You know, I never really thought of myself as the entrepreneurial type. I was mostly happy at my banking job. It was what everyone wanted me to do when I got out of college. I knew I could do more, but I thought that would happen as I went along.
Inside, I always wanted to make good food for people – the way my Uncle Saul did when I was a kid. He had this wonderful restaurant in my hometown, Mobile, Alabama. Everyone ate there. He gave it up one day – walked out. Some people said it was because of a woman!
I just never thought of going into business for myself. I wasn’t even sure where to start.
Then that terrible day came when a younger man – barely out of college – took the promotion that should have been mine at the bank. I trained him! How could he be better at the job than me?
It didn’t help that I was about to turn thirty. And this wasn’t the first time I was passed up for promotion at the bank. I checked my makeup, and freshened my naturally curly hair, before I went in to demand to know why my supervisor had passed me up again.
I’ll never forget the look on his face when I asked him to stop practicing his golf swing and look at me. You’d think I was a fly on the wall. There was no real reason I was passed over, he told me. I was just better suited to train other people.
Excuse me?
I went right home that night to my cat, Crème Brulee, and told him all about it. We made some ditalini with almond pesto for dinner, and that was when I decided to quit.
Everyone is all in a dither about it, of course. I don’t care. I’m a very good cook, and I know my future is having a restaurant that will make me as famous as Paula Deen. People will come all the way from Atlanta to eat there. Wait and see!
First, I have to fix up the old diner I bought. To do that, I bought and set up an old Airstream as a food truck. My most famous invention yet – the deep fried biscuit bowl – is going to make me rich and famous!
There has been a few snags, but there always is, right? And I’ve met some great people along the way – Ollie and Delia. And now, Miguel, who is the lawyer who helped me when I was being questioned for murder.
Oh, the murder? Well, honey, that’s another story!
You can read more about Zoe in Death on Eat Street, the first book in the “Biscuit Bowl Food Truck” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
GIVEAWAY
Comment on this post by 6pm EST on April 6, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of DEATH ON EAT STREET. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
J.J. Cook writes award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, Joyce and Jim Lavene, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family. Visit them at www.jjcook.net
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Oh goody goody goody!! Can’t wait to read it!! 🙂
Sounds like another good to put on my t-b-r list..
Wow! Love the title and the premise , going on my wish list !
I can’t wait to read this book it sounds like a good series
Looks great, thank you for the chance to win 🙂
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
This would be awesome to win!
Well, who doesn’t like food trucks? Toss in a good mystery and this sound like winner. Looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the introduction to this new series!
Food trucks and mystery – It’s on my list!
This book sounds wonderful, love food trucks, they are so much fun. Would love to read/win this book
I actually have never eaten at a food truck…I don’t think I’ve ever seen one, but as soon as I do, I’m going to be there. This sounds like a great read, thanks for the chance to win.
THE ONLY EXPERIENCE i HAVE HAD WITH A FOOD TRUCK IS FROM THE FIFTIES IN HIGH SCHOOL BUT NOW THEY ARE VERY POPULAR .tHIS LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE FUN TO READ.
Food trucks have come a long way since I have eaten from one. Quite the gourmet fare available, along with the typical foods.
I live in Austin TX – home of the food trucks…..and some of the best foods – Hello Cupcake started in a food truck. Would love to read this book and start this series.
Just better to train people?! Boy, does that ring true!
I wish her (and the books) all the best.
We used to have a great diner restaurant by us. Served all the old fashioned food that I grew up eating. One of my daughter’s favorite places. We were great fans of the open turkey sandwich platter. Now out cats were fans of ANT leftovers that came home with us!!
I enjoy several books of the culinary type and this one fits the bill. I’ll be looking for it. Thanks for the giveaway.
This really does sound like a great book. I can’t wait to read it.
Sounds like a good book!! Thanks for a chance to win. penelope223(at)yahoo(dot)com
This one sounds like a real winner – thank you for the chance to win.
I wish we had food trucks up here in the north country—I’d like to try those biscuit bowls.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Looks like a great cozy mystery.
Looks like another fun series
Groan! Another J.J. cook series. Love them! Destinied for my TBR list…soon if I win. Thank you the post & introduction to the first of series. And the giveaway chance.
I see a foodtruck!!
’nuff said!!!
thanx for the giveaway!!
I honestly don’t know if we have food trucks in Indiana. At least not in the small town I’m from. Sounds very neat!
I love watching Eat Street on the Cooking Channel! It’s the only time I see food trucks in my little town. 😉 Thanks for the giveaway opportunity! 🙂
The book sounds really good. I love the pretty cover. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Sounds like another great book series. I see lots of the food trucks in DC. The cupcake one is awesome. Thanks for the giveaway and will be adding this to my TBR list.
I love the cat ‘s name!
contest is closed.