Author Interview: Krista Davis
One of the best parts of the cozy mystery world is getting to know the authors. They are great people who are kind enough to pull back the curtain and give us all a peek into their lives. Last night, at the Cozy Experience Facebook Party, we had the opportunity chat with the wonderful, Krista Davis. We talked about her new book, Mission Impawsible, what’s next for her books, what she did before writing, and more. Here is a recap of some of the highlights from Krista.
Can you tell us a little about the inspiration for the Holly & the Paws & Claws Mystery Series?
This was such a fun series to develop. I have three dogs and two cats, so it wasn’t hard for me to go overboard creating a town that catered to them and their people. So many of us hate to leave our fur babies at home or in a kennel so I invented a place where they are welcome. A place where I would like to live.
A lot of people ask me if Wagtail really exists. I’m sorry to say that it doesn’t. But I do keep hoping that some clever builder will grab the idea and run with it. Did you know there’s now a Margaritaville based on Jimmy Buffet’s songs?
Do you base your characters on people (and animals) you know? Or are they straight out of your imagination?
My Jack Russell Terrier, Buttercup, was a natural for the role of Trixie, the dog with a nose for trouble. If you know a Jack Russell, you know that they’re very snoopy and always up to tricks.
Of course, there had to be a cat, so I went with my own very snoopy Little Miss Sunshine as Twinkletoes. She has to examine and approve everything that comes into the house. I’m always finding her in boxes. And she scares the wits out of me when she walks on the railing and looks down at me.
I don’t base characters on real people, but I am a people watcher. We all know people who are quirky or interesting or prone to misbehaving. I had a lot of fun with Nessie and Sky and their relationships with their daughters. And Macon Stotts was a hoot to write.
What did you do before you started writing books?
I did a lot of things. One of my favorite jobs was assistant manager of a huge convention hotel. No day was like another!
How do you decide who is the killer in each book is?
I usually know that before I start writing. Obviously, to have a mystery, something has to be going on that drives a person over the edge. Something that makes him/her so desperate that murder seems the only solution.
What is on the horizon for Holly and all our friends in Wagtail? Do you have any other books coming out in 2017 in this series or others?
I am very happy to tell you that Holly is staying in Wagtail for Christmas this year! Not a Creature Was Purring will be released on November 7th. It’s already listed on Amazon but without a cover. I have seen a sketch of the proposed cover, and I have to say that it might be my favorite cover ever.
Santa Claws is coming to town and checking his list for a murderer—
Inn owner Holly Miller finds it ruff staying cheerful over the holidays when the dead body of a beloved businessman turns up in the pet-friendly town of Wagtail, Virginia.
Inspired by her German heritage, Holly’s grandmother has arranged for Wagtail to have a Christkindl Market packed with goodies and decorations for the howliday tourists. But Holly’s mood takes an unseasonable turn when she learns that her old flame and childhood friend, Holmes Richardson, has brought his fiancée home—and she’ll be staying at the Sugar Maple Inn…
A love triangle becomes the last thing on Holly’s mind when her Jack Russell Trixie’s nose for trouble leads her to the corpse of a pet clothing tycoon. Now Holly and her dedicated detectives—Trixie and Twinkletoes the cat—must sniff out the killer to keep Christmas from going to the dogs…
Sometime in early 2018, probably March, my new series will debut. Right now, it’s top secret! Shh. It’s a mystery! Anyone want to guess what it might be about?
Still can’t get enough from Krista? Hop on over to the Cozy Experience Facebook Group (it’s a closed group, but search for it on FB and join up) and read the all the party comments.
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