Has something ever happened to you and you know you’ve had enough. Kaput. Finished. Step away from the situation. Do not engage. Run like hell.
That happened to me just a month ago. I was a New York City event planner. A successful one. I was coordinating the wedding of the daughter of an extremely rich give-her-anything-she-wants corporate mogul.
You’ve seen that show Bridezillas? Couldn’t hold a candle to some of my clients. When this particular bridezilla, in a melt down over oysters, decked a waiter, destroying six hundred dollars’ worth of champagne, I knew it was time for me to go.
So I went, straight up the Hudson River to a little town on Lake Champlain, called Celebration Bay. They needed a coordinator for their seasonal festivals. That would be me.
It’s a great little Victorian village of quaint shops and good restaurants that survives as a holiday destination spot. I live in a carriage house behind a big Victorian mansion. My landladies, two retired school teachers, Miss Ida and Miss Edna Zimmerman, have helped me fit in with the not always accepting locals.
I’m happy as a clam. I haven’t worn a pair of four inch heels since I arrived. I take the man in my life, Whiskey, my rescued Westie terrier, to the office with me. Everyone loves him so they’re inclined to like me, too.
I still work long hours. I have big responsibilities. But I can’t imagine doing anything else.
My day starts around six am. I try to stick to my regimen of running three miles a day, fresh air, no car fumes, no muggers in the park. And no guys wolf-whistling at me as I jog by. At seven-thirty or so, I walk to town hall where I have my office. On the way, I stop by Dolly Hunnicutt’s Apple of My Eye Bakery for breakfast for me and my assistant, Ted Driscoll, a handsome guy of a certain age and a mysterious past. Dolly always remembers a treat for Whiskey, too.
My new best friend BeBe Ford, who owns the Buttercup Coffee Exchange, has my order, latte for me, tea for Ted, waiting.
Ted always arranges our breakfast on a serving tray and we eat at my desk while we go over the day’s schedule. Very civilized. Then we divide the tasks and get to work. There’s a lot of running around, coordinating activities, dealing with traffic concerns, soothing ruffled feathers, there can be a lot of those when everyone is working like crazy to get ready for the onslaught of tourists that keep my town alive.
One thing I didn’t expect and that I NEVER had to deal with in Manhattan is murder. Really? In the most beautiful, most wholesome, most family-friendly town in New York State? But as our less than energetic, but surfer dude cute, local newspaper editor points out. “When you get big and attract outsiders. Sh—happens.” Did I mention he likes to fish and doesn’t like crowds. Sounds like he’s ready to retire right? But he’s only thirty-five. Ted says there’s a story there; it has something to do with him giving up his job as investigative reporter with the LA Times. Sounds ominous, doesn’t it? Not sure I want to know.
Most nights I don’t leave work until after six or seven. If I didn’t run in the morning, I try to do a few miles at night. But usually I just curl up with a glass of wine, Whiskey, and cable television. Or meet BeBe for dinner at Buddy’s Place, a local diner that serves the best pastrami sandwiches north of 56th street.
Then I get up and do it all again. Do I get bored? Not yet. I love it. There’s no place better for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines Day, Fourth of July . . . I mean every day’s a holiday in Celebration Bay. Except for that murder thing. I hope it doesn’t become an everyday occurrence.
You can read more about Liv in Foul Play at the Fair, the first book in the new “Celebration Bay” mystery series.
** Thanks to the publisher, I have one (1) copy of FOUL PLAY AT THE FAIR to give away. Contest open to residents of the US only. Contest ends September 7. Leave a valid-email address with your comment. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. **
Meet the author
Shelley Freydont is the author of eight mysteries that have been translated into seven languages. She loves puzzles of all kinds and when not writing or reading mysteries, she’s most likely working on a jigsaw, Sudoku, or crossword. Her first women’s fiction Beach Colors written as Shelley Noble was a June 2012 release.
Shelley loves to hear from readers. You can visit Shelley at www.shelleyfreydont.com, on Facebook and on Twitter.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Would love to win!! 🙂 Can’t wait to read! sarah2323 at gmail dot com
I have loved everything you have written – would love a copy of the book.
Sounds like a great read. Especially like that the dog is a Westie. My first dog was a Westie, so any book with one in makes it all the more appealing.
lynettek51(at)yahoo(dot)com
A “Celebration” series sounds like fun! I’m also a big fan of jigsaw puzzles and work about 100 a year.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
I already read Beach Colors and I know I’d love your other books. Man what a great place to live – in Celebration Bay. This series sounds fantastic.
Thank you for this post.
Patti
Yeah, murder can throw a wrench in your plans…and nice talking to you at the Feb. LSF meeting…see you again soon…
Exakta66@gmail.com
Sounds like a clever new series. Would love to read it while I recover from surgery next month.
BTW, my email is kcarl710@yahoo.com
I love this cover, county fairs are so much fun but after reading this I may never think of them in the same way, lol. Thank you for hosting this giveaway.
What a great story. Can’t ever say that I being in a situation where I had to run away. I have backed out of relationship, but never had to run or hide. I am blessed. The job sounds like heaven. Sigh…. Thanks Mary.
roya-clan@sbcglobal.net
Don’t think I have read any books set in this area and it sounds so good.
nlb1050(at)yahoo(dot)com
Congratulations on your new series, Shelley! Sounds like a lot of fun and I can’t wait to read it.
Yes Pease! I’d love to win this new series….. I love small upstate NY stories.
NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com
I love trying new series, even though my TBR pile keeps getting bigger. Kuzlin(at)aol(dot)com
It would be a thrill to win anything, especially good books, though. I’ve run out of books to read! I can’t believe it.
Thank you for the chance to win this book.
griperang at embarqmail dot com
Wow so many readers here. Today is the actual release day for Foul Play at the Fair. And I’ve been so busy. I haven’t even gotten to the book store to see if it’s actally on the shelf.
Congrats on your release! Sounds like a very fun read and I’ve added it to my TBR pile! Wishing you many sales!
Celebration Bay sounds like the perfect setting for a cozy.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Wonderful cover. A new author (to me). Looks like everyone is looking forward to this release. Including me. Thanks. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
I love tryng out new series and I usually get hooked. The fair is a great setting. I am a puzzle freak too-jigsaw, crossword and word search.
Shelly you rock! Good luck and I love where you chose to have the story. Me and Lake Champlain go way back, just on the VT side!
I love the Lake Champlain area, Usually I’m on the Vermont side, but since I am now an Ex New Yorker new New Jersey-ite , I thought this side should have it’s own mystery.
I loved the Lindy Haggerty Mysteries and can’t wait to read this new series. thank you! afarage(at)earthlink(dot)net
I had one of those days today…
Sent from my iPad
Dru
Thanks so much for having Liv. She enjoyed it immensely and so did I !!
Sounds like a good book – I work with event planners so I think this would be a great read! thanks for the giveaway
Planning festivals would be one of those jobs where no two days are alike. No doubt stressful, but certainly never boring. This sounds like a fun read to me. Thanks for the heads up!
jrobinson12 (at) austin (dot) rr (dot) com
I like the cover, but then again I always like covers with animals on them. I have a book by this author, a Christmas mystery, I think.
spookycat72(at)gmail(dot)com
LOVE getting ‘in’ on a brand-spankin’ new cozy series from the get-go!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!!!
Sounds like a good new series. Can’t wait to read this one.
contest is closed.
Congrats to Nancy B.!