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Sara Rosett | Mistletoe, Merriment, and Murder
December 1, 2012
About fifteen years ago I was invited to my first white elephant gift exchange
party. The first rule was that we had to bring something from home—we
couldn't spend any money. The second rule was that our gift had to be awful as
possible. I can't remember now what I took, but I do remember that what one
person thought of as "trash," another person saw as a "treasure." The party was a blast. We had so much fun competing over gifts that at first
glance wouldn't seem that valuable. For instance, one woman brought a broken
sewing machine. Another woman fought to get it because she wanted a sewing
machine and knew her dad could fix anything. I "won" this kitchen utensil. Can you guess what it is? 
I couldn't either.
Turns out, it's a tomato slicer, a quintessential white elephant gift. I wasn't writing books at the time, but knew I wanted to attempt to write a
mystery someday, so lots of my everyday experiences went in my mental "that's
interesting" file. The white elephant gift exchange party went in that file. Fast forward thirteen years or so. I had written six Ellie Avery mystery series
by then and was planning to write a Christmas book. I had several ideas, but the
one that I was most excited to use was the white elephant gift exchange idea.
Several of the gifts that I use in MISTLETOE, MERRIMENT, AND
MURDER came from that first white elephant party. The white elephant gift exchange provided all sorts of interesting plot
possibilities as well. What if one of the gifts was a hidden treasure? What if
one of the gifts was used as a murder weapon? What if several of the gifts were
red herrings? That one party provided a great jumping off point for brainstorming. I'm a huge fan of white elephant parties now. In fact, it's about time to start
thinking about what would make a great white elephant gift this year. It might
be time to regift that tomato slicer... ~Sara P.S. Check this website for White Elephant party tips or ideas. Sara writes mystery (Ellie Avery series) and intrigue (On the Run series). As a
military spouse Sara has moved around the country (frequently!) and traveled
internationally, which inspired her latest travel thrillers. Publishers Weekly
called Sara's books, "satisfying," "well-executed," and "sparkling."
Sara Rosett loves all
things bookish, considers dark chocolate a daily requirement, and is on a quest
for the best bruschetta. Connect with Sara at www.SaraRosett.comor sign
up for her newsletter list here. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads.
Comments
16 comments posted.
Re: Sara Rosett | Mistletoe, Merriment, and Murder
Your mysteries look like they're pretty funny. I do love a good mystery on a cold night.
(Alyson Widen 11:53am December 1, 2012)
Sounds like a fun read!!
(Kelli Jo Calvert 12:58pm December 1, 2012)
I love mysteries! would love to win & read! PICK ME!!
(Pamela Faye Howell 1:04pm December 1, 2012)
Never experienced a white elephant exchange quite like yours - we always had x amount to spend and depending on your number you could steal from another, I always stole to get the ones I put in -- heck, I wanted it more than I figured my co workers would
(Carla Carlson 2:27pm December 1, 2012)
We do a white elephant auction at our family reunions. Lots of fun. Hope I.
An read this soon. ;)
(Penny Mettert 2:47pm December 1, 2012)
White Elephants are fun.. so are Dirty Santas where you can take a gift already unwrapped and then that person gets to chose another wrapped gift.. There's usually a rule that a gift can be taken away only 3 times...
(Cate Sparks 3:27pm December 1, 2012)
I've never been to a White Elephant party, but it sounds like a lot of fun!! It sounds like you've got a great sense of humor, and I can't wait to read your book!! The cover is great, and the cat resembles my kitten, Sugar Ray!! Have a wonderful Christmas, and a great New Year!!
(Peggy Roberson 5:09pm December 1, 2012)
I'm glad that the white elephant happened to you otherwise I wouldn't have enjoyed reading your mystery books so much.
Merry Christmas.
(Kai Wong 5:54pm December 1, 2012)
I have never been to a white elephant party, but would like to! It sounds like a lot of fun!
(Christine Mead 6:46pm December 1, 2012)
I love the idea of a Christmas mystery and the white elephant party inspired
you. Mistletoe, Merriment, and Murder is a great title for a book.
(Ann Sheiring 6:54pm December 1, 2012)
book sounds like a good read. The white elephant idea might just be good for next years cookie exchange!!!
(Barbara Studer 10:11pm December 1, 2012)
I did a white elephant party and came home with a chia pet.
(Debbie Penny 6:42am December 2, 2012)
Love doing white elephant gift exchange. Your book sounds great cant wait to read it !
(Danielle McDonald 8:41am December 2, 2012)
Our high school reunion group has a Christmas party each December where we are to bring a gift worth at least $10. The gifts are brought in large shopping bags where one can't have any idea what is inside. Then the gifts are placed on one table for men's gifts and one for women's gifts. Numbers are drawn for the order of the person getting to go to the table and choose a gift. Well, usually one gets a very nice, practical gift...but the gift I got last year hardly suits that description. I got a huge Christmas "hat" that is battery operated. When one pushes a button, small vari-colored lights gleam around the edge of the hat, the song "Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas" plays and the high, pointed top of the hat (with its attached bell) sways back and forth. It is not a hat I would wear to church and it would take a practical joker to wear it to a party. This year I gave that contraption to a mother to entertain her nine-month-old daughter. LOL
(Marilyn Nowlin 1:25pm December 2, 2012)
Great ideas certainly come from the most interesting places - for holiday pollyannas (did I spell that right? Probably not) I have received socks and pantyhose - LOL - not too mysterious!
(Felicia Ciaudelli 6:21pm December 2, 2012)
Looking at the picture, I would have said it was a meat tenderizer. You know, one of those hammer thingies, where one side of the head is flat, and the opposite side has kind of triangular bump-ups where if you hit your thumb with them, you can do a lot of damage.
A tomato slicer. Hmmmm. Who'da thunk it?
Later,
Lynn
(Lynn Rettig 4:32pm December 3, 2012)
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