A Day in the Life of Chris Slayton by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Jun 9, 2015 | A Day In My Life

A Watery DeathOccupation: Town Manager of Duck, North Carolina

A Message to the Citizens for a Better Duck Group

I realize how important long-term goals are to our hometown. We have to think about the future but can’t give up on remembering our past. I know that sounds like rhetoric, and I usually avoid that kind of thing. In this case, it’s true. And it’s not easy.

The town council allowed a company to dock a gambling ship in Duck. It goes out every night to allow passengers to gamble and enjoy themselves. It has caused a few problems with one or two bad elements coming into town, but we have to balance that with how happy our merchants are to have tourists coming in all year instead of forgetting about us between November and June.

I’m sure we’ve all benefited from having more stores open this past winter.

It’s true that the ship’s captain was murdered, but his death shouldn’t be held against the gambling ship. The circumstances surrounding Captain Lucky’s death were unfortunate and probably won’t be repeated again.

I’d also like to say that the rumors of mermaids in Duck have been blown out of proportion by the media. While we have records in the Duck Historical Museum of mermaids visiting us, we have never recorded a death caused by a mermaid.

Our mayor, Dae O’Donnell, and our town council, have everything in hand. Duck is a safe place to live whether we have 528 people or 25,000 walking our streets. Our new foot bridges crossing Duck Road are going to be wonderful, and our Fourth of July celebration was our biggest ever!

If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at Town Hall.

As a side note: Please do NOT walk on the sandbar by the Duck Shoppes. If you are looking for mermaids, stay on the boardwalk. You can see them just as well from there, if you can see them at all.

Thank you.
Chris Slayton
    Town Manager

You can read more about Chris in A Watery Death Book, the 7th book in the “Missing Pieces” mystery series, published by J. Lavene. The first book in the series is A Timely Vision.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on June 16 for the chance to win a copy of A Watery Death. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.

Visit Joyce and Jim at www.joyceandjimlavene.com

86 Comments

  1. Nancy Roessner
    Nancy Roessner on June 9, 2015 at 1:06 am

    I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by the Lavenes, so I’m sure this will be great!

  2. Rhonda
    Rhonda on June 9, 2015 at 1:11 am

    Sounds like my type of book,

  3. sallycootie
    sallycootie on June 9, 2015 at 2:01 am

    I need to read this!

    • joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene)
      joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene) on June 9, 2015 at 7:40 am

      Hi Sally! Thanks for dropping by! And if I might suggest – Dae’s Christmas Past – last year’s Missing Pieces Mystery – is available free today at Amazon! Download now!

  4. Lisa Wine
    Lisa Wine on June 9, 2015 at 5:17 am

    I really enjoy this series and can’t wait to read this new one. Thanks for the chance to win.

  5. Pamela Woodfield
    Pamela Woodfield on June 9, 2015 at 6:02 am

    This sounds like such a fun series! Mermaids–how cool!

  6. Dina stout
    Dina stout on June 9, 2015 at 6:34 am

    You had me at mermaids!

  7. Lisa Brown
    Lisa Brown on June 9, 2015 at 6:34 am

    Nice series, thanks for the chance 🙂

  8. Gram
    Gram on June 9, 2015 at 6:53 am

    Love their series.

  9. Debbie Carnes
    Debbie Carnes on June 9, 2015 at 6:59 am

    I love mermaids , I need to read this

  10. Sheila K.
    Sheila K. on June 9, 2015 at 7:30 am

    I love the work of these two talented writers—thanks for the chance to win a copy of their new book!

  13. Amy Gill
    Amy Gill on June 9, 2015 at 8:00 am

    I haven’t read any of this series. Might as well start somewhere. I love their other work.

  14. ladyjanel
    ladyjanel on June 9, 2015 at 8:02 am

    I have a lot of the books by the wonderful duo. Have not a chance to read any yet but the books are all ready to go this next reading splurge weekend. Thank you for a chance. 🙂

  16. Jeannie D.
    Jeannie D. on June 9, 2015 at 8:16 am

    I love all of the Lavene’s series. But, this is my favorite. can’t wait to read the new installment.

    • joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene)
      joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene) on June 9, 2015 at 10:10 am

      Thank you, Jeannie! We love Dae and her friends in Duck. They are a good bunch of people and easy to write!

  17. Sandyg265
    Sandyg265 on June 9, 2015 at 9:02 am

    My Mom really likes this series.

  18. Libby Dodd
    Libby Dodd on June 9, 2015 at 9:23 am

    It’s a great story. I highly recommend it.

  19. Robin L. Coxon
    Robin L. Coxon on June 9, 2015 at 9:38 am

    I love Joyce and Jim Lavene’s series with Dae O’Donell and Duck, N.C. Starting at the cover and continuing inside I am drawn in deeper and deeper to each of their books. robeader53@yahoo.com

  20. Nancy Funkhouser
    Nancy Funkhouser on June 9, 2015 at 9:44 am

    I need to get into this series and a freebie would be a good way to start.

  21. noraadrienne
    noraadrienne on June 9, 2015 at 9:47 am

    Yes please Dru, I’d love to be entered into this fantastic giveaway. I love ALL the books that the J’s write and would kill to add this one to my library.

  22. Sharon F.
    Sharon F. on June 9, 2015 at 9:56 am

    A wonderful series! I would love to win this next book!

  23. Mari Krampach
    Mari Krampach on June 9, 2015 at 10:33 am

    I haven’t read a book about mermaids yet but I’ve loved your other series.

  24. anne
    anne on June 9, 2015 at 10:43 am

    A delightful series which would be greatly enjoyed. Thanks.

  25. Rita Wray
    Rita Wray on June 9, 2015 at 11:07 am

    The book sounds great, I can’t wait to read it.

    • joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene)
      joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene) on June 9, 2015 at 12:12 pm

      Thanks Rita. We got a big kick out of writing it! I think we know everything about mermaids now.

  26. Ruth Nixon
    Ruth Nixon on June 9, 2015 at 11:26 am

    would love to win a copy of Watery Death. A new book about Dae and Duck is always great news and now mermaids too.

  27. rochf
    rochf on June 9, 2015 at 11:33 am

    Mermaids and mystery–sounds like a winning combination.

  28. Kelly Jones Pfister
    Kelly Jones Pfister on June 9, 2015 at 11:35 am

    Sounds like a great book! Thank you for having this contest!

  29. Barbara Hackel
    Barbara Hackel on June 9, 2015 at 12:14 pm

    Wow! You have outdone yourself this time! Mermaids!!! I can’t wait to read this one. I wish I could live in Duck!!! Thanks for the opportunity to win the book. 🙂

    • joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene)
      joyce lavene (@AuthorJLavene) on June 9, 2015 at 8:56 pm

      Duck is a magical place, Barbara! The best part is that it’s real and you can visit!

  30. Kathleen Bylsma
    Kathleen Bylsma on June 9, 2015 at 1:09 pm

    This is a good series, illustrating how communities must work together for the common good. How decisions are made, the interactions of the people really make this enjoyable! Needless to say, I’d love to be entered!

  31. peggy clayton
    peggy clayton on June 9, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    Sounds like a very good book fingers crossed!

  32. carlrscott
    carlrscott on June 9, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    Another fun mystery from the prolific Lavenes. I’m looking forward to it very much. Thanks for the chance to win.

  33. Judy D.
    Judy D. on June 9, 2015 at 2:58 pm

    I love mermaids, so I figure I will love this book. Judy D.

  34. Mary Jane H
    Mary Jane H on June 9, 2015 at 3:40 pm

    Love mermaids! Sounds like a great story.

  35. Cynthia E. Blain
    Cynthia E. Blain on June 9, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    I think that this book sounds really interesting and very different than any other that I have read. Would love to get my mermaid fix with this book. Thank you so much.
    Cynthia B.

  36. Michelle Fidler
    Michelle Fidler on June 9, 2015 at 8:09 pm

    Would love to read. I enjoy the Lavenes’ many series. The mermaid rumor sounds like a fun addition.

  37. Dotty Kelley
    Dotty Kelley on June 9, 2015 at 8:59 pm

    Love this series!

  38. cyn209
    cyn209 on June 9, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    A series I need to catch up on….
    Thank you for the giveaway…..

  39. Brian Frauenknecht
    Brian Frauenknecht on June 9, 2015 at 10:04 pm

    I love every single thing I have read by the Lavene’s. I’m so excited to read this. I would love to win it. Thank you for the chance.

  40. Kaye Killgore
    Kaye Killgore on June 9, 2015 at 11:54 pm

    I love this series.

  41. June Shaw
    June Shaw on June 10, 2015 at 9:43 am

    I wanted to be a mermaid, so I know I will love this book! Please enter me in the contest. Thanks!

  42. Catherine W
    Catherine W on June 10, 2015 at 10:40 am

    I would love to win this book!

  43. Judy Weaver
    Judy Weaver on June 10, 2015 at 5:55 pm

    Would love to read this book!

  44. Karin
    Karin on June 11, 2015 at 9:23 am

    I know that Joyce says it is safe for visitors, BUT, they are soon going to run out of residents in Duck and THEN who are they going to kill??? 🙂

  45. Lisa Garrett
    Lisa Garrett on June 11, 2015 at 4:56 pm

    I would love to get into this series as well.

  46. Karen Terry
    Karen Terry on June 11, 2015 at 5:12 pm

    It sounds like a good read.

  47. Amy Freedman
    Amy Freedman on June 12, 2015 at 12:08 am

    This looks like a great series.. I am a former resident of Currituck County.. Thank you…

  48. Pat Lafferty
    Pat Lafferty on June 13, 2015 at 3:14 am

    Somehow I have missed this series but have enjoyed many of Joyce and Jim Lavene’s books. Will have to catch up with this series.

  49. Peggy Hyndman
    Peggy Hyndman on June 13, 2015 at 12:54 pm

    Sounds like a good read 🙂 Thank you for this chancew to win a copy of the book.

  50. Prentiss Garner
    Prentiss Garner on June 14, 2015 at 5:02 pm

    I really enjoy this series.

  51. Elaine Roberson
    Elaine Roberson on June 15, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    I have read and enjoyed one of their earlier series. As a North Carolinian, I really want to try this one.

  52. Dru
    Dru on June 16, 2015 at 5:07 am

    Thanks Joyce for commenting and interacting with my readers.

    Contest is closed.