Candace Colt's Blog: Keep showing up and shining out!

What TV show would you choose?

What TV show would you choose?

Many people ask: “If you could write yourself into any TV show, what TV show would you choose?”

During quarantine, we binge-watched a ton of television (mostly cable and subscription). If you had asked me then which show, my answer would have been one of the British shows. It doesn’t matter that they are really old. Classy writing and acting are timeless. And you never know what actors might show up as their younger selves. As very young actors, Sam Heughan and Tobias Menzies (OUTLANDER, if you forgot) were both on Midsomer Murders. Tom Ellis (LUCIFER) had a starring role in MIRANDA, a classic British comedy.

With my quirky sense of humor, I’d fit right in with Miranda. (“What fun!”).

Then, there’s DOC MARTIN. Oh, to be a teacher at Louisa’s school. I love Doc’s quirks. At some level, he was the inspiration for little Sam McCraig in BEWITCHING ANDIE.

Or an investigator on the edgy series LINE OF DUTY. The ensemble acting team in DEATH IN PARADISE is terrific. I could live on Saint Marie and work at Catherine’s Bar in a heartbeat. Over the years, they have made many cast changes, but I love them all!

FATHER BROWN is charming, though the plot is predictable. Did you know this was a book series written by C. K. Chesterton? And was a remake of an older version of the show? VERA is another clever detective show where I think I’d be a good fit. Vera carried around a lot of emotional baggage, something that endeared her to me.

But who wins? MIDSOMER MURDERS! How can such a lovely place as Causton have so many gruesome and wicked murders?

Either of the DCI Barnebys needs an industrious, savvy, intelligent, never-say-die associate!

I’m the perfect choice.

The only itsy problem is that I don’t know how to drive on the left side. Hey, if I’m writing myself into the story, I can simply add that skill set, right?

If you asked me now in the middle of 2025, it would be these. 

Netflix’s THE DIPLOMAT and THE RESIDENCE and THE GENTLEMEN. Not to leave US TV shows out, how about GHOSTS (the season 4 cliffhanger actually surprised me) or RESIDENT ALIEN? Of course, I get hooked on a show that’s being canceled!!!

Tell me about one of your favorite series or shows. What character would you play?

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🚀 Love, Magic, and a Cat in Space! 🌌💖

Have you ever had a midlife crisis so epic that it flung you into the far reaches of space?

Well, Rhea Tanner has. One moment she’s dabbling in a bit of spell work, and the next—boom! She’s on an old spaceship with her familiar, Alika. (Honestly, though, if you’re going to get lost in the cosmos, having a cat sidekick is an elite move.)

Ready for love, magic, and a cat in space?

So you know, space isn’t all stardust and adventure—Rhea’s journey takes a dramatic turn when she realizes the ship’s captain is C’tloc, a brooding, battle-worn alien whose ship is on the verge of collapse. And because she has a heart bigger than a black hole, she sacrifices her way home to save him. Because, hey, what’s a little cosmic detour when you’ve already accidentally launched yourself into deep space?

A Sweet Sci-Fi Romance Written in the Stars (Literally)

C’tloc isn’t just any alien—he’s a widowed former leader from Akerlon in the Segarian galaxy. Once a respected figure on his home planet, he lost everything when invaders took over. Now, he roams the stars as a solitary space junk collector, a far cry from his former life. The last thing he expected was for his lonely voyage to take a turn toward romance when a feisty, spell-slinging human crash-landed into his world.

Cue the slow-burn romance in zero gravity.

Rhea and C’tloc come from different worlds—literally—but their connection is undeniable. As they navigate space and their growing feelings, they discover that love doesn’t care about species, galaxies, or the logistics of interstellar dating.

Home Is Where the Heart (and the Spaceship) Is

Everything seems to be going well until C’tloc takes Rhea to the planet Drakarus where his family and other Akerlons are exiled. He’s ready to introduce her to his people, repair his ailing ship, and continue their happily-ever-after among the stars. But—plot twist!—not everyone on Drakarus, including his adult children, is thrilled about their plan to be together forever.

Can Rhea’s charm, humor, and sheer determination win over C’tloc’s skeptical family? Or will their love story be just another cosmic tragedy?

This sweet sci-fi romance is proof that second chances at love aren’t just for Earthlings. With magic, adventure, and a touch of intergalactic intrigue, this addition to the Baga Shores series will sweep you off your feet—and possibly into another dimension.

So, are you ready to take a leap of faith into the unknown? Are you ready for love, magic, and a cat in space? I hope so because love—much like space—has no limits.

Grab your copy of GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER? wherever ebooks are sold!

What do you think? Would you risk an intergalactic romance for true love? Drop a comment below! Or hop over to my Candace Colt’s Reader’s Salon and let us know!

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Rhea’s family drama just went intergalactic!

Rhea’s family drama just went intergalactic in GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER?, a sweet, out-of-this-world sci-fi second-chance romance!

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER? goes live on March 12.

A second chance at love…a sweet sci-fi romance!

Rhea’s midlife crisis and a wayward spell sent her on an adventure that was literally out of this world. Roaming the galaxy in an old spacecraft with her cat, Alika, she sacrificed her only means home to save an alien captain and his dying ship.

The last thing she expected was to fall in love with the handsome Akerlon captain.

Widower, C’tloc, wasn’t always the captain of a solitary space junk picker. He was once a respected and wealthy leader on Akerlon in the Segarian galaxy. He lost everything when his planet was taken over. Returning from a routine run, he collects an unusual payload—Rhea, the strangely beautiful H’taerling who renews the joy in his heart that he thought was lost.

Neither C’tloc nor Rhea imagined they would find a second chance for love. Despite their differences, they are determined to make this relationship work.

Rhea’s family drama just went intergalactic!

The family homecoming goes well until C’tloc and Rhea declare their wish to spend the rest of their days together.

Did Rhea really think this would be easy?

Their timing couldn’t have been worse to break the news to C’tloc’s adult daughters that they’ve become pair-bonded mates.

Exiled on Drakarus, life isn’t peachy for any of their people. In fact, unbeknownst to C’tloc, a rebellion is in the works.

By any galactic standard, Rhea doesn’t look anything like C’tloc’s people or anyone else in the Segarian galaxy. It doesn’t help that the odd small dark creature that sticks close by her side (who, by the way, is her familiar feline Alika) speaks their language.

Can Rhea’s whimsical charm overcome his family’s suspicions, or will their love be lost in the stars in this magical addition to the Baga Shores series?

***

READERS’ FAVORITE 5-Star Review!!

Grab your copy anywhere e-books are sold!!

Apple Books/ Kobo/ Barnes & Noble NOOK/ Amazon/Smashwords

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WHISKER WISDOM CATERVIEW WITH BLANCO

My Whisker Wisdom Caterview series concludes with Blanco, the endearing three-legged, pure-white, long-haired feline you met in Convincing Emily. He’s been a fixture at the Baga Shores Veterinary Clinic for as long as anyone can remember. Still, as nosy as he is about everyone else’s business, he keeps his personal life story quiet.

Except for Alika, whose age is anyone’s guess, Blanco is the oldest cat in the Baga Shores Romance series. He might also be the oldest in town. But how would anyone know?

We agreed to meet in the pavilion behind the clinic. I see he’s already waiting on a bench. Let’s see what he has to tell us.

***

Me: It’s been a while, Blanco. Thank you for meeting me and agreeing to speak in human English. I know you’re selective about who you talk to. I hope you’ve been well.

Blanco: My life is “purrrfect.”

Me: Clever.

Blanco gives a little throaty chirp: How’s that for standard cat humor? I’m having a great life. It’s a mutual relationship. Dr. Davis and now Dr. Carter, let me help calm down animals who don’t understand what’s happening. I get top-notch meals and go anywhere I want around the clinic. I come outside occasionally, but nowadays, I’m mostly inside.

Me:  If the memories aren’t too painful, take us back to when you arrived here. How long ago was that, anyway?

B:  In cat years or human?

Me: Let’s stick with human.

B: About twelve or thirteen human years.

Me: Seriously? That’s a long time for a cat to l—.  Oh, geez. That didn’t come out the way I intended.

B rolls his beautiful teal blue eyes and continues: Not to worry. You’re right. It’s a fact. There’s a chart inside. Dr. Davis thought I was about a year old when I was brought here. That means I’m pushing 68.

Me: My gosh, Blanco. You look wonderful.

B gives a head nod: Thank you. You asked about my arrival. I don’t remember a whole lot about that day. I know now it started on the road to the beach.

Me: The Causeway, right?

B: I believe that’s what you call it. Anyway, I remember being in something I’m told was a box. It was dark inside it. I bounced around a lot. Then, the bouncing stopped. There was shuffling. I was dumped out. It was raining. I was wet. Then there was pain. And I don’t remember much until I woke up here.

Me: I know a little more. May I share it?

B: Go ahead.

Me: A human saw the whole thing. Somebody dumped you out on the road, and within a minute, you were hit by a car. The human wrapped you up in a towel and brought you here. Dr. Heather Davis immediately took you into surgery, but the damage was bad, and she had to amputate your back leg to save your life.

B: She was a miracle worker. You know she’s a fox shifter.

Me: Uh, Blanco, I wrote that story, remember?

B: Ah, of course. Anyway, she has a magical way of understanding animals. I guess because she is one. After I got better, she decided to keep me around. I’m glad she did. I bonded with her adopted son, Liam, as much as anybody. Poor kid was having a rough time. He doesn’t make friends easily. He could talk to me better than to humans.

Me:  Did you actually speak to him?

B: Not in words like us right now. I mostly listened—a lot. Shifters have the worst adjustment. They sometimes don’t know what world they belong in. He was a coyote pup when he shifted to human. When I met him, he was a teenager. Shifter and teenage human? And adopted? It was a rough time around here. Dr. Davis was a fantastic mom to him, and with her patience, he came around. You should see him!

Me: Blanco, I wrote—

B: You wrote his story. I keep forgetting.

Me: The new vet’s been here about three years now. How’s she working out?

B: It took a while. Emily Carter’s a stubborn Ordinary. At first, I didn’t know if she’d fit in here. I thought she was too logical and too skeptical to live in a town that’s half full of magicals. But she did. And she and Liam are a perfect couple.

Me: I agree. But I’ve always wondered about how you’ve done so well here. Besides selective conversations with humans, you’re not magical but still fit in.

B: I’m not magical? Are you kidding? I am a cat! We’re all magical. So I’m not like Alika—and do I have stories about him, even some you don’t know! And I’m not like any other cats around here, either. But who saw the fae enter the room before she materialized in front of Emily?

Me: You did. That reminds me that the fae in human form is Mila, the vet tech. Is she still here?

B: Absolutely. She’s amazing. You know how old she is, don’t you?

Me: Actually, I don’t.

B: If you think I’m getting up there in years, you should interview her. She’s had some crazy stuff happen in her life. Thank goodness for her. She became Emily’s confidante and mentor in everything magical here.

Me: Ummm. Maybe I should catch up with her. She might have a story to tell.

B: I’ve met almost every Magical in the county. None take their pets anywhere else. Most times, it pays to be quiet and listen. You learn a lot more that way. Everybody has a story.

Blanco shifted his hips around and gave a big yawn.

B: It’s about my nap time. I could go on forever, but I’m tired.

Me: I understand entirely. If you don’t mind, I’d like to schedule another time to visit. This was great.

B: That’s a deal. But promise me you won’t tell anyone we talked out here.

Me: I understand. I wouldn’t want to blow your cover! You have my promise.

***

Blanco is right! Everybody has a story. I need to line up more interviews. Perhaps the Caterviews are done, but others around town would be great candidates. I’m certainly intrigued by his hints about Mila.

While chatting with Blanco, I realized you might have joined my newsletter by downloading the sample chapter from BEWITCHING ANDIE or the short story GLIMMER (prequel to CONVINCING EMILY). In any case, maybe you haven’t downloaded CONVINCING EMILY yet.

Or you downloaded Emily’s story and haven’t had time to read it.

Time to remedy this!

Jump into your eReader and take a look at CONVINCING EMILY today! It’s a short read and won’t take long, but the story will stay with you forever! You’ll be hooked and ready to read the whole series!

Once you’ve started them them, please hop over to my CANDACE COLT READER’S SALON on Facebook and share!

PS: Please promise you won’t tell anyone that Blanco talks, ok?

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WHISKER WISDOM CATERVIEW WITH TAU

This month, I’m sharing my Whisker Wisdom Caterview with Tau, one of the newest members of the Baga Shores feline family. After Alika, the contrarian, eloquent, who-knows-how-old black cat, and Rhea’s familiar left, the Tanner household felt a void that even Brett Austin’s loveable golden retriever, Rex, couldn’t fill.

In the series, Rex is Brett’s loyal sidekick, running mate, and confidante. Robbie’s son Sam loves Rex, for sure. But he missed Alika fiercely.

Enter Tau the tabby!

We meet Tau in CHARMING SABRINA (Book 2 in the series). He makes a brief appearance in ENCHANTING ROBBI (Book 3). But we don’t know much about him other than he’s young. Maybe six months or so old. And he goes out of his way to butt into people’s business.

The Caterview is an excellent way to learn more about him.

I’m expecting him to show up any minute. He’s famous for appearing in odd places at strange times. He’s also very private, so coaxing answers from him might be difficult. I might be the only human who knows he can speak at all.

Today, I’m waiting for him in Mimi Tanner’s herb garden behind her multi-story Pepto-Bismol pink beach home.

Did you hear that? I swear it was a cat’s soft meow coming from a spot between the Cuban oregano and the rosemary.

There, I heard it again.

***

ME:  Tau, is that you?

TAU:   I’ve been here listening.

ME: Well, come on out and meet our friends. Let’s sit on the bench near the shady side of the house.

Tau tentatively emerges from his hiding place, joins me on the bench, and jumps into my lap. His marmalade orange-striped fur begs petting and I comply.

M: Thank you for agreeing to this.

TAU: (Purring loudly) I prefer to observe. Watching is so much fun. You humans get yourselves into the biggest messes.

M:  Truth. In Sabrina’s story, I recall Colton James finding you in the beach grass over a mile from your home. Can you explain that?

TAU:  He was heading into trouble. Somebody needed to distract him from disaster. So I tracked him down. I’m not crazy about laying in the sand; those grass blades drive me crazy. But I did it for him.

M:   Your ‘poor lost kitty’ act worked. You could have found your way home easily. And then you showed up on Sabrina’s doorstep. What was the reason for that?

TAU:   She was too savvy for her own good! She’d had so much bad luck in the past that she didn’t think she deserved happiness. She didn’t like opening up to people, but I knew she needed a good listener. Cats are good for that, you know.

M:   You have a gift for knowing what’s in a person’s heart. That will make you a valuable member of the Tanner household with all their quirks and personalities. How did you happen to end up in that family, anyway?

TAU:  I believe you spoke with Alika before. Didn’t he explain ‘assignments’?

M: Not really. I’m still unclear about who made the assignments and how a cat is matched with a human.

TAU: Ah, ha. I won’t be explaining that part, either. It’s not a human concern. I can tell you that we are matched based on what you call our gift and what the human will need. Alika is a rock star in our world. There was no other feline who could tackle an assignment to be Rhea’s familiar.

M: I’ll have to live with that. But you’re a young cat. I don’t think you’re a year old yet. Isn’t that unusual for an assignment? Yet you sound like an adult. And where did you come from?

TAU: I was left on the doorstep of the Baga Shores Veterinary Clinic. Nobody knew anything about me other than that I wore this collar with the blue stone. After a couple of weeks, and I got a clean bill of health from Dr. Emily, Mimi brought Sam to meet me. Love at first sight, of course. Just as planned.

M: I love the lapis lazuli stone on your collar. It’s appropriate for you since it’s the stone of wisdom and truth. But it seems odd that you sound so old for a young cat.

TAU: (I notice he slightly shakes his head and rolls his eyes.) Our age at the time of assignment is deliberately adjusted. This isn’t my first rodeo, lady.

M: Wait. What?

TAU: I’m at this age because it works best for my human. Sam is a young child who doesn’t speak. Isn’t it reasonable that he was matched with a non-verbal, young cat? So far, this assignment hasn’t required me to speak, but that could change.

M: I need a minute to process this.

TAU: (Turns cocks his head to meet my gaze.) You surprise me. Of all people, you should understand this.

M: (I manage is a slow headshake. Finally, I find words.) You’re a lot more complex than I first thought, Tau.

TAU: No surprise there. Mystery is required in my assignment. Being Sam’s familiar is only part of this job. Everybody in this town needs someone like me. For now, it’s on me. Do you honestly think that dog will be of any help?

M: Rex? He’s a sweetheart.

TAU: Yeah. Whatever. Everybody loves the Goldens. Loveable floppy dogs. Pffft!  While they are fetching balls on the beach, I’m helping humans save themselves from themselves.

M: I’m certainly glad you straightened that all out for us.

TAU: Now, now. Let the cats be the snarky ones, okay? Sam’s life is going to be challenging. And complicated. He’s non-verbal. He’s a brilliant artist. He’s a freaking Draiocht wizard. What a combination for a little kid. His family is supportive and loves him dearly. Mimi, his great-grandmother, is a respected witch and wants him to flourish. After a nasty divorce, his mother, Andie, is finally getting her life back together. Even though she’s a witch, too, she’s still having a hard time getting a grip on his magical gift. His grandmother? Everyone knows Rhea has a heart of gold and the flighty spirit of an old hippie.

M: You have your hands—I mean, paws, full. Alika evolved in his assignment. At first, he wasn’t excited to be with Rhea, but now they are inseparable. How about you so far?

TAU:   I’m okay with it. I’m the center of attention in Sam’s world. Except when that dog’s around! But, overall, I’m pleased.

M:  Good to hear! I’ll check back to see your progress with Sam. I’m sure there will be more stories ahead.

TAU: You can bet on it.

***

There hasn’t been one Caterview that went in a predictable direction. Tau’s right. As the author, I should have known about his past. But he arrived in Baga Shores with very little fanfare and no history. You heard more about him today than anyone else has, including me!

We’re coming to the end of the Caterviews. Next month, Blanco is our final star. Most of you met him in CONVINCING EMILY, the free read for signing up for this newsletter. If you have any questions you’d like me to ask him, email me, and I’ll work them in. If you need to catch up on the previous Caterviews, check my blog at https://candacecolt.com/a-blog-full-of-whimsical-thoughts/

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Whisker Wisdom Caterview with Alika!

My feline characters share one thing in common. It doesn’t matter a “lick” to them that my stories are sweet paranormal romances in which (magical) humans find their HEA.

Not one bit. No. No. Each story is all about them. This month, I’m with a cat-acter who brings a unique twist to my tales. Alika is a feline with a story that’s as intriguing as mysterious. Fortunately, I could snag this interview before his latest adventure—accompanying Rhea into space.

Readers of BEWITCHING ANDIE and RHEA’S CONUNDRUM have already met the handsome, ebony-colored male with an enigmatic background. He made his grand entrance in BEWITCHING ANDIE when he and Rhea appeared out of the ether in a swirl of light and sparkles.

But the fanfare of their dramatic arrival was lost on Rhea’s daughter, Andie. Andie had enough on her plate as a single mother raising her emerging wizard son without dealing with her flighty mother, an unconventional witch in her own right.

Alika, with his unique abilities, built a bridge between mother and daughter right before he and Rhea departed again. Let’s see what he says about all this, shall we? I should warn you he’s a selective mind reader, so guard your thoughts carefully.

Enjoy this Whisker Wisdom Caterview with Alika!

ME: Alika, tell us about yourself and how you met Rhea.

ALIKA (sitting back on his tall and stately haunches, he slightly nods): Indeed, I shall. I have been a part of your mother’s life for ages, for as you know, a day feels like a year with the dear woman. Before I was assigned to her–.

ME: Excuse the interruption, but you may want to explain the concept of an assignment.

A: Ah. Yes. Your readers are mortal Ordinaries. Many magicals are assigned to what Ordinaries might call a familiar. I believe you introduced Aloysius before me. He was assigned to a family and followed them for generations. Before I was matched with Rhea nearly four decades ago, I was assigned to a young woman in St Petersburg, where I am from.

ME (after the cat’s long pause): Are you comfortable telling us more?

A: I just needed a moment. I don’t share this story often. With her, I violated the rule of not becoming emotionally attached. It only leads to pain when the assignment ends. It was difficult in Russia, and being a gifted human was dangerous. My magical was imprisoned and later executed.

ME: I’m so sorry. I knew you were Russian but didn’t know the rest. It must have been horrible for both of you.

A: It was, and I refused a new assignment for a long time after that. But Rhea’s story was compelling. She’d had several familiars before me who had found her too challenging. Indeed, she is a very unusual assignment but never dull.

ME: Exactly what is your role as a familiar?

A: You’ve undoubtedly heard the saying, guide on the side. As a counselor or confidante of sorts, I hold no power over my assigned humans. They have free will to use their gifts as they wish. As you mentioned, I speak many languages and can read minds quite well. I can converse with magicals like Rhea and sympathetic humans like yourself.  I can also point out possible pitfalls to their plans. I also assist in getting them out of what you might term complicated situations.

ME: Rhea comes from a family of witches, right?

A: Yes. She is a witch but a highly unconventional one. No potions or eye of newt for her. Her power is transporting to other times through meditation. I must accompany her.

ME: She’s a time traveler as well, then?

A: In a sense. But it’s never deliberate or planned. And doesn’t happen every time she meditates.

ME: What’s been the most unusual?

A: There are so many. Yet ancient Egypt tops the list. Her unconventional appearance and free-form dancing bewitched the pharaoh king, and I lived a grand life. Remember, cats were considered gods by those wise humans. But suddenly, the pharaoh died, which I will always believe was the result of being poisoned by his son. Rhea was about to be sealed in a pyramid to spend eternity with him in the afterlife.

ME: How’d you get out of that one?

A: A group of my feline comrades created a caterwauling distraction. The humans thought the cat gods were angry and fell prostrate before them, begging for forgiveness. While they noisily pleaded for their lives, I caught up with Rhea. We found a crevice within the tomb where she could drop into her meditation session. And vooom. We were back.

ME: Oooo! Exciting. That sounds like Raiders of the Lost Ark stuff. Speaking of movies, I’m told you are fond of sci-fi and horror films. Is that true?

A: Absolutely true. One of my favorite films is the original 1951 version of The Day the Earth Stood Still. Though I appreciate Keanu Reeves’ performances, particularly his superb portrayal of John Wick, I do not believe his 2008 movie version was nearly as good. But I am what you might call a black-and-white movie snob. If you’d like, I can elaborate on all the cinematic iterations of Dracula.

ME: Uhhh. Alika, that might have to wait until another time.

A (nods in deference): I understand. Time constrains all forms of whisker wisdom.

ME (casting a wide eyeroll): Most certainly. But, having you as a guest for this Caterview has been a pleasure. As we conclude, do you have anything you’d like to add?

A (ponders a moment): I wish to compliment your portrayal of Rhea in your stories. She’s a complicated person; her past behavior has caused her to do a great deal of soul-searching. She’d never win awards for exemplary parenting skills, but I think her children have grown up to be fine humans despite Rhea’s, shall we say, eccentricities.

ME: Alika, thank you for that. She’s certainly flawed, but aren’t we all? I appreciate how you’ve been her constant companion all these years and helped her and Andie come closer. And we’re all excited to see how you and Rhea manage your next adventures. Promise you’ll check in when you can.

A (clearly smiling): Madam, it will be my pleasure.

***

You might wonder why I didn’t ask Alika who makes those assignments. Rest assured, I’ve tried asking. But he and all the cats in my stories seem bound by some code of silence. They dodge the question every time.

If you haven’t met Alika yet, start with BEWITCHING ANDIE. He and Rhea begin their space adventure in RHEA’S CONDUNDRUM. All my Baga Shores and Nocturne Falls Universe books are available from all vendors. Also, search your library’s catalog. Many have access to the ebook versions. If they don’t, please ask them to get it for you!

Next time, you’ll meet Tau, who’s just dipping his paw into life in Baga Shores. Blanco, the cat you met in CONVINCING EMILY, will conclude the Caterview series.

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Whisker Wisdom Caterview with Scarlett!

Meet Scarlett, the adorably friendly, nosy, gossipy klepto-kitty! 

Scarlett briefly appeared at the end of FAMILIAR BLESSINGS, the first story I wrote for Cats’ Paw Cove Romance. Although my MAGICAL POTTER books are no longer available, the characters are, and they are moving to Baga Shores!

When Scarlett first appeared, we knew little about her. It wasn’t until the second story that we even knew her name. We trusted Wishes, the time traveler cat you met last month, made the right choice as his replacement.

Wishes’s retirement from time travel surprised me and his humans. 

He explained that the exhausting commute between the 21st and 18th centuries would be his last. He returned to the 1700s permanently, but before he left, he hand-picked Scarlett from a litter of abandoned kittens to oversee the Blessing family, especially Theo Blessing.

He had more faith than the family that he’d made the right choice. They thought maybe the adorable little kitten wasn’t magical at all until Scarlett spoke to them for the first time.

Scarlett is the most social of the cats in my stories. The little cuddle magnet is downright nosy. Arranging this Caterview was easy. Keeping her on track? Not so much.

The little tortie jumped into my lap and settled into a comfy position. Her purr button was going a mile a minute as we began.

ME: Scarlett, I think we should establish some ground rules. Everyone knows you as the gossip empress, so would you agree not to share things that might embarrass your humans?

SCARLETT (casting a slant-eyed stare up at me): Even if I change their names?

ME: Nope. Not even that.

S: This might be a short discussion, then.

ME: I think we’ll be fine. You came into the Blessing family after Wishes had been with every generation for centuries. What was the hardest thing for you as a newcomer?

S: Oh, my. Figuring out who was who. Wishes wanted me to be Theo’s familiar, but he didn’t stick around long enough to draw an organization chart. I’d just started to bond with Theo and Ethan when they went on their honeymoon. They left me with Theo’s cousin, Abby. She’s a real space qu—

ME: Scarlett!

S: (with an undeniable squinty frown) It’s not gossip when it’s eye-witness truth! Okay, she means well. Bless her heart. She’s certainly intelligent. But the commonsense fairy passed her by. She had this ridiculous idea that when she said “love,” all the power would go off—nonsensical coincidences. But if I hadn’t been there as the matchmaker, she and that hunky electrician would have never got together.

ME: You have to admit, those coincidences were remarkable. Anyway, Theo’s magical dolls played a part, too. You left that part out.

S: Those dolls! They are the craziest part of this household. Theo and her mother make and sell these funky match-making dolls in their pottery shop. The first time I heard a doll talk, I thought I was going crazy.

ME: Ah hum. You, the talking cat, were surprised that a doll speaks?

S: Helllloowww! I’m a cat, not a clay-headed, beady-eyed, buck-toothed doll!

ME: Excuse me all to pieces. As I understand it, you somehow convinced these two humans that they were destined to be together.

S: Magic was involved.

ME: No doubt. But there’s one thing I think our readers would like to know more about. Apparently, you’re a bit of a klepto-kitty.

S: (another squinty frown) I have a few flaws. Like you’re perfect?

ME: I’m far from perfect, Scarlett. But how on earth do you accumulate the things you do? I’ve heard about your stash of seashells, refrigerator magnets, restaurant menus, sports jerseys, a hairstylist’s special scissors, work gloves…

S: Okay. Okay. They get the idea. I prefer the title of eclectic collector. And I see you rolling your eyes! Look, it’s stressful living up to Wishes’ expectations. He had centuries on me. I need an outlet.

ME: Hunting vermin might be more helpful, as your humans wouldn’t have to worry about finding the owners of your collectibles. Remember when you took a little kid’s stuffed animal and how long it took to find the child who lost it?

S: (shudders) I found it in the park. For Pete’s sake, I didn’t steal it from a child! I’m a lot of things, but not a thief. And you’ve undoubtedly been nosing around yourself! Who told you all this?

ME: I have my sources. But back to the hair stylist’s scissors. I hear you took those off her work tray. Those aren’t cheap.

S: Exaggerations. She wasn’t using them at that particular moment. Anyway, I tried catching a mouse once. Killing living things is out, and I don’t like fur in my mouth. (he licks his shoulder.)

ME: Um, about that fur in the mouth thing?

S: (freezes his stare off into the distance) This is grooming. Minimal fur reaches the mouth.

ME: Seriously?

S: (spits out a wad of cat hair that barely missed my leg) I’m grooming. Anyway, we need to wrap this up. I’m feeling nature’s call if you know what I mean.

ME: I have just one more question. Theo’s gift is helping the dead who come forward to settle old issues. Wishes went back with her to the 1700s to save a young boy from the gallows. Just as Theo did, Wishes saw the boy’s ghost. Can you see the dead, too?

S: Seriously? (he huffed a kitty laugh) What cat cannot see the unseen? The answer is ‘yes.’

ME: Anybody around us now?

S: Would you really like the answer?

ME: Ah. Now that you ask, no.

S: Thought so! See you around Baga Shores! (jumps off my lap and trots off)

ME: We can’t wait!

***

Soon after Theo and Ethan became the proud parents of twins, they decided to relocate to Baga Shores. The reasons for this are long, and I’ll keep you posted.

Since the firstborn child in each Blessing generation inherits the gift, it’ll be interesting to see which twin is the lucky one. I’m sure Wishes, now happily settled in with his new family, will be front and center to help.

I’ll share the progress on the Blessing’s move to Baga Shores in this newsletter and my FB Readers Salon Group! 

Next month, the one and only Alika. 

The post Whisker Wisdom Caterview with Scarlett! appeared first on .

WHISKER WISDOM CATERVIEW WITH ALOYSIUS

WHISKER WISDOM CATERVIEW WITH ALOYSIUS, A ONE-IN-THREE-THOUSAND FELINE!

Whisker Wisdom Caterview with Aloysius, or “Wishes,” special not only because he has an extra chromosome. He’s much more than that!

Tortoiseshell males occur only one in 3000.

And like most tortoiseshell males, he’s sterile.

Wishes, until now, patiently lounging on a chair beside me in my office, let out a chittering cackle, and sat upright with a stiff spine.

Wishes: Wait just a minute! Isn’t that a little too much information? My ability to reproduce is not the subject of this interview. May I remind you that my being here is a favor to you? So, shall we commence?

Me: That was an unfortunate slip. I apologize. But you jumped in before I could finish. What makes you stand out is your ability to traverse time and your ability to talk. We all appreciate that you’ve come forward again. How was your journey?

W shrugged: No more, no less complicated than the dozen times I’ve done it before.

Me: And Jacob Blessing. How’s he doing?

W: He’s well, considering his age. He often talks about when I brought his eleventh great-granddaughter, Theodosia, back to meet him and praises her for helping that poor boy escape the gallows. She was expecting her first child when I left. That kid should be four.

Me: A nod to you, reader. Wishes is referring to the young boy from the 1700s who appeared in Theodosia’s, or “Theo’s” driveway, with an odd request. Clear his name as a murderer.  Wishes, Theo and Ethan had twins, and yes, they are four. Everyone wonders why you abruptly left in the 21st century and returned to 18th-century North Carolina. You had a pretty good life here. Theo assumed your work was done after the boy was free, and you accompanied them back. Can you tell us more?

W: Whoa! Firstborn twins? Trust me, that’s never, ever happened in the line. Since gifted one’s firstborn inherits the ability to bring the dead forward, heaven help us if both can. But it will be years before it manifests. I hope Theodosia figures it out before then. Is the new cat I picked out any help? When I found that kitten, I could tell that little creature needed training but could be a great familiar for her.

Me: Theo will be fine. But you chose a very quirky cat. By the way, she’s the subject of the next Caterview. But you’ve dodged my question. You really disrupted the centuries-old plan. You’ve always been assigned to a magical Blessing. And you stay with that person until the gift passes to their firstborn. You were Theo’s father’s familiar until the gift passed to her. That’s how it worked through all the generations before. Always forward. Never back.

W fiddled with something caught between his splayed toes on a back foot. With the foot still sticking in the air, he looked up at me: Oh, I’m sorry. Was there a question in there?

Me: I think you know it was.

W: Indeed, I’ve faithfully upheld my duty. For centuries, I’ll add. But when I brought Theodosia and her man back to 1718 to save that boy and saw Jacob again, I knew he needed me more than Theodosia did. Aside from Theodosia, he was the smartest Blessing I’ve known. And I’ve known them all, back to old England. Only someone like Jacob could get that stubborn woman to travel back in time to save a life. The convincing letter he wrote to her was sheer brilliance.

So I doubt the universe minds that I bent time a little so we could relive his last years together. I can be with him and serve his firstborn at the same time.

Me: I don’t put anything past you. But when Jacob Blessing passes, which I guess will be the second time, what then? You’ve completed your obligations through the generations up to Theo. This is all so confusing.

W canted his head as he considered an answer: Valid on all counts. I’ve been with so many Blessing generations that I’ve lost track. But dear Jacob always had a special place in my heart. I can keep going as if nothing had changed. Only I will know that I’ve been with each firstborn before. They won’t suspect a thing. I might catch up with Theodosia again at some point. Time means nothing to me.

Me: So you’re confirming there are parallel time periods? Are we side-by-side with past generations?

W cast an unbelieving eye roll: You’re the author who wrote our story, and you still say you don’t know the answers?

Me: I make stuff up, Wishes. The whole idea of time traveling was made up. And I invented you, remember.

W squinted his eyelids to a slit and stared hard at me. After a moment, he spoke again:  You invented me? Seriously? I’ve been around a lot longer than you. When will you realize you are a sideline observer of our stories and simply writing what happened?

Me: But, Wishes…

The little ‘tortie’ interrupted with another throaty chitter that could be interpreted as disgusted if one were inclined to judge it as such.

Then he was gone.

Into thin air.

Again.

**

I can’t say this interview went precisely as planned.

Wishes left me with more questions than answers, especially the bit about me being a scribe of events and not the inventor of them. I need time to process that.

But, in classic Wishes style, he comes and goes when he wants, back and forth over three hundred and twenty years.

He didn’t give me time to tell him that Theo, her husband Ethan, and their twins are relocating to Baga Shores for a fresh start. Ethan, who has never completely healed from a traumatic military deployment, accepted a promising job opportunity. A gifted potter and magical, Theo is opening a new studio, once again hoping to escape the selfish dead who continually hound her for help.

She hopes a new life in Baga Shores, where magicals are embraced, will be different, and the hauntings will end.

**

In the meantime, Wishes got me thinking.

Is magical time-traveling an author’s invention or an actual phenomenon?

Could a cat live for centuries?

Are writers simply observers recording events? If that’s true, I can’t wait to see who shows up next wanting their story told!

What do you think?

Whisker Wisdom Caterview next time is with Scarlett!

Keep up to date with Candace and all her magical characters–feline and human. Sign up for her newsletter and get a free read!

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Meet Crealde!

Crealde, my first Caterview, is a 19-pound pure white male feline with one blue and one green eye who appears in my Nocturne Falls Universe falcon shifter books.

If you’ve read the stories, you appreciate how difficult it was to get him to sit for this interview. After all, it was my idea, not his. If you know cats well, you know they don’t do anything they don’t want to do.

He can be a bit aloof to say it nicely depending on his mood. Graciously, he agreed to our chat. But, under one condition. The interview must be all about him. We struck a good deal, especially when I reminded him he was the first in the Caterview series.

Crealde’s human is Echo Stargazer, an eccentric psychic mind reader. They live on the second floor of their Pepto Bismol pink home in Nocturne Falls, Georgia. Echo’s fascinating Carpe Diem shop is on the first floor, full of potions, oils, costumes, gems, books, and assorted magical knick-knackery. In her private quarters, Echo gives psychic readings.

I met Crealde in the garden behind his and Echo’s home, where he was seated like a palace prince waiting for me to curtsy. As I ran my fingers through his beautifully long pearl-white fur, I swear his purr revved like a B-52 airplane engine. Realizing how cat-like he was acting, he quickly snapped back into character.

ME: Crealde, good to see you. We haven’t had a chance to catch up for several years. How’s it been going for you?

CREALDE: (He gave a long, squeaky, wide-mouthed yawn and a noticeable shrug.) Things are good. The litter box stays clean. I go in and out as I please. I’m fed well.

ME: I would agree with that last point.

C: (Crealde raised a paw in warning and let out a ‘meorowoww’ that shook the pen out of my hand.) Ah ah ah. No innuendos about my size.

ME: I didn’t mean to come across as fat-shaming you. But you do have a bit of a reputation.

C: Don’t go there, lady!

ME: (With a wink to you, reader, a character once compared his size to a child’s ottoman.) I understand you still live upstairs over the Carpe Diem. Did Echo ever return?

C: I do. She did.

ME: Can you elaborate? Did she tell you much about her extended trip?

C: Not much to tell. She ran off with her Tai Chi instructor and then came back.

ME: So our readers don’t get the wrong impression, she didn’t exactly run off with him, Crealde. Echo, whose age is a matter of dispute and is at least in her late eighties, practices Tai Chi weekly with Master Cheng and has done so for years. One day, with no warning, she left a note saying she’d traveled back to China—that is, back to China three hundred years ago with Master Cheng. She made one brief return visit and another for her granddaughters’ weddings, but I never heard if she returned for good.

C: If ‘for good’ means ‘forever,’ I tend to doubt it. She is back for now. Business is going well. Her psychic reading schedule is packed. It’s too full if you want my opinion. Always someone tramping in and out. It’s hard to get a good day’s sleep.

ME: It’s been said that you have three waking faces. Sleepy. Angry. Skeptical. Is that a fair assessment?

C: (He cocked his head to the side and thought a moment, then I swear he gave me the slant eye.) Fair, indeed. But I’d add another: bored.

ME: Most residents in Nocturne Falls are magical. The rest are regulars who are only aware of the magic. But you don’t have a gift. Does that bother you?

C: (He dipped his head, adding a disgusted headshake.) Hello, human writer! Are we not talking right now? Besides, cats are innately magical. I understand humans—all kinds of humans—just fine. Probably better than they know themselves. I choose not to talk to them. Consider yourself lucky.

ME: Fair points. And I appreciate you’re honoring me with this conversation. Are there any magicals you really can’t stand?

C: I am not fond of anything that shifts into a critter with claws or talons that would consider me their dinner. The exception is the Ford family. They are all falcon shifters, but to my knowledge, they’ve never snacked on a cat or dog. I like them.

ME: Good thing since the Ford brothers married Echo’s granddaughters. How are they doing, by the way?

C: You’ve asked about someone else twice now. The deal, remember? (Crealde made another noisy yawn.)

ME: I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m sure you have a tight afternoon schedule. Is there anything else I should mention to our readers before we end?

C: (He made a long, languid front and back stretch.) Nope.

Crealde trotted away, his backside to me, and his tail lifted straight up. Evidence to me that this was the ‘end.’ He stopped halfway and flashed a glance over his shoulder.

C: This went well, don’t you think?

ME: Yes, very well.

I invite you to read the Falcon Shifter series. Visit my Candace Colt Website to find out where to buy them, and visit Nocturne Falls Universe to learn more about Kristen Painter’s series.

If you think Crealde had terms and conditions, wait till you meet the next guy!

The Falcon Finds His MateCandace Colt

WHISKER WISDOM CATERVIEW WITH CREALDE!

Whisker Wisdom Caterview with Crealde! I’m launching this series with Crealde, a 19-pound pure white male feline with a real ‘catitude.’

If you’ve read the stories, you appreciate how difficult it was to get him to sit for this interview.

After all, it was my idea, not his. If you know cats well, you know they don’t do anything they don’t want to do.

He can be a bit aloof to say it nicely depending on his mood. Graciously, he agreed to our chat. But, under one condition. The interview must be all about him. We struck a good deal, especially when I reminded him he was the first in the Caterview series.

Crealde’s human is Echo Stargazer, an eccentric psychic mind reader. They live on the second floor of their Pepto Bismol pink home in Nocturne Falls, Georgia. Echo’s fascinating Carpe Diem shop is on the first floor, full of potions, oils, costumes, gems, books, and assorted magical knick-knackery. In her private quarters, Echo gives psychic readings.

I met Crealde in the garden behind his and Echo’s home, where he was seated like a palace prince waiting for me to curtsy. As I ran my fingers through his beautifully long pearl-white fur, I swear his purr revved like a B-52 airplane engine. Realizing how cat-like he was acting, he quickly snapped back into character.

ME: Crealde, good to see you. We haven’t had a chance to catch up for several years. How’s it been going for you?

CREALDE: (He gave a long, squeaky, wide-mouthed yawn and a noticeable shrug.) Things are good. The litter box stays clean. I go in and out as I please. I’m fed well.

ME: I would agree with that last point.

C: (Crealde raised a paw in warning and let out a ‘meorowoww’ that shook the pen out of my hand.) Ah ah ah. No innuendos about my size.

ME: I didn’t mean to come across as fat-shaming you. But you do have a bit of a reputation.

C: Don’t go there, lady!

ME: (With a wink to you, reader, a character once compared his size to a child’s ottoman.) I understand you still live upstairs over the Carpe Diem. Did Echo ever return?

C: I do. She did.

ME: Can you elaborate? Did she tell you much about her extended trip?

C: Not much to tell. She ran off with her Tai Chi instructor and then came back.

ME: So our readers don’t get the wrong impression, she didn’t exactly run off with him, Crealde. Echo, whose age is a matter of dispute and is at least in her late eighties, practices Tai Chi weekly with Master Cheng and has done so for years. One day, with no warning, she left a note saying she’d traveled back to China—that is, back to China three hundred years ago with Master Cheng. She made one brief return visit and another for her granddaughters’ weddings, but I never heard if she returned for good.

C: If ‘for good’ means ‘forever,’ I tend to doubt it. She is back for now. Business is going well. Her psychic reading schedule is packed. It’s too full if you want my opinion. Always someone tramping in and out. It’s hard to get a good day’s sleep.

ME: It’s been said that you have three waking faces. Sleepy. Angry. Skeptical. Is that a fair assessment?

C: (He cocked his head to the side and thought a moment, then I swear he gave me the slant eye.) Fair, indeed. But I’d add another: bored.

ME: Most residents in Nocturne Falls are magical. The rest are regulars who are only aware of the magic. But you don’t have a gift. Does that bother you?

C: (He dipped his head, adding a disgusted headshake.) Hello, human writer! Are we not talking right now? Besides, cats are innately magical. I understand humans—all kinds of humans—just fine. Probably better than they know themselves. I choose not to talk to them. Consider yourself lucky.

ME: Fair points. And I appreciate you’re honoring me with this conversation. Are there any magicals you really can’t stand?

C: I am not fond of anything that shifts into a critter with claws or talons that would consider me their dinner. The exception is the Ford family. They are all falcon shifters, but to my knowledge, they’ve never snacked on a cat or dog. I like them.

ME: Good thing since the Ford brothers married Echo’s granddaughters. How are they doing, by the way?

C: You’ve asked about someone else twice now. The deal, remember? (Crealde made another noisy yawn.)

ME: I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m sure you have a tight afternoon schedule. Is there anything else I should mention to our readers before we end? 

C: (He made a long, languid front and back stretch.) Nope.

Crealde trotted away, his backside to me, and his tail lifted straight up. Evidence to me that this was the ‘end.’ He stopped halfway and flashed a glance over his shoulder.

C: This went well, don’t you think?

ME: Yes, very well.

I invite you to read the Falcon Shifter series. Visit my Candace Colt Website to find out where to buy them. Visit Nocturne Falls Universe to learn more about Kristen Painter’s series.

If you think Crealde had terms and conditions, wait till you meet Wishes next time!

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