A typical day in my life begins with me waking up in Venice Beach, California three minutes before my alarm goes off wondering why it’s so dark. Is it three A.M.? Do I have something I have to do today? Can I go back to sleep? Oh, it’s 6:57. But why is it so dark? Is it ALWAYS this dark at this time of the year? GAH. Okay, well I do have things to do today so I better get up.

Right, I’m up. And I’ve done my morning ablutions as Sue Grafton used to call them and I’m having some breakfast and reading through the email that’s come in overnight. Why do I get this many emails? Oh, it’s mostly newsletters I never subscribed to. And a lot of things from a politician who seems to think my name is Gary. Why do they think my name is Gary? Did Gary use my email to sign up for these emails? Is this a form of stalking? Do I need to change my email address? Or, wait. I can just send this to my junk mail. That’s better.

I should write some words. Okay, I’m going to write. Tap, tap, tap. Check social media. Tap, tap, tap. Are there any new Taylor/Travis posts? Tap, tap, tap. Why isn’t that guy in jail already? Tap, tap, tap. Wait, ANOTHER politician is writing to me? To GARY? I’m dumping this email address. Tap, tap, tap, and awesome I did my words. I mean, they’re terrible and will need to be rewritten but woot, words done.

And just in time, too, because I have lunch with my sister, Harper. She’s also my assistant. Is that weird? It’s a bit weird, right? Especially since she’s the one who wanted to be an author, but somehow I got that job after writing a book by accident. How do you write an entire novel by accident? Shruggie. All I know is ten years ago, I went to Italy, met a private detective/con man named Connor Smith, solved a murder, and fell in love. When I got home, I had this odd desire to sit at my laptop ten hours a day and write. Wrote the book, sold the book, publisher wanted more books, and Connor took a cut of all of it.

ANYWAY. Lunch, avoid uncomfortable topics like Connor Smith and the book my sister can’t sell, and back to work.

More emails to Gary. More attempts to send it to junk. There must be a law against this, right? Okay, so writing. Ignoring the fact that I’m returning to Italy for the 10th anniversary tour of my book, and Connor will be there. I think I have to kill him. What? I know.

Time to shift to a 2nd project. I’m working on a screenplay. Well, several. But this one is due this week so better do that one. God, I’ve rewritten this 800 times. Hollywood loves their notes! But it’s good. Surely this time will be the last time? Hahaha. Gary knows better than that, don’t you, Gary?

Gah, is it getting dark AGAIN? Well, I guess that means I can stop working. What’s for dinner? Oh, right. That thing I saw on Facebook when I couldn’t sleep. Hmmm, seems more complicated than I remember. I’ll attempt it anyway. Hey, I did a pretty good job. And is that the time? 4:55 P.M.? I guess this is when we’re eating. All good. It leaves us more time to watch TV, plus I have to go to bed at eight because by then it will feel like midnight.

Good night world, see you in the morning. Good night, Gary. I hope you’re enjoying your email-free existence.

Maybe it will be lighter in the morning.

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies, A Vacation Mystery Volumn #1
Genre: Humorous / Cozy Mystery
Release: April 2024
Format: Print, Digital, Audio
Purchase Link

Ten days, eight suspects, six cities, five authors, three bodies . . . one trip to die for.

All that bestselling author Eleanor Dash wants is to get through her book tour in Italy and kill off her main character, Connor Smith, in the next in her Vacation Mysteries series—is that too much to ask?

Clearly, because when an attempt is made on the real Connor’s life—the handsome but infuriating con man she got mixed up with ten years ago and now can’t get out of her life—Eleanor’s enlisted to help solve the case.

Contending with literary competitors, rabid fans, a stalker—and even her ex, Oliver, who turns up unexpectedly—theories are bandied about, and rivalries, rifts, and broken hearts are revealed. But who’s really trying to get away with murder?

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies is the irresistible and hilarious series debut from Catherine Mack, introducing bestselling fictional author Eleanor Dash on her Italian book tour that turns into a real-life murder mystery, as her life starts to imitate the world in her books.

Meet the author
Catherine Mack is the pseudonym for USA Today Bestselling author Catherine McKenzie. Catherine is the author of over fifteen novels, including suspense, thrillers, and rom-coms. She also writes for film & television. An avid skier, runner, and tennis player, Every Time I Go on Vacation is the first in a new funny mystery series.