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 peek behind the scenes with Krista Davis, author of the Paws and Claws Mysteries and the Domestic Diva Mysteries.
“When Leslie asked what I collect, I couldn’t think of a thing. But then I remembered Sophie Winston, the protagonist in my Domestic Diva Mysteries. She’s always collecting china. I confess, I have a weakness for crystal and china, and I indulge my desires through Sophie, who has a vast collection.
But let’s be clear. I’m not a snob. My fondness extends to glassware and ceramics, too. If I had the money and the space, I would be one of those crazy people with special dishes for every holiday, including Easter and Halloween!
Okay, so I do have Christmas china. Hmm, I haven’t acquired that beautiful Waterford stemware with snowflakes on it yet . . .
In the photo, the fun flowered glasses are from Pier 1. The gold-rimmed schnapps glasses were bought on a trip to Europe eons ago.
The red plates are among my favorites. Who doesn’t love all American Fiestaware? It’s so cheerful for breakfast or a meal on the patio. My latest obsession are those cute little square plates from Macy’s. So clean and modern. Perfect for appetizers and tiny desserts.
The amber glasses make an appearance every Thanksgiving. And doesn’t everyone need some champagne glasses for special celebrations?
I guess none of this comes as a big surprise. If you’ve read the Domestic Diva Mysteries, you probably suspected I had a little bit of domestic diva in me. The next book, THE DIVA STEALS A CHOCOLATE KISS, comes out on June 2nd! And yes, there’s some very special Italian pottery in it!”
Catch up with Krista on her website, Facebook, or Twitter.
To win a copy of signed copy of THE DIVA STEALS A CHOCOLATE KISS, leave a comment on my Facebook Author page or blog. 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
I love Christmas dishes, too! I passed on my mother’s to my middle son and now have an odd assortment for myself that I love.
Those mismatched sets can be fun, can’t they? My parents didn’t have Christmas china either; their tradition was to buy a new bundle of Christmas-themed paper plates — snack size — and cocktail napkins every year, and I’ve kept that up — a new design every year!
Those assortments can be the best, Karen B! I love combining different patterns. Sometimes it’s surprising what works.
I do like pretty plates but I don’t have a collection. If I had more room I think I would. Thanks for the giveaway!
Ah, space, the final frontier! Thanks for chiming in, Carol.
It’s probably good that I’m out of room, Carol M. Good luck in the giveaway!
I really like the Domestic Diva series. I haven’t read the other series yet but I definetly plan to. Thank you for the chance
Oh, you’ll love Wagtail, I promise!
Thank you so much, Candace! I hope you’ll like the new book, too!
Christmas china is so pretty that I wish I could use it year round. Thanks for the contest.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Go ahead, Sue — no reason you can’t!
LOL, Sue! I have friends who seek out my Christmas china when they’re visiting – no matter what time of year!
You can’t go wrong with chocolate, mystery, and a cat:) I love collecting Precious Moments. Thanks for the contest:)
Three key ingredients to a happy life!
Thanks, Penny. Precious Moments are so cute!
Alas, it is now time to de-clutter, and all those pieces of ruby glassware, those egg cups, and unimaginable numbers of other things will have to be sorted and sent on their merry ways. But I can always keep collecting books (as long as I do a better job of sharing them).
lizc@mac.com
Think of it as releasing your treasures to find a new life with someone else who loves them!
Ruby glassware! Egg cups! Um, so where do you live and when is the yard sale? ; )
I would love to have a set of Christmas china. But I don’t think that will happen.
How about a few Christmas mugs, to share the spirit?
I think Leslie is right. The mugs get used the most anyway!
I have read a few books in the Domestic Diva series, and so far they are great! Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
You’re welcome — the Divas are a big hit with me, too!
Thank you, Abby. That’s very kind of you. Good luck!
I love to collect cookie cutters and cake pans! Thanks for the chance I love this series !
That’s fun, Teri! What’s your most unusual cookie cutter? I gave my SIL a copper moose last Christmas!
Cookie cutters! I forgot all about them. Hmm, I love cake pans, too!
Right now I love anything Parisian…I have collected Paris pillows, Eiffel Tower trinket boxes, and a great Christmas ornament with Santa on the Eiffel Tower. Thanks for giving away your works…it definitely gets me interested in a new series.
Ah, Paris…Our trip there is one of my fondest memories! Thanks for joining the fun.
Hah! Something else I can’t get enough of – Christmas ornaments. Santa on the Eiffel Tower must be very cute. Good luck, Kathleen.
Oh, to be able to set a table like Domestic Diva Sophie!
And to be able to pull things out of the freezer and refrigerator and whip up those meals! I think we all wish we could be Sophie’s guest for a few days!
I’d like that, too, Celia! It’s fun to have a character who can buy what I would like.
I collect books, pens (rollerball, especially in assorted colors), paper, etc. I have too much stuff, but I love it. I think I have three books in this series. If I win I won’t be able to claim my prize until Monday night because I don’t have a computer at home.
Ah, another stationery addict! We are legion!
I think we all collect books, Michelle! Good luck in the giveaway.
I love collecting anything Christmas. I usually put up 5 Christmas trees in my house. I would put up 6 but my son decided it wasn’t cool to have one in his room anymore. LOL, my favorite Cheistmas ornament to collect would have to be gingerbread ornaments. Thank you for the chance to win this book. I absolutely love this series…..it’s my all time favorite!
5 Christmas trees? You are a wonder woman! Thanks for joining in the fun!
Oh my gosh, Dawn. You are the Christmas diva, for sure! I do like putting little trees or lighted houses in bedrooms. So cozy!
I am enjoying reading about all the collections. My collections are books, cookbooks, and snowmen.
Marsha, I love cookbooks. One can never have too many.
I collect blue & white pieces along with wine glasses from wineries.
What fun for entertaining, Agnes! I would love to see your table set with all the blue and white china. I bet it’s beautiful.
I collect books and pretty things — all kinds of pretties as my great niece calls them. I want to thank you for introducing me to all these new to me authors.
A lot of crystal and china is gorgeous, but the bad thing is I’m such a klutz, I’d be afraid to collect something that breakable. I think I’m better sticking with my books, bags, and hats.
Love Christmas China. Always start the season with a Tom &Jerry in my Christmas mug.
I LOVE the diva series! I enjoy collecting china. My true addiction is collecting books! Cozies & cookbooks are my favorites. Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
Krista, I love Transferware dishes. I have a set of the Red and a set of Brown transferware!
I use them at Thanksgiving!
I love to collect the little spoons from places that I visit.
Christmas is my favorite time of year and when I bring out what mismatched china I have collected. thanks for the giveaway -would love to a copy – have been wanting to read
I have my grandmother’s dishes. I wish I had asked for her green stemware and some of the other things in her china cabinet. She died while we were in Hawaii and I couldn’t think of all the things she had that I would have wanted. I recently took a picture of something my sister, who passed away last year, and I used to joke about. I have a plastic red plate, a cupf from Gatorland in Orlando, FL and a paper towel. Oh and I think I had plastic silverware there too. I called it my fine china and crystal. My sister’s joke was when she’d hand out papertowels for napkins that we were using her fine Irish linen napkins. 🙂
Love the dishes. I am sure food and drink taste better with nice China and Crystal.
I am so not alone among other collectors. Makes me want to get out my mismatched dishes. That Parisian themed holiday tree sounds fun. Had a friend who put up a tree in EVERY room at Christmas. And a couple who keep one up all year and decorate it for the different holidays. And post pix to share.
I don’t really collect anything, either (unless you count books!), but I do love dishes and glassware. With the many moves I’ve made in the past 15 years, I don’t have much of a collection (or anything that nice, really) but I have a set of pint glasses from Lake Sunapee I’ve had for many years that are special to me. They aren’t fancy, but I love vacationing there!
Collections are links to the past, aren’t they? Yours sounds just right!
I collected 1940’s dishes until I found the set I loved and quit. Is this contest still open?
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
What pattern, Marilyn?
I love my vintage Fiestaware, and have picked up some of the newer colors as well. I also like vintage kitchen tools like potato mashers, measuring glasses, etc. Since I also like Depression glass, my favorite pieces are the old kitchen toys made in Depression glass. As for holidays, I have a set of Christmas dessert plates. But, “my” holiday is Thanksgiving when I host four generations of my family and over 40 people at our home. Lots of mismatched serving pieces all combine beautifully for a festive buffet table. Family and good food, lots of love and laughter…. Makes me smile to think of it.
The colors are so inviting — and appetizing — aren’t they? Your Thanksgiving celebration sounds wonderful — thanks for the glimpse!