Krista Davis - Cozy Mystery Author Spotlight, Interview and Giveaway

I am going to be hosting a number of cozy mystery authors on my blog for the next two months. If you have not had the pleasure of enjoying a cozy mystery I encourage you to do so. The cozy mystery industry as a whole is in danger of being lost as the publishers are ending a number of series. Please note that not all series I will be sharing are in danger. There are many that will be continuting on as normal. I just wanted to do my part to make everyone aware of this genre as a whole. 

Today I will be showcasing Krista Davis

Paws and Claws Series

About this author:

Krista Davis lives and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She lived in Northern Virginia for many years and resided for a time in Old Town Alexandria where her Domestic Diva Mysteries take place.

Krista also writes the Paws and Claws Mysteries, which debuted with MURDER, SHE BARKED. They are set in a resort town that caters to people who want to vacation with their dogs and cats. Alas, charming Wagtail Mountain, Virginia, where dogs and cats are welcome everywhere is fictional.

She likes to cook and bake (okay, what she really likes is eating) so it was only natural for her to include recipes in her mysteries.

Her three dogs and two cats have inspired the animal characters in her books.

Domestic Diva Series 1-5

Where to follow this author:

Krista's Website

Krista's Pinterest

Krista's Twitter

Krista's Facebook

Interview:

When did your love of writing begin?
Definitely in grade school. I was crazy about Nancy Drew and started writing my own stories and plays. I was very lucky to have teachers who encouraged me.

What made you chose this genre?
Is there another genre? Just kidding. I read all kinds of books but I always come back to mysteries. They're so intriguing.

Do you have a scheduled writing time, place and/or routine?
Only in my dreams. I keep trying to adhere to a schedule but life likes to interrupt me. I usually write at a desk, but sometimes I snuggle up on the sofa to write on my iPad. The primary constant is that I must have my mug of hot tea by my side.

What do you do to get over writer's block?I walk away from the computer. That sounds counterintuitive but it works for me. When I'm stuck, it means I need to work something out in my head. I usually do something mindless, like laundry or cleaning a drawer, and the solution often comes to me. The other thing I do is write out the problem as though I were explaining it to a friend. It's amazing how often I know the answer before I finish writing the explanation.

What was it like to get your first publishing contract?
Unfortunately, I received the happy news from my agent on the day of the massacre at Virginia Tech. I live in Tech territory, so everyone had been glued to the TV. The news got worse and worse, and in the middle of all that horror, I got the good news that my series had sold.

It was awful. How could I be happy when so many innocent people had just been killed?
It was so surreal that my mother called me the next morning and asked if I had really told her that I sold a book!

How has the publishing/writing world changed since you first started writing?
Oh, wow. When I started, there was no self publishing! People can hardly remember those days now. There are so many more options available to authors today.

You write about strong female characters. Are they modeled after anyone?
I am delighted to hear you say that they're strong female characters. More than anything, I think they're modeled after the kind of women I know. Not specific people, but the women who surround me in my life.

When you are not writing what do you like to do?
I haven't been able to travel much in recent years but I love seeing new places, trying local food, and experiencing different ways of life.

I'm also very fond of swimming, boating and water fun. And of course, I dote on my dogs and cats.

Do you have any advice for beginning authors?
I do. Join an online group that focuses on the genre you write. You will learn so much. There's no point in struggling with basics when you can ask people who know the answers. Don’t be afraid to ask. No one was born knowing these things. I remember when I didn’t know which font I should be using in a manuscript.

If you write mysteries, check out Sisters in Crime, especially their Guppies Chapter for unpublished writers. If it's romance that you write, Romance Writers of America will provide tons of information.

Do you have a favorite author or book you would like to recommend to your readers?
LOL! I never answer this question. I have so many author friends that I would surely get into all kinds of trouble by accidentally omitting someone. How about Agatha Christie? I don't think anyone can complain about that and her books are wonderful!

Please tell us five random things about yourself
1. I used to work in hotels, which was so much fun!
2. I'm not a fan of Thai food.
3. I'm terrified of snakes.
4. I can’t stand cilantro. In my own defense, I understand some of us are born with a gene that makes cilantro taste bad.
5. I once won $1,000 on a scratch-off lottery card!

What I learned about this author:

I learned that she does not have a specific writing routine she writes when and where she can. When Krista is not writing she likes to spend time on the water swimming and boating. Her advice to new writers is to join an online group. What did you learn?

Giveaway:

This giveaway is for the US only. The winner will be drawn randomly via rafflecopter. Once the winner has been drawn they will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. If you do not respond a new winner will be chosen. It is mandatory that you leave a comment on this post. This will be verfied and if you do not leave a comment then your entry will be thrown out. Thank you and good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stay tuned for the next author.