Every great writer started as a reader, and no reader would be complete without a personal library. In this edition of Author’s Bookshelf, we spoke with new author Krystal Marquis about her beloved book collection. Krystal is the author of the dazzling The Davenports series, which follows the wealthy Black Davenport family in turn-of-the-century America. Among the glitz and glam of the Edwardian era, the Davenport sisters fall in love and fight to pursue new and progressive dreams.
Read on to get a peek inside Krystal’s lovingly disorganized bookshelf and discover the books and trinkets that are nearest and dearest to her heart.
How long have you been collecting your books?
I’ve been collecting books since before I can remember. I’m a library kid and would always bring home armfuls for me to read. My mom would later buy me copies of my favorites so I could read them or look at them. My earliest book trophies, ha!
Do you organize your books a certain way?
My shelves are chaotic. I wish I could organize them by color or size or author but I tend to place them where I find space. I do have a shelf of The Davenports editions and another that has my fellow 2023 debuts, but my books have a habit of migrating everywhere I go.
If you have keepsakes, knickknacks, and trinkets on your shelves what is your favorite?
The knickknacks on my shelves are a lot like the books I keep in that they rotate around the shelves (and house). I have awards and pop figures, the occasional Lego set, and a tiara I got at a Renaissance festival. Rearranging them is one of my brainstorming (read procrastination) rituals when I’m writing.
Do you have any fandom art/collectibles on your shelves?
I do! I have a few Jurassic Park collectibles on my shelves. Most are gifts from people who know me very well, and it’s so fun to display them. They bring me so much joy.
Who is your one-click author, and which of their books do you recommend from your shelves?
Marie Lu is my one-click author, and I always recommend Legend. One of the reasons I write from multiple points of view is this series. It’s so engaging and immersive. In addition to featuring one of my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers, I believe it also handles the way propaganda is leveraged to divide people and how once prejudices are put aside, common ground and understanding can be reached.
Do you have any special editions of your books on your shelves?
I have several editions of Pride & Prejudice and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, two of my all-time favorite books. The Nerdy Ink edition of P&P is so vibrant and fun, but I also love the clothbound editions and the First Impressions to come. The MinaLima edition of Alice is also one I hold dear.
How do you keep track of your TBR pile?
I do a very poor job of tracking my TBR pile. I use StoryGraph and Goodreads to track books I find interesting and am afraid I will forget. I’ll also share my thoughts on my recent reads, but I am an emotional reader and will often grab my next read according to my mood.
Do you let your friends borrow your books?
I prefer to gift books.
If you use bookmarks, do you have any special ones?
I am a collector of bookmarks even though I rarely use them. I end up using note cards, sticky notes, and other random things. I do not support dog-earring pages. *shudders*
Are you particular about the format of the book you purchase, hardcover or paperback, or whether they’re new or used?
I love hardcovers! But I have a mix of formats on my shelves. I will definitely judge a book by its cover and buy the format that calls to me. Pro tip: you can find rare and beautiful editions at used bookstores and library sales.
Do you break your spines when you read paperbacks?
Broken spines make me sad but sometimes it can’t be avoided.
What do you do when you run out of shelf space?
Fortunately, I have not run out of shelf space yet. That’s most likely because a new shelf appears before that happens, but I also have several books packed away in storage. I’m a strong believer in you can never have too many shelves.
What a delightful bookshelf! We love it when a fellow writer recognizes the need to own multiple editions of the same book — it’s like putting on a new personality every time you read. If you loved hearing about Krystal’s book collection, we hope you’ll also consider checking out the latest novel in her series, The Davenports: More Than This.
Be sure to follow Krystal on her socials!
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To get to know another author through their bookshelf, click here.
Check out our Female Authors bookshelf on Bookshop.org for more recs from great women writers.
