Bruce DeSilva & Brady and Rondo

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me with Rondo, a rampant kisser, and Brady, who prefers hugs. Rondo is a five-and-a-half year-old mutt who looks like a cross between a Red Rock Hound and a Mack truck. Brady is a seven-year-old Bernese Mountain dog. They’re both big boys, each weighing in at 130 pounds. The third family member in the photo, the one with the most facial hair, is me, Bruce DeSilva. I’m the author of the Edgar Award-winning Mulligan crime novels including The Dread Line, which is being published by Forge on Sept. 6.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Most mornings, I pick up an egg-and-cheese breakfast sandwich and two extra-large cups of coffee just down the street. Then my wife and I plant ourselves in front of our computers to begin writing. Brady, who loves Patricia best, usually sits on her feet. Rondo, who loves me best, settles down beside me, sometimes resting his huge head in my lap.

What's brewing?

Dunkin’ Donuts regular, but we usually add a dash of hot chocolate to each cup. Patricia claims that was Brady’s idea.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Sometimes, I sneak a couple of glazed donuts if my wife isn’t looking. I don’t outweigh both dogs added together, but it’s too close for comfort. The dogs, who get fed as soon as we get up, need to watch their weight, too, but they study us as we eat, hoping to snag a scrap. They never beg; they’re too proud for that. But they stare at us so hopefully with their glistening brown eyes that we can’t resist breaking off a bit of sandwich for them.

We know from an earlier appearance here on the blog that Brady and Rondo are named after Boston sports heroes. But Rajon Rondo is now with his third team since he left Boston in 2014. Have you thought about changing his name to, say, Isaiah Thomas, after the Celtics' current point guard?

Never. It would just confuse him. Besides, although Rondo is no longer a Celtic, he was the best player on the court when Boston defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA championship in 2008, outplaying everyone including future hall of famers Kevin Garnet, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant. In our house, that’s still worth celebrating.

There are dogs named Brady and Rondo in your new novel. How do they differ from the real-life dogs of the same name?

The dogs that Liam Mulligan, the hero of my novels, adopts in The Dread Line not only have the same names as mine but have almost exactly the same personalities—something I consider a remarkable coincidence. Mulligan’s two dogs, like mine, are the best of friends, so inseparable that neither will go for a walk without the other. Both Rondos are protective, displaying a suspicion of strangers by barking incessantly at them. Both Bradys are gregarious and affectionate with everyone they meet. Both Rondos are eager to please, constantly studying their masters for clues about what they should do next. Both Bradys are stubborn and independent, obeying commands to come or stay only when it suits them. Both Brady’s refuse to fetch, watching balls sail over their heads with a look that says, “You expect me to get that?” But the fictional Rondo loves to fetch. The real one has no interest in balls. He’d rather roughhouse with Brady.

I'm always interested in how authors use dogs to flesh out a character. If a character kicks a dog, little more needs to be written to show he's a villain. If the protagonist rescues a beaten-down street dog, we know the character may not be all bad. (Think about the drug dealer at the center of The 25th Hour--novel by David Benioff, film adaptation starring Edward Norton. The very first lines of the novel are about the rescue of the wretched pit bull.) If a character dotes on his dog but casually kicks a child, we know he's a special kind of psychopath. Is there an example (or two) from your new novel showing how Brady and Rondo help define a character?

I agree that you can learn a lot about people, either real or fictional, by the way they treat dogs. That’s why I have always put a dog or two in my novels, even before Mulligan acquired his. Early in The Dread Line, when he goes to a nearby animal shelter to find a new friend, he sees a pooch swathed in bandages and learns that some creep had set it on fire. Immediately, he vows to track the bastard down. Meanwhile, Mulligan has an associate named Joseph DeLucca, a former strip club bouncer turned bookmaker who always packs a high-powered handgun. Outwardly he appears to be a big, dumb thug (although he’s actually smarter than he looks.) But when he shows up at Mulligan’s place in the new novel, the first thing he does is get down on his hands and knees to pet Brady. Next thing you know, the two of them are rolling around on the porch, roughhousing like litter-mates. That tells readers right off that Joseph must be one of the good guys.

If your dogs could change one thing about you, what would it be?

They’d make me taller. Oh, wait. That’s what I’d change. I’m sure they’d want me to spend less time writing and more time walking them around the neighborhood and joining their play-fights in our big back yard.

What advice would Brady and Rondo give if asked?

Brady would tell Rondo not to get so worked up about thunder, the mailman and the vacuum cleaner. Rondo would tell Brady that he has to live forever because the younger dog would be utterly lost without his big brother. They’d tell me to write a series of novels about the Brady & Rondo Hard-Bark Detective Agency, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea.

Visit Bruce DeSilva's website and blog.

Coffee with a Canine: Bruce DeSilva and Brady (November 2010).

Coffee with a Canine: Bruce DeSilva & Rondo and Brady (June 2012).

The Page 69 Test: A Scourge of Vipers.

My Book, The Movie: A Scourge of Vipers.

--Marshal Zeringue

Bruce DeSilva & Rondo and Brady

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me and Rondo, the latest addition to our clan. Rondo's the furrier one. I'm Bruce DeSilva, the Edgar Award-winning author of the hardboiled Mulligan crime novels including Cliff Walk, which was just published.

Rondo is a sixteen-month-old, 120-pound mutt who looks like a cross between a Red Rock Hound and a Humvee. To date, he hasn't read any of my books.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Coffee is a morning ritual for me and my wife, the poet Patricia Smith. We take turns making it first thing every morning while Rondo and his older brother, Brady, a purebred Bernese Mountain Dog, nuzzle our legs in the kitchen and wonder why there's nothing in their bowls yet.

What's brewing?

After realizing that we were shelling out $300 a month at Dunkin' Donuts, my wife and I recently bought a Mr. Coffee and started percolating at home. We haven't abandoned Dunkin', though; we're using their brand. Sometimes we put a pinch of Swiss Miss hot chocolate mix in the cups. That was the dogs' idea.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

While we sip our coffee and read The New York Times, Rondo and Brady [on the left and right, respectively, in the photo at left] chow down on their breakfast of premium dog food--unless one of us has a muffin or egg sandwich, in which case all bets are off. They stare at us pleadingly and poke us with their paws until they realize that no people chow is forthcoming and return to their own grub. When they finish eating, they smack their lips, wander over, plop down beside us, and put their huge heads in our laps.

When you and Brady were guests here on the blog in 2010 we learned how he got his name; what's Rondo's story?

Both of our big boys are named after Boston sports heroes, Brady after Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Rondo after Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics. We actually high-five Rondo (the dog) when Rondo (the Celtic) makes a great shot, which both confuses and delights Rondo (the dog). This naming tendency runs in the family; my oldest son named his two golden retrievers Larry and Legend, both after Larry Bird. I keep telling my wife we need to get another couple of furry behemoths and name them Chara, after a Boston Bruin, and Yaz, after a Boston Red Sox legend of our youth. Okay, she says, but we'll have to get a bigger house first.

How were you and Rondo united?

We wanted a bud for Brady, so we adopted Rondo from the wonderful folks at Rainbow Animal Rescue in North Carolina when he was three months old. He was already 35 lbs., so we knew what we were in for. If you're looking for a dog, you can't do better than check out Rainbow. They treat every animal with loving care.

Back in 2010 you said a character in Cliff Walk owns a Bernese Mountain Dog named Brady. Is there a Rondo-inspired character in the book, too?

No, but you can be sure one will show up as the Mulligan crime novel series continues. You can learn a lot about people by the way they treat dogs, and that's true of fictional characters too. Giving them pets helps with characterization. Maybe I'll have Brady and Rondo [on the right and left, respectively, in the photo at left] team up to solve a crime--I can see them as Sherlock and Watson. Maybe a cat goes missing. (Just kidding. Animal sleuths are a bad fit for my hardboiled style.)

Do Brady and Rondo have any pet-pals?

Our neighbors walk their beagle, Whizzer, every morning and always stop by our fence so he can commune with our boys. At first, the beagle was cowed by their size, but once he realized how gentle they are he started sticking his nose through the fence so they can bend down and nuzzle him. It's such a cuddly scene it should have a soundtrack.

What is Rondo's best quality?

Like Brady, Rondo is incredibly gentle and affectionate, always wanting to rub against our legs or sit beside us and put his head in our laps. He's also a rampant kisser. But what I love most about our boys is their deep affection for each other. They are inseparable, playing tug of war, chasing each other around our trees, or sleeping with their bodies pressed together. They are rarely more than a few feet apart. When we do have to separate them briefly, to take one of them to the vet, for example, Brady sulks like a lovesick teenager and Rondo wails a wretched aria until they are together again.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life in which your dogs could speak, which actors should do their voices?

John Goodman's resonant voice, alternately gentle and on the verge of laughter, is perfect for Brady. Chris Rock's voice has the goofy, fun-loving quality that is Rondo.

If your dogs could answer a question in English, what would you ask them?

Have you forgiven me for the ... uh ... neutering thing? Do we smell as good as you seem to think? Why is "God" dog spelled backwards? Got any ideas for my next book? How can we ever repay you for all the love and joy you give us?

Learn more about the book and author at Bruce DeSilva's website and blog.

Read--Coffee with a Canine: Bruce DeSilva and Brady.

The Page 69 Test: Cliff Walk.

--Marshal Zeringue

Peter Abrahams & Audrey

Who is in the photo at right?

That’s me, Peter Abrahams - known as Spencer Quinn when it comes to the Chet and Bernie series – with my dog, Audrey, who has no other name. Audrey’s six years old, half Bernese and half Golden Retriever. She’s very strong, quite smart, kind of willful. Audrey has her own ways. For example, the wind scares her but she has to be outdoors if it’s windy. I’m somewhat older and like the wind. The Dog Who Knew Too Much is my 27th novel. The 28th, Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood St., first in a new middle-grade series, comes out in January. The Chet and Bernie books are for adults, but I know some teens are reading them.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

The occasion? I paused on the way to the office (over the garage), about to start the workday. Any time Audrey sees a human like that is an occasion for her to sit on his feet. It’s a Bernese thing.

What's brewing?

I load the coffee maker with fresh beans every night, programmed to grind and brew at 7:30. This particular brew is Ugandan. I like the word Uganda a lot.

Any treats for you or Audrey on this occasion?

Don’t say treat in front of Audrey.

How were you and Audrey united?

My wife brought her home.

How did she get her name?

Ask my wife how Audrey got her name.

Any nicknames?

Nicknames? Did Audrey Hepburn have a nickname?

The latest Chet and Bernie mystery is now out. How much of Audrey is in Chet?

I don’t really work that way, but if I hadn’t had dogs – of whom Audrey is the latest of quite a few – I wouldn’t have been able to write or been interested in writing the series.

If the mysteries are adapted for the screen, who should do Chet's voice?

Humphrey Bogart. Rex Harrison would also work, in a crazy way. But confining ourselves to the living, usually the best policy, how about Jeff Bridges?

Does Audrey have a favorite place to go for walk?

The beach. We live very close to a nice beach and Audrey loves it. She swims even on the coldest winter days.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

Chet (not a talking dog, by the way, only a narrating one – he has no human powers) mentions several times in the series that he’s responsible for home security. Audrey’s the same way. She barks at the approach of any non-family member. At the same time, she gets along very well with the mailman, UPS and FedEx people, meter readers, etc. They all bring her treats, of course, which skews the results somewhat.

What is Audrey's best quality?

She’s part of the family and knows it. Does this answer the question? Logically not, but it feels right (perhaps right here is some insight into how I’m able to write Chet).

If Audrey could change one thing about you, what would it be?

She’d want me to give up on trying to get her to retrieve. But where’s the retriever part, I keep asking.

Visit Chet the Dog's blog and Facebook page, and Peter Abrahams's website.

The Page 69 Test: Spencer Quinn's The Dog Who Knew Too Much.

--Marshal Zeringue

Martin Kihn & Hola

Who is in the photo at right?

The tall one is me -- Martin Kihn. I work for an ad agency in Minneapolis. The shorter, better-looking one is Hola, a Bernese mountain dog. She's eight years old now, and still a bundle of unstoppable energy. In this picture, Hola had just graduated from a week-long training retreat in the woods of Virginia to prepare for her Canine Good Citizen certification.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Hola and I like to have a routine. While I was writing my book about her, she'd get me up at six in the morning, and I'd toss on a pot of coffee. Then I'd sit on her doggie bed drinking my coffee and writing her book while she snored happily next to me.

What's brewing?

Hola and I recently moved to Minneapolis with my wife Julia after twenty years in Manhattan. When I was writing Bad Dog, we lived in a Hispanic neighborhood in Washington Heights. I got hooked on a strong espresso-like drip coffee called Bustelo -- rocket fuel for the writer. By coincidence, it's the same brand consumed by my favorite fictional character: Holly Winter, star of the fabulous Dog Lovers Mysteries series by Susan Conant.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

Just whole cream. Milk doesn't have enough body for my taste. Cream takes the edge off the Bustelo. I don't eat while I write because my hands are busy typing. Hola doesn't eat because she's sleeping. But as soon as she's up, after her walk, she gets the ultimate canine goody of all: raw organic black angus beef. Yum.

How did your dog come to be united with you?

Hola was my wife Julia's idea -- one I was totally against in the beginning. I'd never had a dog before, just cats. They seemed too big and high-maintenance, which of course they are. But I was traveling all the time for my job and my wife wanted a companion at home, so I couldn't say no. It wasn't easy finding a good breeder to let us have a Berner because we lived in an apartment and were first-time owners. They're surprisingly strict. Eventually we found one up in Rochester and drove eight hours each way to pick her up. The rest is history.

How did she get her name?

All the dog books we read suggested a simple name, so we wanted to go for one syllable. On the other hand Spot or Joe seemed too ordinary for such a beautiful dog. She turned out to be so friendly, my wife decided to call her Hola for "hello."

What is your dog's proudest moment so far?

Our book Bad Dog tells the story of how Hola starts as a kind of good-looking Marley -- just a badly-behaved, badly-trained dog. At a certain point, my life was falling apart and I decided we were going to train and get our Canine Good Citizen award from the American Kennel Club. This is a ten-point test of good manners and basic training, but it was totally impossible for us at first. Literally impossible. But after a lot of hard work, Hola earned her CGC in 2010. It was an amazing day -- really incredible.

Learn more about Bad Dog: A Love Story at Martin Kihn's website and the Bad Dog Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Bruce DeSilva & Brady

Who is in the photo at right?

My name is Bruce DeSilva. I was a journalist for 40 years before I retired last year to write crime novels full time. The first, Rogue Island, was just published; and I recently finished writing the second. My best friend is a 14-month-old male Bernese Mountain Dog named Brady.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I go out early nearly every morning for take-out breakfast and coffee and then settle down with them in front of the computer in my home office to start the day’s writing. Brady likes to sit on my feet with his head in my lap while I write.

What's brewing?

Nothing fancy—just old reliable Dunkin Donuts regular to wash away the cobwebs.

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

An egg-and-cheese sandwich for me--and, if my wife’s not looking, I sneak a couple of glazed donuts.

Any treat for Brady on this occasion?

Nope. Brady gets fed first in the morning, so he’s already had his fill. He’s one of those rare dogs who stop eating when he’s had just the right amount.

How were you and Brady united?

I’d had dogs all my life until our family moved into a no-dogs-allowed apartment in Tarrytown, NY, about ten years ago. When we finally bought a house in a suburban New Jersey town in the summer of 2009, the very next thing we went shopping for was a Bernese Mountain Dog. Many years ago, in another life, I raised Border Collies; but my wife, the poet Patricia Smith, had fallen in love with Berners after watching them at dog shows. We bought Brady from a fine breeder in Arkansas. From the moment we laid eyes on him, he had our hearts.

Have your dogs had any influence on your writing?

You can learn a lot about people by how they treat dogs. The same thing is true of fictional characters, so I sometimes use dogs to help with characterization. Two dogs play major roles in Rogue Island; and in the sequel, tentatively titled Cliff Walk, one character owns a Bernese Mountain Dog named (surprise!) Brady.

How did Brady get his name? Any aliases?

I grew up in New England, which means I’m a Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics fan by birth. Brady is named after Tom Brady, the Patriots’ quarterback. Patricia sometimes calls him Bear in tribute to his size.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Brady can be scary at first because he is so enormous, but he loves every living thing. Occasionally he’ll chase a cat or squirrel, not because he wants to hurt it but because he hopes it will play with him. This summer he found a box turtle waddling through our yard and was enthralled. He followed it around, occasionally nudging it gently with his nose when it stopped to rest.

Tennis ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

We’ve bought Brady a bunch of toys, but his favorite thing is to play tug of war with bath towels. He much prefers them to rubber pull toys, but he’s so strong that he tears them to shreds in a couple of days. We’ve gone through a lot of bath towels.

Where is Brady's favorite place for an outing?

He loves to take us on walks around the woodland path that encircles a nearby reservoir. Most days, the path is teeming with other dogs to play with and people eager to pet him.

Who are Brady's best pet-pals?

Brady’s best pal is Mikaila, our 15-year old. I know, I know, she's not a pet-pal; but Brady doesn't seem to know that. He loves to roughhouse with her on the lawn or the floor of our family room. Brady thinks Mikaila is his litter mate.

What is Brady's best quality?

He is incredibly affectionate, craving human touch. If no one is petting him, he’ll find someone to rub against, or he’ll sit down on someone’s feet.

What is Brady's proudest moment? His most embarrassing?

He seemed awfully proud of finding that turtle. When he first sniffed its presence in the yard, he bounded to the door to alert us to his great discovery. I don't know if he was embarrassed when when our teenager put reindeer antlers on him at Christmastime, but I was embarrassed for him.

Read an excerpt from Rogue Island, and learn more about the book and author at Bruce DeSilva's website and blog.

The Page 69 Test: Rogue Island.

--Marshal Zeringue

Sydney Salter & Jack and Rosie

Who is in the photo at right?

I am Sydney Salter, author of My Big Nose And Other Natural Disasters, Jungle Crossing, and Swoon At Your Own Risk. My dogs are five-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog siblings named Jack and Rosie.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

We took the dogs hiking up Adams Canyon where they splashed in the stream, sniffed other dogs, and helped haul me up the steep parts (a distinct advantage to large dogs). On the way home we stopped for coffee and a snack. Jack and Rosie were more than happy to relax on the grass.

What's brewing?

I’m sipping a mocha outside of Grounds For Coffee (a Utah favorite).

Any goodies to go with the coffee?

I couldn’t resist the pumpkin scone with white chocolate chips.

Any treat for your dogs on this occasion?

The dogs shared a day-old bagel that I’m sure paired beautifully with the stream water they drank.

How did your dogs come to be united with you?

Our puppies arrived via a long airline flight from Iowa—in desperate need of a bath! Three days later doctors found a (thankfully benign) tumor in my 8-year-old daughter’s spine. What a crazy time—we flew in both grandmothers to care for my four-year-old and our not-yet-potty trained puppies while my husband and I lived at the hospital for a week. Jack and Rosie provided a happy distraction while my daughter recovered from surgery.

Do your dogs influence your writing?

Actually, my writing influences my dogs. I used to be a cat person. Not having grown up with anyone of the canine persuasion, I didn’t get dogs. Compared to cats they seemed rather needy, plus they didn’t know how to use litter boxes. But then I started researching a novel set in Alaska. Again and again, I read amazing tales about the dogs beloved by native Inuit, gold rush adventurers, and many others who survived those harsh winters. Hmm, I thought, my cat would not sit through a snowstorm to warm my frostbitten body, unless it benefited him, of course. I decided I wanted to live with one of these amazing creatures—or maybe two (part of me hankered for a whole dog sled team). My family was thrilled when I announced that I was finally ready to own dogs.

Now that I have big, hairy, shedding dogs who eat 40 pounds of dog food every ten days or so, I understand the appeal of small dogs.

How did they get their names?

We named them after their parents (John & Rozan Kat), not the characters in Titanic.

Tennis ball, stick, frisbee...?

Rosie has a stuffed football that she carries around to the delight of my football-loving husband. Jack likes a good rawhide chew, but he’ll often sacrifice it to his sister.

What's an ordinary day like for your dogs?

Jack and Rosie start their day with a cookie (why not?) and some backyard playtime. Then they come inside and watch us bustle around getting ready for work and school (98% of the time my daughter remembers to feed them). The majority of their day is spent napping or watching me write. At dinnertime, I feel like Rachel Ray as the dogs politely sit in the kitchen observing my every move. In the evenings, they put us to work letting them in and out, in and out, until more cookies at bedtime.

Who is each dog's best pet-pal?

Both of them would like to get to know our pet tortoises much better, even though their attempt to make friends with the cats didn’t work out so well. Ouch! They love to wrestle and tussle with each other or canine friends.

What's each dog's best quality?

Rosie is probably the sweetest creature I’ve ever known. She adores everyone! And she’s got a fun, goofy personality.

Jack is a true gentleman. When we hike, I have to ask him to walk ahead of me when the trail narrows. He also sits around the house with his legs politely crossed.

What's each dog's proudest moment so far? Their most embarrassing?

Jack’s most embarrassing moment is really one of mine. Back when they were large, eager, but not so-well-trained puppies, we took Jack and Rosie to the Oregon Coast. I had not yet discovered the ideal collar that would minimize the effects of Jack’s enthusiasm and heft as he charged away from me. More than once, Jack bounded toward the surf, causing me to stumble to my knees. The worst time was when he leapt toward a well-behaved Newfoundland. I sprawled on the sand, arm outstretched, still clinging onto the handle of the retractable leash. The Newfie’s owner was not amused. Jack kept pulling, rolling me onto my back, but I held on, arm stretching farther and farther. At this point, I resembled a beached seal. My family laughed so hard that they sounded like barking seals!

Rosie’s proudest moment happened the summer before last. We found her at bedtime, crumpled in the yard in horrific pain. We took her up to sleep, but my husband quickly realized she needed to go to the vet ER. We drove several miles to the only twenty-four hour clinic in our area. Rosie slumped on the waiting room floor, lifeless. She had bloat (a twisted intestine). Yet, when the doctor walked in to examine her, she managed to enthusiastically thump her tail several times in greeting. Right then we realized that we would do just about anything to save her life. Her $urgery was $ucce$$ful and within a week she was leaping around like her usual goofy self.

Sydney Salter published two books this year: My Big Nose And Other Natural Disasters and Jungle Crossing. Her third novel, Swoon At Your Own Risk, is due out in 2010.

She held a variety of jobs before becoming a full-time writer, including a brief stint delivering pies and flowers, wrecking vans, and destroying wedding cakes in Reno, Nevada.

Visit Sydney Salter's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Krista Davis & Han, Buttercup, and Queenie

Who is in the photo at right?

Left to right, we have Han trying to convince me that he deserves a treat. We're not sure what he is, but we know he's big. He may have some Black and Tan Coonhound, Springer Spaniel (I know, that's hard to see), and/or Bernese Mountain Dog in him. I'm next--Krista Davis. I write the Domestic Diva Mystery series. My most recent release is "The Diva Takes the Cake." The little white dog is Buttercup, a Jack Russell mix. The red one who's being deceptively well behaved is Queenie, a Golden Retriever, who isn't golden and won't retrieve.

What is their most intimate involvement with coffee?

They've all had little tastes of Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I don't need much of an occasion for coffee with the canines. They've convinced me that they require a cheese snack every afternoon, which gives me an excuse to indulge, too.

What's brewing?

I'm a hot tea with sugar and milk kind of person. My recent favorite is Newman's Own Organic Black Tea. But it's hot outside today, so iced tea with a hint of raspberry and no sugar hits the spot.

Any goodies to go with the coffee ice cream and iced tea?

Always. There's the cheese, of course. But Sophie (my protagonist) isn't the only one who bakes. I've been into cupcakes this summer. But now that blueberries and raspberries are ripe, I'm shifting into fruit tart mode.

Any treat for the dogs on this occasion?

Cheese, of course!

I also keep a cookie jar in the kitchen, and they know where it is. For some strange reason, they think they must have a dog cookie every time they enter the house, and they cluster at the counter where the cookie jar sits, just to be sure I don't forget.

Where do you usually take Queenie, Han, and Buttercup out for fresh air?

We live in the country, so they can romp around off-leash. They like to hang out with me when I'm writing, but we go for a couple of walks every day on a path through the woods.

Would they rather chase a squirrel, a cat, a car, their tails, the mailman, ...?

Buttercup thinks it's her job to chase squirrels. Queenie, true to her bird dog roots, barks at the huge vultures that fly by from their home on a nearby cliff. And last year, she surprised me by catching a groundhog that had been tormenting the dogs. Han was very proud of himself when he caught a raccoon, but he didn't know what to do with it once he had it. Fortunately, it scampered off when he released it.

Tennis ball, Frisbee, stick, ...?

I've always had dogs and have thrown many, many balls and sticks. This is the first time I have ever had dogs who aren't interested in fetching. Queenie and Han do like a good game of tug of war, though. And Han swims like a fish.

What do the dogs of a domestic diva eat?

One of my dogs is allergic to grains. That means no corn, soy, wheat, or rice. It's hard to find dog food without any of those ingredients. So the vet took us off commercial dog food, and my dogs eat pretty much what we eat. Or what we should eat. Lots of potatoes, sweet potatoes, lentils, meats, and veggies. They love watermelon! Queenie is notorious for pulling raspberries and blueberries off bushes to eat them. And if I don't watch like a hawk, Han and Queenie help themselves to cucumbers and tomatoes in the garden.

How did the dogs come to be united with you?

We intended to adopt a Golden Retriever. Queenie was selected because of her strawberry blonde fur and outgoing personality.

I'm sorry to say that someone abandoned Buttercup, Han and seven of his siblings. They were so small that Buttercup towered over them. I couldn't take those sweet puppies to the shelter, so they stayed in my laundry room until we found homes for them. Four of them went to New Hampshire, so if you live there and have a dog who looks like Han, it might be one of his siblings. Poor Buttercup was scared to death. She watched me so carefully, with a worried face. The first night, she went from one puppy to the next, like she was counting them and checking to be sure everyone was okay. But since she was an adult, I let her out to play with Queenie the next morning. I'll never forget how happy Buttercup was to discover Queenie's big dog bed and giant chew bone. Queenie adopted Buttercup immediately and never once growled at her over toys or bones. They still eat out of the same bowl if one finishes a meal sooner. BFF!

How did the dogs get their names?

Queenie's mother was named Lady Ruby so we felt a royal name was in order. I wasn't crazy about the name Queenie, but she's been so gracious toward the other dogs and is such a lovely leader of the pack, that now I think it's the perfect name for her. Naming Buttercup was hard. She was an adult when we found her, so she clearly had a name before. Even though she was sweet with the puppies, she was all rascally Jack Russell. When one of my friends suggested "Buttercup" we knew it was just right. Han had a sister who looked amazingly like him, hence Hansel and Gretel.

"The Diva Takes the Cake," Krista Davis's second Domestic Diva Mystery, is now available in bookstores everywhere.

Reviewer David Marshall James says "Davis has devised a delightful romp, with engaging characters and a nicely crafted setting in which to place them."

Watch the video for "The Diva Takes the Cake."

Learn more about Krista and her canines (and feline) at her website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue