Recently, I took a taxi and during our conversation, I happened to tell the taxi driver that I write short stories with a delicious cake recipe at the core. I also handed her a book mark that showed all three covers of my series A Culinary Catastrophe.

The friendly driver concentrated so hard on the book mark that I started

to think I’d made a mistake – I did not want to end up smashed on the road just because of my covers – lovely though they are!

Next, she told me she disapproved violently of e-books because they will

destroy paper books. She said that even if I gave her a Kindle, she would throw it into the next trash can. I hastily hid my brand-new Kindle and switched the conversation to my hardcover novels, thinking I would be on safer ground.

However, she then told me that she throws books she doesn’t approve of

out of the window of the second floor, straight into the trash can right below the window. She especially mounts the stairs to do so (usually, she lives on the ground floor)!

By then, I was wilting visibly and wondered if I should get out and walk the rest of the way.

She finished by telling me she would now go to a café and eat a wonderful piece of cake, drinking to my health with a freshly brewed cup of coffee – and if I was fine with that? “Oh, absolutely.” I gave her a fake smile. “I hope the cake will be delicious!” – and then I escaped out of that taxi at top speed.

One of my best friends always says that nothing happens by chance. I wonder what fate wanted to tell me by pushing me into that taxi?

Anyway, eat a piece of cake, drink a cup of coffee to my health, and enjoy these short stories! I had so much fun creating them and hope you’ll feel the same when reading them . . . A special thanks to my husband and Florian Bilges, who made the cover and the pictures for me!

Best,

Beate

www.happybooks.de