Vodka On My Wheaties

by Ann Lloyd

"Vodka On My Wheaties" is like no other book you have ever read. The events that have happened to Ann Lloyd are only seen on the silver screen, but all of her stories are non-fiction. Her book reads like a novel even though it's an autobiography."Vodka On My Wheaties" is filled with a humorous potpourri of real life happenings for a wide range of people to enjoy. The beginning chapters reveal that Ann was programmed from birth to march to the beat of a different drum. She was the only child of neurotic parents and it was not in her nature to follow the herd. Married at eighteen to a prominent drug store magnate twice her age, she finds herself, at the age of twenty-two, a widow. From her sudden dramatic exposure to a life of opulent wealth and world travels, Ann and her second husband settled down to build an exclusive out-island scuba diving resort in the Bahamas, which attracted the rich and famous. As a self-appointed, liberated female the adventures do not stop there. Join in Ann's kaleidoscopic journey down one of life's most unusual paths and her ability to "make things happen." Ann's story is bursting with romance, adventure, mystery, celebrities, substance abuse, and much more! About the Lloyd was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. She was the only child of a professor of Germanic languages at Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University) and of an artist. Ann has three children, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She currently resides in Boca Raton, Florida. "Vodka On My Wheaties" was written during my confinement, at sixty-two, in my Rectangular Bubble, an all porcelain-lined trailer, due to a strange immune system disorder which rendered me unable to function in the real world. Directed by a doctor to a remote colony of twenty-four people all trying to survive and heal away from the every day toxins of modern society, I remained there for ten years.My memoir is a humorous potpourri of real life happenings for a wide range of people to enjoy. I, an eccentric Auntie Mame type, was the only child of neurotic parents. I continued on through sixty-six years of not following the herd. Encounters with celebrities, collecting the art of Salvador Dali, and amazing serendipitous adventures, as well as narrowly escaping being murdered at twenty-one years old by my first husband a prominent drug store magnate twice my age have filled my life with strange and exciting stories ready to be told.A bound manuscript of "Vodka On My Wheaties" is located in the archives of the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. Celebrity Sir MaxBeaverbrook, LordBeatles, TheBridges, LloydBurchfield, CharlesBurr, RaymondCarstairs, JoDali, SalvadorEpstein, BrianFisher, MelFranciscus, JamesFuldheim, DorothyGreenberg, HankHeston, CharltonHolbrook, HalIves, BurlJenkins, PaulKerr, GrahamKoussevitzky, SergeLangtry, LillieLaughton, CharlesLeinsdorf, EricLichtenstein, Roy & IsobelLugosi, BelaMerrill, DinaNess, ElliotPindling, Lyndon 0.Power, TyroneRobertson, Cliff

361 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2010

About the author

Ann Lloyd was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in 1930, and was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Ann moved to Spanish Wells, Bahamas, where she and her husband built and operated the first scuba and skin diving resort. It became very well-known by the rich and famous. After operating the resort for fifteen years Ann then relocated to North Miami Beach where she became a successful real estate agent.

In her middle fifties Ann found herself with a rare immune system disorder rendering her physically unable to work. She then moved to a remote colony and lived there for ten years in her “Rectangular Bubble.”

In 2010 her memoir “Vodka On My Wheaties,” was published. At age 84, Ann wrote her first children’s book, “Gizmo The Lonely Robucket,” which was published in 2014.

Reviews

[Gloria (Dee) Roepke · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story! The life of Ann Lloyd. When the author, Ann Lloyd, states she "marched to the beat of a different drum," that is an understatement. "Vodka On My Wheaties" is an excellent read, once you start reading this book you don't want to put it down.

From being raised by neurotic parents, being married to a wealthy executive twice her age that tried to murder her, building and operating the first scuba diving resort in the Bahamas, struggling with substance abuse, reading about her encounters with celebrities, and finally the bizarre illness that changed her life. Ann Lloyd shares her story well and leaves you with many strong messages.

A must read book!

[Nan Hurley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew some of the people in this book so I was very interested in reading it. Quite a story and I'm glad I read it but I thought Ms. Lloyd went on and on a bit too much, especially early in the book.

[Cathy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I was surprised at all the names of famous people that the author knew...I was not expecting that. The book was well written and drawn out. It took me forever to get through it, but I finally did. It was so drawn out, that I was bored with parts of it, while at other times it kept my interest. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read about an interesting life, a life full of stories and adventure.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly well written, entertaining book! It made you laugh it made you cry...it made you think! It keeps your attention page after page, you don't want to put it down! The author's life was one of the most exciting and facinating lives I have read about. She survived when many would have given up. She touched too many lives in such a great way. Her ability to continue on against all odds and to write about it so well earns her the full FIVE star rating.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Vodka on my Wheaties is like eating a 24 course dinner. Bring your knife and fork to this book. Wow, Ann Lloyd has led a fabulos life. Take your time and digest every line of her life. Have a good read. Ronporpora@msn.com.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads. I loved this book!! Such an inspirational, spiritual read!!

[Keith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written and generally uninteresting.

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to put it down after the first chapter... not very well written. Going to give it another shot this afternoon then I may have to move on.