Kate Collins's Blog, page 168
February 2, 2015
Snakes and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
by Maggie SeftonOkay. . .there're no snakes or snails in today's post, but I do have puppy photos. So I guess the
better title for the post is Odds and Ends and Puppy Dog Tails.
Today, I've got a weird assortment of stuff to share along with some photos, so let's get to it-----
First---To my great surprise, daughter Serena told me she and fiance Jeff have a new puppy to keep Sweet Dachsund Oscar company, who is an adorable miniature Dachsund, as you folks have seen from his photos on previous posts. Can you believe they chose a Mastiff? A
mastiff
! I actually squealed over the phone! Ye Gods! Immediately I wondered about Oscar. Serena assured me Oscar has adjusted nicely. Ignoring Big Pup (as I call him until he has a name), who follows him around. I'm betting Oscar will wind up bossing Big Pup around. I'll keep you all posted. (Above photo: He's only 6 weeks and you can see he's quickly growing out of his bed). :) 
Second---I've finally gotten tired of tossing and turning at night and bought one of those great beds that people rave about. I chose the one that I could adjust the settings to soft, soft, and softer. :) After a lifetime of never thinking about the hardness of a mattress and falling asleep instantly, I find I now notice these things, thus. . .a new mattress. :) I'll let you folks know how I like it. Have any of you gotten one of those super mattresses? How do you like it? (Photo here is of one of the bedrooms in the lovely town home author Deb Baker and I rented in Ajijic, Mexico in February last year where we wrote like crazy).Third---I'm curious what your favorite TV commercial was during the Super Bowl. Assuming you watched the Super Bowl, that is. Since it was coming on later in the day, I was out for breakfast during the mid morning till noon, then did some grocery shopping (actually bought some chicken wings with special sauce) , then got back home in time to gather up tax info for 2014. Yes, you heard that right. Income tax info---bills, invoices, receipts, etc. And I used the Super Bowl to sort through everything into categories. Of course, I did pay attention to all the commercials, and I do have a favorite one. But, I'm interested in YOUR choices.
So, what about you folks?
February 1, 2015
The Death of a Friend
by Kate Collins
I’ve been through one of the most profound losses a person can go through – the loss of my husband. The grief of losing someone that close – husband or child – cannot be described. It is something one never “gets over.” It is as permanent as a scar across one’s heart. But as I write this, I am mourning a different kind of loss. A longtime friend, a woman who knew my husband and saw me through my grief, has just passed away.
She lived in the house next door to me throughout my marriage, and after my husband died and I moved to a condominium community, she did, too, buying the lot next to mine. Her birthday was next to mine, too. She was August 6th and I was the 7th. We were a year and a day apart, one house apart, and now, after a quick battle with cancer, she is a world apart.
No more will I dash from my garage to hers to bring her tomatoes from my garden. No longer will she be there when I need company after a long day of writing. We hugged when I left for Florida just a few short weeks ago. She had finished her rounds of chemotherapy and was hoping her tests results would be wonderful. She was looking forward to my new book being released tomorrow. We would have celebrated together.
It was not to be. Despite the treatments, the cancer went to her brain. Within one week of finding out, she was gone. I didn’t get to say goodbye. Now I’m going home to her funeral and I can’t wrap my mind around it. She should be there, right next door, a big smile on her face, waiting for a hug.
It’s a different kind of grief but it’s still sharp and painful. I’m waiting for a sign from her. We both believe in them. I receive them still from my husband and she received them from her mother who also recently passed away. I don’t know what the sign will be, but I know it will make me smile because she made me smile. She was brave despite her prognosis. It was my honor to be her friend and I will miss her dearly.
I’ve been through one of the most profound losses a person can go through – the loss of my husband. The grief of losing someone that close – husband or child – cannot be described. It is something one never “gets over.” It is as permanent as a scar across one’s heart. But as I write this, I am mourning a different kind of loss. A longtime friend, a woman who knew my husband and saw me through my grief, has just passed away.
She lived in the house next door to me throughout my marriage, and after my husband died and I moved to a condominium community, she did, too, buying the lot next to mine. Her birthday was next to mine, too. She was August 6th and I was the 7th. We were a year and a day apart, one house apart, and now, after a quick battle with cancer, she is a world apart.
No more will I dash from my garage to hers to bring her tomatoes from my garden. No longer will she be there when I need company after a long day of writing. We hugged when I left for Florida just a few short weeks ago. She had finished her rounds of chemotherapy and was hoping her tests results would be wonderful. She was looking forward to my new book being released tomorrow. We would have celebrated together.
It was not to be. Despite the treatments, the cancer went to her brain. Within one week of finding out, she was gone. I didn’t get to say goodbye. Now I’m going home to her funeral and I can’t wrap my mind around it. She should be there, right next door, a big smile on her face, waiting for a hug.
It’s a different kind of grief but it’s still sharp and painful. I’m waiting for a sign from her. We both believe in them. I receive them still from my husband and she received them from her mother who also recently passed away. I don’t know what the sign will be, but I know it will make me smile because she made me smile. She was brave despite her prognosis. It was my honor to be her friend and I will miss her dearly.
Ellery's Mystery Cozy Contest
Hosted By Ellery AdamsIt's the first of the month! Time for me to give away a $10 card to the bookstore of your choice.
This is how it works: I post a few lines from a cozy mystery. You post the title and author in the comment section. Then, I'll draw a random name from the winning guesses and post that person's name on this page and on Facebook by 10 p.m. on February 2nd.
Okay, here we go! Here are the lines from this month's mystery cozy:
"After a long day of contract negotiations, phone calls to author and editors, and a meeting with my fellow literary agents, the last thing I expected was to come home to find my kitchen on fire."
Ellery's helpful hint - The 4th book in this series is coming out next week.
January 30, 2015
VOLUNTEERING IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL
by Mary Kennedy
Volunteering is one of those activities that pays back big dividends. When you serve up a hot meal at a soup kitchen, bake a cake to raise money for your child's school, or process adoption papers at the local SPCA, you help yourself. Did you know that people who volunteer--whether it's through a church group, a civic association or a favorite charity--are happier, healthier, and have lower rates of depression than people who don't volunteer?
Older adults are particularly generous with their time and talents. Last year, more than 20 million older adults contributed more than 3 billion hours of service in their communities.
Volunteering can take many forms. For six years, I was a CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) for children who are under the jurisdiction of Family Court. In some states, CASAs are called "guardians ad litem." We are sworn in as officers of the court. The work is rigorous (I spent between 10 and 15 hours a week advocating for the children assigned to me. I did loads of "collateral" interviews, meaning I spoke with every adult who influenced their life, their foster family, their biological parents, their pastor, their grade school teacher, their day care provider, their relatives, their social workers, etc. I handled "crisis situations" occasionally when a disruption occurred in the child's care and the child ended up in a residential treatment facility. As a CASA, I was the one constant in the child's life, and I spent hours getting to know the children, interacting with them, learning their deepest fears, wishes and secrets.
Most CASA's take on one or two children, but at one point, I was responsible for 4 siblings, scattered in various foster care placements and treatment facilities. I wrote a lengthy paper, documenting my interviews and made recommendations to the judge about the best placement for the children. One year, I made 14 court appearances.
If you would like to volunteer to be a CASA, just call Family Court in your area and they will connect you with the CASA coordinator. It can be grueling and emotionally draining but it is also very rewarding work. A CASA stays with the case until it's resolved, no matter how many years it takes.
Most of you know that I'm a big-time animal lover and over the years, I've volunteered at a variety of animal shelters. If you'd like to help animals, but think helping out in a shelter might be too emotionally upsetting, you don't have to be "hands-on." I've written press releases, managed mailing lists, launched fund-raising appeals and answered phones. Animal shelters everywhere are desperate for help and they always need people to follow up on phone calls and do office work.
One of my favorite shelters is the Wayne County Humane Society in Lyons, New York and all the proceeds (100%) from my Dream Guide go to them. I wrote the Dream Guide to accompany my Penguin Dream Club Mysteries. It's 99 cents as an e-book. Okay, an e-pamphlet, it's only 17 pages.
Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of volunteering.
Be sure to choose an activity that you can devote your time to--
think of your schedule and make sure the volunteer work is a good match. Usually, organizations will be thrilled to have you and will work around your other obligations.
Find a volunteer buddy.
You know how it's easier to get to the gym if your friend is waiting there for you? It also helps to have a friend choose the same volunteer activity you do. Make it easy for your friends to volunteer, offer to pick them up, suggest stopping for coffee or lunch. Make it a fun, rewarding experience and they will want to be part of it.
Don't be afraid to spread the word to your friends and family.
I've found that most people really do want to help, they just don't know how to get started. And they don't know about the opportunities out there. My local paper publishes a weekly "volunteer" section and lists all the charities in the region--everything from literacy efforts to shelters for abused women--and describes what they need.
Like anything in life, it's best to find your passion.
If you love kids, you might want to get involved with a library program, reading to children. If you like cooking and feel gratified when people enjoy a good meal, you can spend a morning a week at a soup kitchen. If you love horses, you can volunteer at an equestrian camp. The possibilities are endless! Make 2015 the year you volunteer, I guarantee you will be happier and healthier because of it. And if you're already volunteering, I applaud you!! Keep up the good work. The world is a better place because of you. Mary Kennedy
Volunteering is one of those activities that pays back big dividends. When you serve up a hot meal at a soup kitchen, bake a cake to raise money for your child's school, or process adoption papers at the local SPCA, you help yourself. Did you know that people who volunteer--whether it's through a church group, a civic association or a favorite charity--are happier, healthier, and have lower rates of depression than people who don't volunteer?
Older adults are particularly generous with their time and talents. Last year, more than 20 million older adults contributed more than 3 billion hours of service in their communities.
Volunteering can take many forms. For six years, I was a CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) for children who are under the jurisdiction of Family Court. In some states, CASAs are called "guardians ad litem." We are sworn in as officers of the court. The work is rigorous (I spent between 10 and 15 hours a week advocating for the children assigned to me. I did loads of "collateral" interviews, meaning I spoke with every adult who influenced their life, their foster family, their biological parents, their pastor, their grade school teacher, their day care provider, their relatives, their social workers, etc. I handled "crisis situations" occasionally when a disruption occurred in the child's care and the child ended up in a residential treatment facility. As a CASA, I was the one constant in the child's life, and I spent hours getting to know the children, interacting with them, learning their deepest fears, wishes and secrets.
Most CASA's take on one or two children, but at one point, I was responsible for 4 siblings, scattered in various foster care placements and treatment facilities. I wrote a lengthy paper, documenting my interviews and made recommendations to the judge about the best placement for the children. One year, I made 14 court appearances. If you would like to volunteer to be a CASA, just call Family Court in your area and they will connect you with the CASA coordinator. It can be grueling and emotionally draining but it is also very rewarding work. A CASA stays with the case until it's resolved, no matter how many years it takes.
Most of you know that I'm a big-time animal lover and over the years, I've volunteered at a variety of animal shelters. If you'd like to help animals, but think helping out in a shelter might be too emotionally upsetting, you don't have to be "hands-on." I've written press releases, managed mailing lists, launched fund-raising appeals and answered phones. Animal shelters everywhere are desperate for help and they always need people to follow up on phone calls and do office work.
One of my favorite shelters is the Wayne County Humane Society in Lyons, New York and all the proceeds (100%) from my Dream Guide go to them. I wrote the Dream Guide to accompany my Penguin Dream Club Mysteries. It's 99 cents as an e-book. Okay, an e-pamphlet, it's only 17 pages.
Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of volunteering.
Be sure to choose an activity that you can devote your time to--
think of your schedule and make sure the volunteer work is a good match. Usually, organizations will be thrilled to have you and will work around your other obligations.
Find a volunteer buddy.
You know how it's easier to get to the gym if your friend is waiting there for you? It also helps to have a friend choose the same volunteer activity you do. Make it easy for your friends to volunteer, offer to pick them up, suggest stopping for coffee or lunch. Make it a fun, rewarding experience and they will want to be part of it.
Don't be afraid to spread the word to your friends and family.
I've found that most people really do want to help, they just don't know how to get started. And they don't know about the opportunities out there. My local paper publishes a weekly "volunteer" section and lists all the charities in the region--everything from literacy efforts to shelters for abused women--and describes what they need.
Like anything in life, it's best to find your passion.
If you love kids, you might want to get involved with a library program, reading to children. If you like cooking and feel gratified when people enjoy a good meal, you can spend a morning a week at a soup kitchen. If you love horses, you can volunteer at an equestrian camp. The possibilities are endless! Make 2015 the year you volunteer, I guarantee you will be happier and healthier because of it. And if you're already volunteering, I applaud you!! Keep up the good work. The world is a better place because of you. Mary Kennedy
I want my own studio
by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett
There. I said it.
What kind of studio you ask? Well, as a writer, I do have my own office. A dedicated space where I can create all my books. Only ... it's so full of general clutter, and boxes of bookmarks and postcards, that I can't write there. (Here, actually. I can write blog posts, emails, etc. I just can't get any real writing done here.) I write in my family room, sitting on the couch, during the cold months. When it's warm, I write in my enclosed porch overlooking my backyard. (And boy do I wish I could do that today. The fact that it's only going to be about 22F out kinda makes it a little chilly for that.)
I have a Canon EOS Rebel T3i camera that I'm insanely in love with, and I love to take photographs. I often buy cool stuff (well, cool to me) that I'd like to photograph. Then I could part with the stuff and still have a nice picture to remember it by.
Mr. L's best friend has a good camera, and a dedicated space (a closet) where he can take studio quality pictures of his artwork. He needs it, because he has to supply photos to galleries, etc. He's got umbrella lights, the works. I have a foam core display board. For the most part, it works. I can set it up on a tiny table in my dining room and get fairly decent shots of small items ... like tea cups, etc.
I took the above picture in 2013. I now know enough Photoshop to get rid of the line in the background, but ... I'm lazy, too. I'm not going back to older shots to make corrections. If I had somewhere to put these pictures (besides my blog and Pinterest), I might.
If I was serious, I'd clear out my office and make a dedicated space for a tiny studio. One that looks a bit like this. But ... man, when would I ever have time to write? It's my job, and I love it. But I sure wish I had more time to work on other projects. I need another 10-12 hours in the day just to do everything I want to do.
If you had the time, what kind of hobby would you pursue?
There. I said it.
What kind of studio you ask? Well, as a writer, I do have my own office. A dedicated space where I can create all my books. Only ... it's so full of general clutter, and boxes of bookmarks and postcards, that I can't write there. (Here, actually. I can write blog posts, emails, etc. I just can't get any real writing done here.) I write in my family room, sitting on the couch, during the cold months. When it's warm, I write in my enclosed porch overlooking my backyard. (And boy do I wish I could do that today. The fact that it's only going to be about 22F out kinda makes it a little chilly for that.)
I have a Canon EOS Rebel T3i camera that I'm insanely in love with, and I love to take photographs. I often buy cool stuff (well, cool to me) that I'd like to photograph. Then I could part with the stuff and still have a nice picture to remember it by.
Mr. L's best friend has a good camera, and a dedicated space (a closet) where he can take studio quality pictures of his artwork. He needs it, because he has to supply photos to galleries, etc. He's got umbrella lights, the works. I have a foam core display board. For the most part, it works. I can set it up on a tiny table in my dining room and get fairly decent shots of small items ... like tea cups, etc.
I took the above picture in 2013. I now know enough Photoshop to get rid of the line in the background, but ... I'm lazy, too. I'm not going back to older shots to make corrections. If I had somewhere to put these pictures (besides my blog and Pinterest), I might.
If I was serious, I'd clear out my office and make a dedicated space for a tiny studio. One that looks a bit like this. But ... man, when would I ever have time to write? It's my job, and I love it. But I sure wish I had more time to work on other projects. I need another 10-12 hours in the day just to do everything I want to do.If you had the time, what kind of hobby would you pursue?
January 28, 2015
Meet the new kid on the shelf!
By Victoria Abbott aka Victoria and Mary Jane Maffini
Well, the suspense is over and TADA here it is! Our long-awaited cover for book four of the book collector mysteries!
Meet THE MARSH MADNESS
One of the most exciting things as an author (or a pair of authors) is to get a new cover. We want you to be the first to see the cover for The Marsh Madness, the fourth book collector mystery.
We always worry before we see it. Will the publisher use another cover artist? Will the color work? Will it reflect the book?
Please let us know what you think of it. Are you purple people? We’re including the other covers so you can see if the new baby fits in with the family. Here are the other kids:
So, should we celebrate? Or head to Jordan’s attic room (wish it was real!), climb back into her feather bed and stick our heads under the flower-sprigged quilt?
PS. We are a mother-daughter collaboration as you may know. Here we are with Peachy the Pug (aka Walter)
DON'T FORGET TO PRE-ORDER ORDER THE MARSH MADNESS HERE
Or from wherever you like to buy your books!
Well, the suspense is over and TADA here it is! Our long-awaited cover for book four of the book collector mysteries!
Meet THE MARSH MADNESS
One of the most exciting things as an author (or a pair of authors) is to get a new cover. We want you to be the first to see the cover for The Marsh Madness, the fourth book collector mystery.
We always worry before we see it. Will the publisher use another cover artist? Will the color work? Will it reflect the book?
Please let us know what you think of it. Are you purple people? We’re including the other covers so you can see if the new baby fits in with the family. Here are the other kids:
So, should we celebrate? Or head to Jordan’s attic room (wish it was real!), climb back into her feather bed and stick our heads under the flower-sprigged quilt?
PS. We are a mother-daughter collaboration as you may know. Here we are with Peachy the Pug (aka Walter)
DON'T FORGET TO PRE-ORDER ORDER THE MARSH MADNESS HERE
Or from wherever you like to buy your books!
January 27, 2015
Who’s Got Your Back...
Hi, all. Dead Man Walker is out Tuesday. It’s the fourth book in my Consignment Shop Mysteries and it’s Walker Boone’s story meaning it’s from his point of view…“See, there he is, Mr. Boone,” Mercedes said to me. “Just like I told you on the phone, Conway Adkins dead as a fence post in his very own claw-foot bathtub and naked as the day he was born.” “I take you added the washcloth?” I said to Mercedes, both of us standing in the doorway and staring at the corpse.“Couldn’t be having the man laying there with his shrivelness all exposed to the world now could I. Not proper for a man his age.” “Or for the rest of us,” I added.
A guy’s point of view, especially a hunky dude like Walker Boone is way different than writing in the female point of view. Guys don’t think about the color of their purse. They don’t do lunch or get over a problem with retail therapy...namely shopping for shoes. They don’t go out for ice cream when they’re down, they don’t mainline chocolate or eat peanut butter out of the jar…not that I’d ever do such a thing.Guys meet with their buds at the local watering hole and down a few or maybe they shoot pool or shoot hoops. Or they get bar grub or ribs or wings. Wings are always a guy pleaser.
I love guy friendships. Sherlock and Watson, Chandler and Joey on Friends, Fred Flinstone and Barney Rubble, Bert and Ernie, Batman and Robin…you get the picture.
Walker has Big Joey...“Dawg,” Big Joey said to me as I slip onto a stool next to his, everyone in the place giving Joey space. “Know you’d show.” Big Joey was built like a Mac truck, muscles buffed to jet black, gold tooth, ponytail and main man of the Seventeenth Street gang...my former home and forever family. He was my brother in every sense of the word except parental commonality.
Of course Walker Boone has other friendships, girl friendships like with Reagan. The two started off rocky in that Walker represented Reagan’s ex in her divorce but in solving mysteries they kept tripping over each other. At the end of Dead Man Walker, Walker’s on the run and Reagan’s there to help him out...“This is circumstantial evidence,” I said to Reagan as we stood on the sidewalk outside my house. “The police have to see that someone’s setting me up to cover their own butt.”“It’s your butt that needs covering, Walker Boone,” Reagan offered. “The police found your .38 and it matches the bullet that killed Conway. The cops are on their way. You got to get out of here right now.”
I looked at my red ‘57 Chevy convertible parked at the curb. “Might as well put a target on my back driving this thing.”Reagan shoved her helmet at me. “Take Princess.”“A scooter? You want me to ride a pink scooter named Princess?”
“Better than that being your nickname in the big house.”This is Walker Boone’s story, his friendships, the people in his life that help him out no matter what.
So what about you? If you were in a tough spot like Walker who would help you out? Who would cover for you lend you their pink scooter to get away? Who is your Big Joey or Reagan Summerside?
I’ll give away three and Dead Man pens from the answers. Nothing better than a BFF when the chips are down. Hugs, Duffy
January 26, 2015
Movie Time + Update #1
by Maggie SeftonWedding Prep Update #1----I sent out Bridal Shower invitations last week. Daughter Serena asked me if I would arrange a bridal shower in Northern Virginia for all our friends and relatives in the DC/Northern VA/MD area. Her Houston friends will handle a bridal shower in that area. I picked one of my favorite local (non-chain) cafes in Vienna, Virginia where I've been dining with friends for years. Next, I'll be discussing menus with the chef via email.
I suddenly realized I hadn't done a movie update since November, and I've seen a LOT of new movies since then. So I figured I'd do several Movie Time updates this last week of January and in February, in between other posts. And Wedding Prep updates, of course. :)
THE HUNGER GAMES---MOCKINGJAY Part I-----Jennifer Lawrence returns as the courageous heroine in the 3rd episode of this gripping series. She's leading the resistance to the tyrannical regime that rules the world she and her friends are fighting to save. I still remember how mesmerized I was a few years ago when my 12 year old granddaughter excitedly told me the story of the Hunger Games trilogy. I was hooked.
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING---This is a fascinating movie because it follows the real life story of astrophysicist Stephen Hawking. British Actor Eddie Redmayne does a wonderful job of portraying this brilliant man who continued to explore physics and the universe even though he was gradually losing total control over his body due to the devastating disease ALS. Life-affirming to say the least.
INTERSTELLAR---I absolutely love movies about Outer Space, whether they're Star Wars versions or re-inventions of the classic TV show Star Trek stories, or the recent "space opera" Guardians of the Galaxy (which I thoroughly enjoyed). :) But Interstellar is a little different because the stakes are much higher, and the storyline is much more realistic. Once it's been established that Earth is dying and the entire human race will too unless a new planetary home is found, it's off to the races for this storyline. The hero Matthew McConaughey and co-stars blast off into outer space and on the hunt for a new home. Realistically done in how the realities of space and time affect space travelers. This is an intellectual space movie and very well done. Recommend it highly.
Have you seen any of these movies? How did you like them?
January 25, 2015
POSTER CONTEST WINNERS!!
by Kate Collins
We have three winners in my poster contest, and here they are!
Kathy Grater MeikDebbie A GloverMary Hall
CONGRATULATIONS, ladies! You will each receive an autographed copy of A ROOT AWAKENING just as soon as my assistant can get them in the mail. You should have them a week before they appear on bookshelves.
Thanks to everyone who participated. In November I’ll have another poster contest for FLORIST GRUMP. Watch for that announcement on Facebook, too.
A big thanks to my virtual assistant Jason Eberhardt (who happens to be my very talented son) for designing and executing the posters. I really couldn’t decide which ones were my favorites but I was leaning toward “You Are My Sunshine,” which is Marco’s saying, or “Darkest Day – Meet Abby Knight,” which I think is so clever! They're all up on my Facebook page. But I really love them all. And today the newest one is up, which I also love, about the mysterious Rosa.
Winners – don’t give her away before the book is released! Remember, Mum’s the Word!
Just a quick plug for my assistant: If you are promoting anything and need help, Jason is amazing – and quite reasonable. You can email him for more info: jasonkarleberhardt@gmail.com. His website is under construction and should be up soon. It will list all his author/PR services with prices and packages.
Again, thanks to all of you who shared the posters and voted on your favorite. If you’d like to comment here which one you liked best, I’d love to read them.
It's almost time forA ROOT AWAKENING. I’m so excited!
We have three winners in my poster contest, and here they are!
Kathy Grater MeikDebbie A GloverMary HallCONGRATULATIONS, ladies! You will each receive an autographed copy of A ROOT AWAKENING just as soon as my assistant can get them in the mail. You should have them a week before they appear on bookshelves.
Thanks to everyone who participated. In November I’ll have another poster contest for FLORIST GRUMP. Watch for that announcement on Facebook, too.
A big thanks to my virtual assistant Jason Eberhardt (who happens to be my very talented son) for designing and executing the posters. I really couldn’t decide which ones were my favorites but I was leaning toward “You Are My Sunshine,” which is Marco’s saying, or “Darkest Day – Meet Abby Knight,” which I think is so clever! They're all up on my Facebook page. But I really love them all. And today the newest one is up, which I also love, about the mysterious Rosa. Winners – don’t give her away before the book is released! Remember, Mum’s the Word!
Just a quick plug for my assistant: If you are promoting anything and need help, Jason is amazing – and quite reasonable. You can email him for more info: jasonkarleberhardt@gmail.com. His website is under construction and should be up soon. It will list all his author/PR services with prices and packages.
Again, thanks to all of you who shared the posters and voted on your favorite. If you’d like to comment here which one you liked best, I’d love to read them.It's almost time forA ROOT AWAKENING. I’m so excited!
January 24, 2015
Kitten Moves
by Leann
Lynley, the tuxedo kitten I adopted a little more than a week ago, has sure made himself at home already. For a baby who hadn't really played with toys before, we only had to work on that for about a day before he was totally into everything. It was as if he wanted to play with all the toys at once.
The biggest surprise is how our dog has welcomed this guy. Lynley jumps all over Rosie, the labradoodle. He wraps his paws around her legs, jumps on her, bites her fur, plays with her tags and Rosie just lets him. This is the first cat she has ever accepted and actually played with. It's very funny to watch.
Wexford isn't keen on the new kitten yet. But he now stays in the room, watching carefully, and has even gotten within a foot of the interloper. But he is not happy and refused to eat for two days. Jealous much? Oh yeah. But that was expected. He'll get over it eventually.
The first four or five days Lynley stayed pretty close to me, but now he's everywhere. RUNNING everywhere. It's so cute to hear him race down the hall to the litter box like a pre-schooler who can't hold it any longer. He stays in the guest bathroom at night because, well, I can't trust him and Wexford needs that time alone with me. Wexford is still my sweet boy, but he will never be an alpha. Lynley has already shown that's his job. But getting a busy kitten into that bathroom at bedtime is getting to be more difficult each day. He's like a greased pig and lightning fast.
The other fun things are ones I haven't experienced in a long time:
1. The sideways walk
2. The butt wiggle
3. Gulping food like he hasn't eaten in a week rather than about an hour ago.
4. Instant sleep.
5. The snuggling on my chest.
6. Clumsy attempts to climb on stuff resulting in hilarious failure.
Yes, there has been a lot of laughter around here. What about you? What's the most fun thing about getting a new pet?
Lynley, the tuxedo kitten I adopted a little more than a week ago, has sure made himself at home already. For a baby who hadn't really played with toys before, we only had to work on that for about a day before he was totally into everything. It was as if he wanted to play with all the toys at once.
The biggest surprise is how our dog has welcomed this guy. Lynley jumps all over Rosie, the labradoodle. He wraps his paws around her legs, jumps on her, bites her fur, plays with her tags and Rosie just lets him. This is the first cat she has ever accepted and actually played with. It's very funny to watch.
Wexford isn't keen on the new kitten yet. But he now stays in the room, watching carefully, and has even gotten within a foot of the interloper. But he is not happy and refused to eat for two days. Jealous much? Oh yeah. But that was expected. He'll get over it eventually.
The first four or five days Lynley stayed pretty close to me, but now he's everywhere. RUNNING everywhere. It's so cute to hear him race down the hall to the litter box like a pre-schooler who can't hold it any longer. He stays in the guest bathroom at night because, well, I can't trust him and Wexford needs that time alone with me. Wexford is still my sweet boy, but he will never be an alpha. Lynley has already shown that's his job. But getting a busy kitten into that bathroom at bedtime is getting to be more difficult each day. He's like a greased pig and lightning fast.
The other fun things are ones I haven't experienced in a long time:
1. The sideways walk
2. The butt wiggle
3. Gulping food like he hasn't eaten in a week rather than about an hour ago.
4. Instant sleep.
5. The snuggling on my chest.
6. Clumsy attempts to climb on stuff resulting in hilarious failure.
Yes, there has been a lot of laughter around here. What about you? What's the most fun thing about getting a new pet?
