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Sounds like a great cozy mysteries.
I am just thrilled to see another new cozy series in the bookstores. I love this kind of mystery which has so much comedy and social interaction and it makes you realize that your life is just fine the way it is!! 🙂 I will enjoy trying to figure out the killer as the story unfolds; not that I will know for sure, but I do like trying to guess. This story sounds very intriguing and I will keep my fingers crossed to win it, and will also plan on ordering it as I am not very lucky with things like this, and from the sounds of the story, Bea isn’t too lucky either.
Thanks again for the great giveaway and hello Dru.
Great books and authors being chosen for the giveaways!!!!
What a great way to spend book release day, with all of you. Well, cyber-wise! Thanks for all your encouragement and great comments on MAYHEM!
I can’t wait to read Bea’s story. Thanks Casey/Kylie for introducing us to Bea.
These neighbors sound very interesting—I wonder if they ever work out their differences. I’d like to read this book and see what developes.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I would love to read this new series. It sounds good!
Thank you!
Contest is closed, but comments are always welcome