KYRA DAVIS: Give The Gift Of Sophie...She's Cheap!

In the last two weeks I’ve gotten a small handful of emails from readers asking if and how they can get a personalized autographed book of mine to give as a gift for the holidays. The first person who emailed me told me she wanted to put together a chocolate lover's gift basket for her chocoholic sister complete with chocolate bars, chocolate scented candles and yes, a signed copy of Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate. I thought that was a cute idea. But when I got another email from someone who wanted to give a signed copy of Sex, Murder and a Double Latte as a gift to her daughter who is a “big fan” and another email from someone who wanted to give an autographed edition of Passion, Betrayal and Killer Highlights to their friend Cheryl-the-hairstylist I thought, OH MY GOD! I’VE ACHIEVED THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS! I’M A GIFT ITEM!

But when I started to think about it I realized that maybe my sparkling prose aren’t the reason that my books have made it to a few of your holiday shopping lists. Maybe a couple of you have come to the conclusion that a personalized autographed book is one of the few non-homemade presents under fifteen dollars that might actually elicit a surprised and happy smile from the receiver. In other words, I am the literary equivalent of a cheap date.

And you know what? I don’t care! Yes, my books are still selling but let’s face it: the economy is in the toilet, my son has medical expenses and I’m living in one of the world’s most expensive cities. So whatever your reason is for wanting to buy a Sophie novel it is fine by me. As far as I'm concerned you can use Sex, Murder and a Double Latte as a booster seat for your toddler. Really, I'm cool with it.

Anyway, if there are others out there who want to give the gift of Sophie (or make a present of So Much For My Happy Ending ) I would be glad to autograph it and write a little personal note of greeting to your friend, family member, and/or co-worker.

Just email me at kyra.davis@kyradavis.com and I’ll give you the name and phone number of a bookstore that's nearby (for me). Then you can call them up, purchase the book over the phone. I’ll pop in and sign it along with a little note wishing your loved one a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Good Kwanzaa or Joyful Chrismaskah and the book store will ship the book to the address of your choice. Easy peasy.

And yes, I know this is shameless self promotion. I get that. But I live in a city where women are constantly sticking their boobs in people’s faces in hopes that it will give them a leg up in their quest to become the latest reality TV bimbo so in comparison one little opportunistic-blog post doesn’t seem outlandishly inappropriate.

And did I mention that I live in one of the most expensive cities in the world?

Kyra Davis
Bestselling Author of:
SEX, MURDER AND A DOUBLE LATTE,
PASSION, BETRAYAL AND KILLER HIGHLIGHTS,
OBSESSION, DECEIT AND REALLY DARK CHOCOLATE
and
SO MUCH FOR MY HAPPY ENDING

8 comments :

AnonymousTuesday, December 2, 2008 at 8:42:00 PM PST
This is not your average fan comment.

About halfway through reading "Sex, Murder and a Double Latte", I knew I had to write and compliment you on the book. I have since finished it and am reading the next Sophie book.

As a Conservative WASP male from Virginia, I am very far outside your target demographic, but I loved the book anyway and can't wait to read the others. My best friend reccomended the books to me because she, being of mixed race, related to Sophie and Leah. I was impressed with the book because I didn't relate to any of the characters or setting, but found it very immersing and entertaining. In my opinion, the best writers make stories that can be appriciated by anyone, regardless of their background -- and that's what I think your books do.

SM&DL had the single best opening hook that I've ever read in any novel, hands down. "The worst part about writing sex scenes is that my mother reads my books." LOL! That whole opening page was hillarious. I read that scene to my mother and she cracked up.

Being from Dixie, I've mostly read Civil War, World War II and Cold War fiction my whole life because that's what my father and uncles read and left lying around the house. I just recentely discovered chick lit through my female best friend and found out that I really like the genre. However, being a guy, I get a little bored sometimes with slice-of-life and romance, but a few murders balance that out and make it just about perfect. :-)

Oh, by the way -- Frapacinos are indeed delicious. My old school had three Starbucks on campus. Last summer, I discovered the joys of iced coffee and got very addicted. Unfortunetly, I overdrew my bank account and got a $35 charge added to every coffee I bought with my debit card. My family now refers to cappacino as "Forty Dollar Coffee" to make fun of me. LOL.

BTW, my friend is the poster on this blog (Hanakoalways) who said that she turns your books to face out at bookstores. I am one of your new fans she recruited.

Well, that's about all I wanted to say. Good luck writing the rest of your books! I will definitely be reading them. :-)

- S. Forester Randlet
kyradavisTuesday, December 2, 2008 at 11:52:00 PM PST
What a fabulous compliment! I do have a few male friends who have read my books, one of them bought Sex, Murder And A Double Latte in hardcover and then put a James Patterson cover over it so the guys at his landscaping business wouldn't know what he was reading. Another guy, Noah, brought the book with him to the gym so he had something to read on the treadmill. Of course I'm dating Noah now because I figure a real man is one who is secure enough in his masculinity to bring a pink covered book to the gym.

As for the $40 coffee...well, if it makes you feel any better there are those who pay a lot more. Kopi Luwak coffee sells for up to $600/lbs. In case you don't know, Kupi Luwak coffee is made from gourmet beans after they have been eaten and then pooped out by an Asian Palm Civet. Apparently the coffee gets its unusual flavor while in the digestive track of the mammal. Personally I'd rather pay $40 for a Frap.

Anyway, I'm thrilled that you enjoy my books so much and I hope you continue to do so! And thank Hanakoalways for me! I owe her one!
AnonymousSunday, December 7, 2008 at 1:39:00 PM PST
Loved all the books and am waiting for the next chapter in the Sophie saga. When do you think it will be published?
kyradavisSunday, December 7, 2008 at 1:53:00 PM PST
LUST, LOATHING AND A LITTLE LIP GLOSS will be in stores May 26th. Hope it doesn't disappoint!
AnonymousMonday, December 8, 2008 at 5:21:00 PM PST
I wasn't bothered by the pink cover. However, Hanakoalways gave me a bag because she didn't want me walking through the city with a pink book ... something about it being dangerous, LOL. But since I'm 6'7" tall, I figure I can carry whatever kind of book I want and no one will mess with me. :D

I'm halfway through book 2 and thus far, my favorite character is definitely Anatoly. What I like most about him is the fact that he can be a real prick sometimes rather than the stock romantic male that usually features in chick lit.

I hate romantic heroes because they dehumanize men and create an impossible standard for real guys to match. IMO, it's as degrading and objectifying to men as flawless porn models are to women. But Anatoly is not a perfect hero, and I like that.

I loved the part in book 1 when Anatoly told off the artist. I used to work in an art museum, and that scene made me laugh out loud. Not that I would ever be brash enough to tell an artist that he sucks ... but God knows I wanted to a few times! XD

BTW, I added your name to my favorite authors feild on Facebook and DeviantArt. Maybe it will encourage people to Google you and discover the books.
kyradavisMonday, December 8, 2008 at 8:37:00 PM PST
I too have issues with those stereotypical romantic-hero types. It's not that I think it sets an impossible standard so much as it is that those characters never ring true to me and are thus completely uninteresting. Based on my reader emails it would seem that many women agree with me. I don't know if there are a lot of female readers who are in love with Anatoly...but they WANT him. If he was real I'm sure he'd have no problem with that.

Thank you SO MUCH for putting me up on your Facebook and DeviantArt page. There simply is no better publicity than word of mouth publicity. And in this economy that's the only publicity anyone can afford anyway ;)
Mommy RedTuesday, December 9, 2008 at 1:04:00 PM PST
A cheap date? I read no further..... I know you don't care, but I just sent you the first "Fan-mail" I have written in my LIFE! I have prided myself on not bothering the "famous" because hey, they're people too...... but you have completely captured my awe and revere...... I absolutely cannot wait for more - and to me, sharing you with my friends and especially my sister and family is not even CLOSE to a cheap-date, it's up there ranked with the NUMBER ONE BEST THINGS TO DO TO STAY CLOSELY LINKED TO YOUR GIRLS..... right up there along with a trip to Starbucks, or the sushi bar....

Screw that! CHEAP DATE YOU ARE NOT!
kyradavisTuesday, December 9, 2008 at 5:15:00 PM PST
Aw, thank you Mommy Red! But keep in mind, a cheap date isn't necessarily a bad date. In fact most men will tell you that a cheap date is the very best kind of date you can have ;)
I just read your email and I can't tell you how glad I am that my books have been able to provide you with a mental escape and a reason to laugh. With everything going on in your life it would seem that you really need (and certainly deserve) both!