We’re celebrating the upcoming release of my third Food Lovers’ Village mystery, BUTTER OFF DEAD (July 7—save the suspense and pre-order it now!), with a glimpse of some of your favorite authors’ prized collections.
Today, a pair of collections from Molly MacRae, author of the Haunted Yarn Shop Mysteries. KNOT THE USUAL SUSPECTS, #5 in the series, will be out in September—beat the rush and pre-order it now!
“I don’t think of myself as a collector, so imagine my surprise when I realized I have several small collections. How fun is that? Here are pictures of three of them.
The first is an inadvertent collection of odd and old cookbooks, including a government pamphlet called How to Cook Clams. People keep giving me things like that. The picture of this collection could be called “Cookbooks with Incipient Cat” (notice the advancing paw in the lower left corner).
The second collection can be called “Kitchen Flora and Fauna.” Here we have a fox and hedgehog salt and pepper, a cat creamer, a monkey peeler, a squid baster/brush, and a banana pot handle – all attractive and useful.
The third picture shows the only collection I set out to make and it’s either funny or off-putting, depending on your reservoir of sophomoric humor. When I was a student in Scotland, back in the mid-70s, I collected pieces of toilet paper from famous places – partly because it was a cheap souvenir, partly because the toilet paper was interesting, and by interesting I mean strange. It was exactly like the tissue paper we wrap presents in and some of it came printed with helpful information like “Government Property” or “Medicated.” As you can see, I labeled the pieces. One of them is from the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, the place where Sir Walter Scott revealed he’d written the Waverly novels – so this is, in part, a literary collection. I thought I had more pieces of loo paper, but now I seem to remember sending some of them home to my parents and I suspect they were “lost.” The moral of that story is that one person’s collection raises another person’s eyebrows and ends up in the bin.”
Connect with Molly and read more about her books on her website or on Facebook.
Leave a comment on my Facebook page or blog, for a chance to win a copy of SPINNING IN HER GRAVE, #3 in the series. Ruff the Cat will choose a winner at random—check back in the morning to find out!
(Hint: if you subscribe to the blog, you’ll receive the posts by email and you won’t have to hunt for them on FB.)
(This contest is not sponsored or endorsed by Facebook.)
#butteroffdead
Great collections! I never would have thought of collecting toilet tissue. Thanks for sharing!
And at this point, the paper is close to being antique. I don’t think I’ll take to the road show program, though. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
We can count on Molly for unique!
I used to collect McCoy Pottery but I felt like I should use it. So I turned to 1950’s sweaters instead…the short ones that button up the front which look great with skirts…thanks for the giveaway…
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
I would love to see the sweaters, Marilyn! I wish I could knit well enough to make one from a 50s pattern.
My girl Pepper would swoon over your McCoy Pottery!
I thought it pretty too. I started with a salt and pepper shaker.
Marilyn
I am loving reading all the different collections. It is bringing back memories of so many things from when I was younger. I used to collect postcards from different states but my favorite was from the Holiday Inn. It had the “innkeeper” holding a lantern.
I remember seeing a postcard like that, Marsha. I love looking at old postcards. And old photographs. They’re like windows into another time.
Loved the postcards and stationery in hotel and motel desk drawers!
A toilet paper collection is definitely novel. Thanks so much for the giveaway.
“Novel” is a nice (and appropriate) way to put it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoying the blog today, Daniele.
Novel, indeed! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks, so much, for having me here today, Leslie!
So glad you could join the fun!
The toliet paper from different places was a good idea and I love that monkey peeler. Thank you for the chance
And once you’ve seen a monkey peeler it’s hard to believe you can live without one! (This one actually belongs to my son, but it sits on my counter so it was fair game for the picture.)
My kitchen drawers look dull in comparison…
I love the loo paper collection!!!
You’re brave to say so! I was a little bit surprised to find out I still have it. But there it is, in the filing cabinet under L for Loo. Organization, that’s the ticket.
As long as you remember the collection got its start in a country where Loo’s the word!
Love the collections! Would love to win the book.
You’re kind to say so! Thanks for stopping by.
Send Ruff your catnip bribes…
I guess I’d have a collection of old cookbooks, too. I have many that were my mothers.Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Do you still use them? Got a favorite?
Oops – I meant to reply to you earlier, Sue, but must have hit the wrong button – cookbooks and handwritten recipes from mothers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters, fathers and all the rest are the best, aren’t they? So many memories!
Those are definitely some interesting collections. I don’t know that I would have ever thought of collecting toilet paper from different places before.Thanks for sharing your collections and thank you for the chance to win.
And I don’t blame you for not thinking of it, Meaghan. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by today.
Aren’t they fun? I’ll never look at roll of tissue the same way again…
The toilet paper collection is certainly unique!
Lizc@mac.com
Novel, as Daniele said!
Unique and definitely a whim!
I have some of my mother’s, too, and some handwritten recipes from her mother and aunt. Don’t you love having that kind of connection to past generations?
Using my mother’s rolling pin or the wooden spoon her mother brought when she came to visit after I was born give me that feeling, too.
That’s pretty interesting. i usually get a postcard, but that is an even easier way to remember.
We’re big fans of postcards when we travel — why try for the perfect shot of the Acropolis when a pro got it just right? Of course, we still take pics of ourselves and out-of-way finds.
Postcards are more attractive, though. Thanks for stopping by, Carol!
I collect Sudoku puzzle books. I have one in every room. You can never had too many puzzle books. Thank you for the chance to win this giveaway.
and you can move from one to another when the solution eludes you!
Puzzle books, yes! I love crosswords.
The title is awesome! I can’t wait to get into the book! With as many books as I have, want, and are reading it’s a scary thought I might not get through them all!
Doesn’t Molly have great titles — and fun covers, too!
Aren’t books and reading just about the best things in the world? Thanks for stopping by, Amy.
I love Molly’s books! Thanks for the opportunity!
Thanks for joining in the fun.
Oh, Barb, you’re kind! Thanks for stopping by the blog today.
Love the Loo paper collection! Still giggling. I have a spoon collection that I’d like to retire but none of my kids (all boys), grands/greatgrands are interested.
Your books sound terrific!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
Maybe you can entice them by showing them how to make music with spoons!
I think Leslie’s onto something with the musical spoon idea. Good luck with all those boys, Karen! I have boys (kids and grand), too.
Would love to read this book! I have the first two in my tbr stack and hope to add this one and read several together. Toilet paper is an interesting, new idea for collecting, which tells me this will be a great, innovative series. Thanks for the chance to win!
SPINNING is #3, and #5 will be out soon, so you’ve got a series of fun to look forward to!
Don’t you love reading several in a series one after the other? It’s almost like taking a vacation. Thanks for stopping by the blog today, Jeanie.
I’ve never heard of a toilet paper collection but I guess that is what makes us all unique. Thanks for the chance to win.
Hasn’t it been fun to see the variety? Two more authors to go, then you’ll get a glimpse into my treasure trove!
I guess it might be the only one in the world, although knowing how many strange things there are out there, it probably isn’t. Thanks for stopping by for the fun today.
This would be my first book by Molly and I look forward to it. I don’t have any serious collections, but I am trying to collect as many Cozy Mysteries as I can. I wasn’t aware of the genre until about 6 months ago, but I have about 15 so far, and, I am loving them. Thank you for the chance to win this giveaway.
Stick with us, Ruth, and we’ll have you completely corrupted. Err, converted. 🙂
Ah, Ruth, once you’ve come over to the cozy side, it’s hard to get out. Usually because two or three cats have climbed into your lap and someone is plying you with tea. It’s a great place to be!
I have seen a lot of different things people collect but I will have to say that collecting toilet tissues is very unique : ) Thanks for the fun giveaways!!
Thanks for being part of the fun, Darlene!
And thanks for appreciating the humor, Darlene!
You have some great collections. I have a few things that are sixty or seventy years old like a plate from my dad’s old restaurant, a ice cream soup and a juice squeezer, I also have several old drip coffee pots that I display.
I love collections with family history!
I know that “things” aren’t supposed to be important, but family “things” come with stories and the stories ARE important. How wonderful to have those things from you dad’s restaurant, Carol!
I Just adore Molly’s books. I can’t wait to try Leslie Budweitz’s series!
Thanks, Hillary! I hope you love them!
Thank you, Hillary!
Congratulations on your July 7th release Leslie! Thank you for the chance of the give-of-way…Molly’s books are a hoot!
Thank you, Sandy!
I have collections of many things. Antique postcards, I have certain areas of interest, especially photo cards. I seldom buy them today because of the price. Old office supplies, not vintage, but antique. Books, definitely collect books. Nonfiction and mysteries. Old and new books. Old knitting patterns, somewhere in a box are fifties patterns. I love the patterns from the twenties and thirties, and have lots of 1970s and 1980s. I think I will stop there. Yep, definitely time to end my list.
Ah, Liz, someday I want to spend time with your collections!
I would LOVE to read this book!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
Thanks for stopping by!
I collect many things, but loo paper has never been one of them. It gets me thinking though…
Ha! Maybe it’ll be a trend! Thanks for stopping the blog today.
I cook less & less these days but cookbook collection keeps growing. I tend to want the older used ones as opposed to new ones.
Cookbooks make great reading. I’ve been reading Scottish cookbooks on my breaks at work lately. So much fun! Thanks for stopping by today.
i seem to remember receiving a few letters, from friends, traveling in europe, written on toilet or loo paper!
love the hedgehog!
It makes great airmail paper. When I was in France I used it for overseas letters because it was so lightweight and easy to write on.
I love the collections! I especially love the kitty paw. The kitty just wanted to be in the picture! Thank you for this chance!
The kitty likes to be wherever the action is! He’s a sweetheart. Thanks for stopping by the blog, Robyn!
Toilet paper is a most unusual collection
You’re kind to say so, Judy! Thanks for stopping by the blog.
I only collected one sheet of toilet paper…from the loo at London Zoo. It was rough. Next trip I took my own tp. Judy D.
Smart move!
I love collecting cookbooks and recipes among other things. These books are great.
Thanks for stopping by, Sharon.