Mollie Hunt's Blog, page 18
January 17, 2023
FLASH DRIVES: I Don’t Need To Go Outside
I don’t need to go outside—I’m already there.
In a park, firs tall above my head, maples shedding golden leaves.
On a street awash with cherry blossom petals.
On a farm.
In a secret garden.
I’m gathering fallen chestnuts at the Old Pioneer Cemetery.
I’m breathing the fresh salt air of Botanical Bay.
I’m dancing with mayhem.
I’m anywhere I’ve ever been and anywhere I want to be.
Safe inside.
January 9, 2023
FIRST CHAPTERS: There’s a Cat Hair in My Mask: How Cats Helped me through Unprecedented Times
“Cat Hair” was a labor of love/hate. It was a story I needed to tell, didn’t want to tell, didn’t want to think about, could think about nothing else. It was funny, scary, heartwarming, disturbing, and at times downright dangerous. When I finished it, I wasn’t sure I wanted to publish. Then everyone would know! But I went ahead and put it out there, because that’s what writers do.
I got my first review today. She writes:
This book is a memoir about one woman’s battle with depression and anxiety and how she helps cats and they in turn help her… took me two days to read, not because it was short but because it was both readable and fascinating. —Verified Reviewer
When the coronavirus COVID-19 hit the world like a blistering shitstorm, I was living in an old house in Portland, Oregon with my husband and three cats. It was the beginning of February 2020, and Jim and I had just returned from our annual vacation in Mexico. I don’t remember hearing anything about a pandemic as we watched the glorious sunrises and sunsets from our beachfront suite on Cabo San Lucas. The only American horror story I knew of was our explosive political situation. Even with the devious mind of a mystery writer, I would never have imagined what was to come.
Nice as it was to hang out in warmer climes and eat fresh fruit and enchiladas, I was happy to get home. The flight, the airports, and the interminable line at customs were grueling. By the time I arrived in the dark, cold, rainy Pacific Northwest, I was exhausted.
We’d hired an excellent live-in cat sitter for the week we were gone, and the cats weren’t upset with us when we returned. Fact was, they probably had more fun with Jenn, who I’m sure lavished constant affection on the little clowder. It was wonderful to see them again. That night, as I went to bed with cats snuggled around me, I slept well.
As with most vacations, the return was fraught with undone chores and catch-up. I plunged headfirst into answering emails, planning promotion for my new book, and writing, as well as restocking cupboards, watering plants, and so on. I could feel the anxiety rising and wondered, as I always did after a holiday, if this heartless jerk back into reality was really worth the few days of relaxation.
Jim liked to watch the evening news. Unless he was working, every day between five and six o’clock, he sat down in the green easy chair we inherited from his father and clicked on the television. He was arbitrary about stations except for FOX, which was infamous for its politically skewed reporting. He refused to watch that one. The others were probably skewed as well, but skewed to our own point of view, so that worked.
During our time in Mexico, we hadn’t kept up with the goings-on in the States. We figured they could get along without us, and us without them for a while. That was our traditional modus operandi while on a trip, with the exception of Mazatlán in January 2017. On that one, we found ourselves glued in horror to our TV screens and mobile devices as the new President a flurry of executive orders that systematically stripped our country of things we’d worked so hard to achieve. But that’s another story—this one is about a different tragedy or, I should say, a series of tragedies that knocked us on our collective asses like fallen dominos. And this story is about cats.
So there was Jim, watching the news. The first segment was all politics and disaster: the upcoming presidential primaries; Trump’s impeachment trial and disappointing acquittal; another mass shooting, bringing the number up to twenty-eight just this year. Then it switched to reports of a deadly virus that had taken hold in China and was now making a jump to other countries including the U.S. Its origin was still unknown—a zoonotic disease, transmitted from animals such as bats or pangolins? A bioweapon of mass destruction from some secret Chinese lab? Who knew? The news anchor speculated, as they do, on the worst-case scenario. That was the first time I heard the word pandemic, outside of history or dystopian fiction. Little did I know that one word would become commonplace, used everywhere by everyone around the world.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes pandemic thus: “An outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area such as multiple countries or continents and typically affects a significant proportion of the population.” I didn’t pay much attention. I knew the news media latched onto anything that made a good story—they would go to any lengths to get people to watch. A simple winter storm was elevated to a snow-pocalypse; a political protest became a rampage. That’s how they made their money. I assumed this pandemic scare would be no different and went off to make dinner for the cats.
Click to purchase There’s a Cat Hair in My Mask: How Cats Helped me through Unprecedented Times for Kindle or in Paperback. For a signed copy of this or any other of my books, email me at molliehuntcatwriter@gmail.com with “Signed Book” in the subject line.
January 8, 2023
IT’S A GREAT YEAR TO REUSE YOUR OLD CALENDAR!
What do 2023, 2017, 2006, 1995, and 1989 have in common?Turns out that date-wise, they have everything in common. Those years and many more are exactly the same. I learned this by checking a Perpetual Calendar, a list that uses algorithms to compute the day of the week for any given year, month, and day of month. With a Perpetual Calendar, you can figure out which years are the same as the current one.
2006 Homemade calendar of my cats.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!Ff you’re like me with a drawer full of old calendars to pretty or meaningful to throw away, you can bring them out to reuse again. 2023 is an especially compatible year, with several options from the near-past from which to choose.
2017 Page-a-day Desk Calendar
2017 House of Dreams Calendar with sweet Angel Snowball before she got the infection that left her with airplane ears.
Want to learn more about reusing old calendars? Read my blogpost from 2021, SAVING MONEY WITH THE PERPETUAL CALENDAR, here.
December 31, 2022
Who Are The Cat Writers’ Association? NINA NEEFE
My guest today on Who Are The Cat Writers’ Association is Sherri “Nina” Neefe, a retired title insurance manager who discovered her real passion when she became Nina to her four grandchildren.
Relocating with her husband from San Diego to Northern California, they settled in and adopted two adorable kittens from their local Animal Shelter. Simon is a Blue Point Siamese, and Mulan is a Flame Point, and the two of them quickly became the catalyst for Nina’s Cat Tales.
Nina enjoys camping, gardening, movies, biking and being the family “archivist” creating photobook and YouTube video memories for her entire clan. Her love of “kitties and kiddies” and the true story of Mulan’s frightening “escape” inspired her first children’s book, “Mulan’s Big Adventure.”
Tell us a bit about your writing, Nina.
I write whimsical cat picture books in lyrical Seussian rhyme. They are mainly for children, but cat and animal lovers of all ages can enjoy them! My books are different than traditional children’s books because my illustrations are real pet photos which are digitally transformed to fit the story.
How do cats inspire your creativity?
My cats ARE my total inspiration for my journey as a children’s book author. That’s how I accidentally began writing—when our new little kitten, Mulan, “escaped” and was missing for three grueling nights… I told the story of “Mulan’s Big Adventure” to my four grandchildren one evening as a bedtime story. They were mesmerized and emotional with the ups and downs of the true tale, so I thought I’d put it together into a storybook for them with photographs of the cats. When family and friends saw the book, they wanted copies and said I should publish it, so I did!
I never had a cat until I was 42 years old! Growing up, my parents were dog people. For some reason, I thought I hated cats because I was allergic to them. My daughter is the one who brought cats into my life when she was a teenager. She begged me to let her get a kitten. After weeks of begging, sulking, and peer pressure from everyone around me, I gave in—on the condition that she kept the cat in her room (since I was allergic). The first night she brought little Calvin home, she asked me to babysit him while she went out for a bit with friends. Of course, I was hooked from that day one. Now I’m the CAT LADY in the family LOL!
What is your earliest memory of being around cats?Some friends had cats, but I always had to avoid them because they made me sneeze.
What crosses your mind when someone tells you they don’t like cats?I say, “So did I until I got one!!!”
What do your cats think of you?Our sweet and petite little female, Mulan, thinks I am a recliner chair 
Simon thinks I’m his best friend and he demands my attention ALL of the time!
I would love to be massaged, but I would definitely cherish my alone time. Cat naps would be cat-tastical!
If you were a cat, what breed would you be?Probably Siamese since I’m part Asian!
Nina can be found on social media @NinasCatTales.
WEBSITE https://www.ninascattales.com
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/NinasCatTales
INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/ninascattales/
TWITTER: @ninas_cat_tales https://twitter.com/ninascattales
LINKED IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherrineefe/
PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/rsneefe/ninas-cat-tales/
AMAZON AUTHOR Profile https://www.amazon.com/Nina-Neefe/e/B088P8TYDG/
GOODREADS Author: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20414203.Nina_Neefe
YOUTUBE CAT TALES https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQG6KRRZy2fHXP9OKhgoCAtcr68hDU1
December 23, 2022
WHAT CATS TEACH US: The Cat Book Of Life Strategies
My memoir is published!As the days turn longer and the holidays are almost behind us, my memoir, “There’s a Cat Hair in My Mask: How Cats Helped Me through Unprecedented Times” is quietly launching. It is my story, a tale of a plague and politics, of depression and inspiration, but mostly of cats.
In February 2020, the world changed forever. In April 2021, my life took on new meaning when I rescued a cat who was sentenced to die. A lot happened in between. The story weaves the unprecedented events of those fourteen months with personal experiences and remembrances—a childhood filled with nameless fear; growing up into the hippie sixties; a happy marriage against all odds. “There were cats then too—I wouldn’t have made it through without them.”
“Cat Hair” is an ode to the power of the human-feline bond and the very real and healing presence of cats. I saved them while they saved me. These are some of the things I learned along the way.
Photo by Rishabh Dharmani on Unsplash
What Cats Teach Us: The Cat Book Of Life StrategiesA compilation of inspirational quotes from my new memoir, There’s a Cat Hair in My Mask: How Cats Helped Me through Unprecedented Times.
Live in the moment.
“I often find myself needing to ground my emotions, and it helps to take a time out to think like a cat: What’s happening right now? What are things over which I have no control? What must I put aside? What can I do right now to make things better?”
Just breathe.
“When I was depressed or tired or sad, Blaze would come to lie down with me. If I wasn’t already on the couch, he would entice me there. Then he would get up on top of me, his nose to mine, and breathe, just breathe.
Of course he was breathing—all living animals breathe—but it seemed more than that. He was leading me by his example. If I just tuned my breaths to his, I would be alright.”
~Angel Blaze~
Progress, not perfection.
“Blaze was a bit of an awkward cat, not the kind who could navigate a shelf of breakables without accidentally nudging one off. It might have had to do with his fractured arm and the six months it took him to heal, or maybe he was like that before. Either way, it was an endearing trait, reminding me we don’t need to be perfect to be loved. I loved him with all my heart, just the way he was.”
Rest is good.
“The minute I lay down on the couch, Blaze would appear out of nowhere to come rest with me. Cats are so good at resting. I’m sure in cat language, there must be at least twenty different words for sleep.”
~Prom Date~
Choose life.
“The cats, each in their own way, urged me through my low points. They showed me by their stoic example that life was meant to be lived to the fullest, day to day. Prom Date, in spite of a painful and debilitating injury, was always cheerful and glad to see me. Tyler greeted each morning with energy and enthusiasm. Blaze, in his shy-boy way, let love guide him through. Ginchan, who suffered multiple life-threatening issues, persevered—that was his nature.
Watching him sleeping peacefully in a sun-spot or curled up in his cube helped me to understand we have a choice. We can mope or fear or whine, or we can do something we enjoy, something that makes us healthy in mind and body, something that can be of help to others. We can put aside things we can’t change and concentrate on what we can.”
Take care of yourself.
“In our society, we, especially women, are taught to put others first—our partners, our children, even our mundane jobs. But if we don’t take care of ourselves, how can we expect to care for others? Our first great responsibility is to stay healthy, which entails, to some degree, being happy and satisfied with our lives. From that place of confidence, we can reach out to those around us and make the world a better place. It’s not selfishness—it’s self-respect.”
Photo by Jana Shnipelson on Unsplash
Roll with the punches.
“I once had a cat, Atilla who, as he got older, slowly lost his sight. I didn’t realize until I took him in for a checkup, and the doctor asked me if I knew my cat was blind. I’d had no idea. Atilla continued functioning the same as he always did. Cats are stoic. They accept their changes.”
Move on from tragedy.
“I had Barry with me for a mere six days, but his will to thrive remains in my heart and mind forever. In spite of having endured terrible experiences, unending pain, and life in a hopeless situation, he was ready to change and learn. His love (and curiosity) overcame the ordeals of his past.”
Be yourself.
“Cats don’t require social niceties. Living with cats had shown me I didn’t have to put on airs. I only needed to be myself because really that’s all I was and ever would be.”
Photo by Yaopey Yong on Unsplash
Take a time-out.
“The week at the beach doing nothing had allowed my anxiety and depression to recede. Often that’s what it took. Better than medication, better than therapists—a period of time spent in seclusion, not burdening my mind with have-to-do’s and should-do’s, keeping the outside stress to a minimum and vanquishing inside stress with meditation, prayer, and whatever else it took to feel whole again. Cats teach us these things every day of their lives.”
Be your own center.
“Look at a cat as he relaxes into a nap. Watch his body language and listen to his breathing. Tyler is a perfect example. After years as a street stray, he’s always very much aware of himself, whether he’s awake and running zoomies around the house or enjoying one of his many daily naps. He is his own center. He takes care of himself. If he needs sleep, he sleeps; if he needs exercise, he runs, jumps, and plays. If he needs companionship, he gets up beside me and curls into a warm, purring ball.”
Worry is a waste.
“Cats don’t worry the way humans do. Though Tyler carries the memories of hard times, he doesn’t bring them forward into today. Today he slits his eyes and settles to rest, acknowledging the safety of his immediate surroundings. He hasn’t forgotten there is danger in the world; he’s merely accepted that today is not dangerous.”
We all have bad times.
“The fourth of February was a day of mourning for me and always would be, but instead of letting it make me feel defeated and small, I concentrated on Jaimz’s needs. There was a correlation between my and Jaimz’s misfortunes. We’d both endured horrific physical and mental damage, but Jaimz showed me how to accept it. Tragedy is part of life—for everyone.”
Resilience is strength.
“With love and time, Jaimz regained his equilibrium and was a happy cat once more. His ability to bounce back was remarkable and set a precedent that I felt dutybound to follow.”
~Jaimz~
Wishing you many cats and much hope as we paw our way into a new year.
December 21, 2022
THREE PINES: A Not-Review
I consider mystery writer Louise Penny nothing short of a genius when it comes to her fiction stories, so when I heard there was going to be an Amazon Prime film adaptation of her Gamache series, I was excited. I couldn’t wait and tuned into the trailer for Three Pines as soon as it aired.
Then I began to watch.
That’s not Gamache, I said to myself when actor Alfred Molina came on the screen, but I wanted to give it a chance, so I continued on. A new stranger took the stage, a character whom I didn’t recognize at all. Next was the old poet Ruth, obvious only by the duck in her arms, but aside from the bird, I saw little of Ruth Zardo in the meticulously-disheveled actress made up to look like a Hallmark Movie’s idea of old.
A thought began to form in my head—Maybe this series is not for me after all.
I’m not saying it’s bad. The ratings have been excellent, and besides, I can’t begin to judge its quality by that clipped minute of the trailer. But for those of us who love Penny’s work, who have read every one of her eighteen books and wait excitedly for the next, Three Pines might not make the grade.
Penny’s Gamache books are multi-layered, image-filled, and as beautifully tuned as a violin string. Her words ring like poetry that can’t help but create vivid images in the reader’s mind. Unless done by a filmmaker with equal genius, as well as an empathetic understanding of Penny’s work, any attempt to make the series into a movie would be understandably two-dimensional.
I haven’t watched the show, so I could be wrong about Three Pines. Maybe, like the Hobbit movies, it manages to portray the aura of the books. Or maybe it takes a different but equally as brilliant approach as did the Battlestar Galactica remake and the new Sherlock. Maybe someday I will decide to watch it.
So don’t take my word for it. Go ahead and enjoy this incarnation of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Three Pines, Quebec. But please, read the books too.
“You have to be able to separate the books (they are the greatest mystery books ever written) from the TV series. If you can, I think you will love it…” —IMDb Reviewer
You can find more about Louise Penny’s bestselling and award winning book series as well as about Amazon Prime’s Three Pines here.
December 17, 2022
Who Are The Cat Writers’ Association? MARY TURZILLO
My guest today on Who Are The Cat Writers’ Association is science fiction writer (& fencer) Mary Turzillo.
Mary, what can you tell us about your amazing writing career?
I publish science fiction, fantasy, and horror, in magazines like Analog, Space and Time, or The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. I have always been very fond of cats, starting with Little Lightning, the black kitten my mother murdered.
Wow, that’s terrible about your kitten! I wonder if that’s what started you on the path to sci-fi and horror writing? How do you think cats inspire your creativity now?
I feel their personalities, and I love to include them as characters in my work (although not all of my stories actually include cats). I am also fascinated with the scientific research on cats. One of my stories, “Steak Tartare and the Cats of Gari Babakin,” now in my Cosmic Cats & Fantastic Furballs story collection from WordFire, riffs on the unusual psychological effects of toxoplasmosis, which alters the brains of rats and also the personalities of human beings.
They also inspire me by sitting on shoulders while I’m writing. Warm. Comforting. Bossy.
What do you enjoy about belonging to CWA?
I am just delighted with the writers I’ve met and the new work that I learn about by the writers. Also, I learn so much about cat behavior, literature, history. And I have acquired so much knowledge from workshops. I wish I’d joined, and participated, years ago!
Please answer any of the following questions. You may be as brief, wordy, serious, humorous, or creative as you wish.
Did you grow up with cats?
As I mentioned above, my sister, Jane Turzillo (also an author) and I had a black kitten we called Little Lightning. A real estate agent, trying to sell my parents a home, gave him to us. He was so sweet. We adored him. We had no idea how to take care of him. I believe we tried to feed him corn on the cob. My grandmother must have stepped in and taken care somehow.
My mother had him euthanized because he got the zoomies, and, well, she didn’t like cats. Even though her middle name was Leonia. And even though she had personally had a kitten named CreamPuff when she was a child. Brrrr.
2. What crosses your mind when someone tells you they don’t like cats?
I feel sorry for them. And a little distrustful. A friend of mine has an aphorism: “Men who don’t like cats also don’t like women.”
3. What does your cat think of you?
What a fun question! Scaramouche thinks I am a mean cat-mommy because I won’t stop making human dinner to play fishpole with him. He also thinks it’s appropriate for him to jump up on the bathroom sink and demand that I brush his teeth, even though he hates having his teeth brushed. I have no idea why he has this love-hate relationship with cat toothpaste.
4. Tell us a true cat story.
“SWISHY” by Mary Turzillo
The roadkilled pizza box lies scrunched, part flattened by tire treads. Late for class, you see pink-gray petal-pointy ears. You slam on brakes.
You will hit the horn but the lid of the box will only stir and when you roll down the window you hear heartbroken tiny screams and thinking oh, how could they? you jam the car in park.
The kitten will scream louder now he sees you and when you move the box, you see he is bleeding, hind quarters maybe paralyzed.
Avoiding filthy brown and bloody smears you scoop him onto the box lid and he will scream at you help me! leave me alone! you’re killing me! help help HELP!
Okay, the blood later turns out to be pizza sauce.
And even later, after his miraculous cure by leftover swordfish, it will it occur to you that he sent out for you, had you boxed and delivered, and he gets to keep the tip.
5. Tell us a fictional cat story.
“Dinosaurs May Be Ancestors of More than Birds”
Paleontologist Dr. Felix Stalker today unveiled three specimens thought to prey on ancestors of birds.
“Logic says,” according to Stalker, “where there’s birds, there’s got to be cats.”
First specimen: Acatasaurus. Originally thought vegetarian, this long-necked ancestor of the Siamese probably fed on early fish. Early aquariums may be discovered on future digs.
Second: Velocimouser. This quick-witted swift catosaur captured prey by silent stalking, then pouncing. Clever and voracious, it may have gone extinct because caught off guard taking naps after dismembering small mammals.
Most controversial specimen: Purranosaurus Rex. Note long, rapacious teeth. Also called Thunder Catosaur because of low rumbling sound emitted after devouring prey or shredding furniture. Small front limbs may not have been as useless as they look.
Dr. Stalker showed bone fragments of other catosaurs “too early to categorize,” he said. “But tentatively named Triwhiskerops (note pointed structures either side its head), Meowasaurus, good mother catosaur, Prrtadactyl, Kittycoatlus, and Architsbackterix, evolutionary blind alleys nature abandoned when catosaurs found they could not leap forty feet. And finally the ancestor of the domestic feline: Ankylorubbosaur.
Dr. Stalker plans next summer to seek fossils of a species believed to prey on catosaurs: the Fidonychus.
(This story originally appeared as a poem in Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine)
6. What cat-themed item is sitting on your desk right now?
An 18 inch aluminum cat & kitten sculpture by Don Drumm, Akron sculptor, known for many awards, but also for having one of the National Guard bullets punch through a steel sculpture by him (Solar Totem #10) at Kent State May 4, 1970. Don Drumm does lots of cat sculptures.
7. What is one thing you will only do in front of your cats?
Come on! If I won’t tell anybody else, would I really put this out on the web???
Mahsamahtman, who is now part of the feline shadow world
8. Does cat love run in your family?
Not really. My sister likes cats, but she only owns dogs. And my mother despised them.
9. What famous cat or cat person have you met?
I was privileged to be in a workshop run by Blind Homer’s mom, the brilliant and amazing Gwen Cooper. This was another perk of being in CWA.
My husband and I also are friends with Nnedi Okorafor. Nnedi is a prolific author, including Who Fears Death, and graphic novel Black Panther: Long Live the King. I’m waiting for her Space Cats, with Tana Ford, featuring her real-life cats, Siamese Pumpernickel Pickle Periwinkle Chukwu, and her Sphynx, Neptune.
10. Do your cats get along with each other?
Yes! On my birthday in 2016, my husband Geoff Landis told me he wanted to give me a kitten for my birthday. We searched and searched. We wanted a fairly young kitten, preferably mixed breed. The rescue organizations all had kittens that weren’t quite ready, plus they (sensibly, I know) want to neuter them before offering them to forever homes. I have read that it’s best to wait until the cat is about five or six months old (one of my son’s cats, Tyrael the Spanish Inquisitor, was neutered too young and had urinary problems his whole life).
We finally found a litter of kittens who had been born in a dresser drawer in an abandoned house. Two were marmalade toms. Both seemed to be the friendliest of the batch. We cuddled each (the black female was having none of us) and I looked up at my husband and said, “Couldn’t we take two of them?”
How could he resist?
We took the two home and they were INSEPARABLE. The second week, one of them wandered away for awhile, and his brother cried inconsolably until we reunited them. They had been together FROM CONCEPTION.
Today, six years later, they have a ritual: Scaramouche tries to mount Samurai or bite one of his ears, they fight, then they fall to grooming each other. It is so DANG CUTE!
I always tell people, adopt litter-mates, if you can.
11. What would your life be without cats?
I shudder to think.
12. Have you ever seen a ghost cat?
Maybe. I’m definitely a believer.
13. “Adopt, Foster, Volunteer, Donate, Educate” is a common slogan for animal rescue. What do you like to do?
Educate. Proselytize.
14. How would you identify your cat in a lineup?
T Marmalade cats all look very similar. I can tell Samurai from Scaramouche most of the time, but it’s only by the crook of Scar’s tail and the size of the white medallion under their chins. But they are chipped. So I would have to take them to a vet. But I do think they would come to me. Without being called.
15. What is your favorite cat-song?
My husband and I have a cat play-list. I won’t post the whole thing, but here are two:
“Delilah,” by Freddie Mercury
“Gatto Matto” by Roberto Angelini
MY CATS:
Scaramouche: Orange tom. Very smart, can solve lots of problems. But goofy. Wants very much to play with me, especially if I’m busy. He’s the dominant of the pair.
Samurai: Orange tom, a little darker coat, a little chubbier than his brother. Laid back. Also quite intelligent, but a goofball. Likes to sit on my husband. But then, they are both real cuddle buddies.
My neighbor’s, kitten, Oscar. He is now a huge snarly, slippery misanthrope
You can find Mary at http://www.maryturzillo.com/
and in Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Turzillo
December 11, 2022
BOOKS WITH A CAT THEME? LOOK NO FURTHER
A cozy mystery? A thriller? A rootin’ tootin’ Western? A high fantasy? A dystopian sci-fi? Something with the guy in the above picture as the hero (or the villain)?
There are millions of books out there for you—in bookstores, libraries, and online. Where do you start? The names you know? Stephen King and J.K. Rowling? The ones someone recommends? Or do you choose a book by its cover? (And why not? Authors spend considerable thought, time, and money on getting the cover of their books just right.)
What if there is something else you look for in your reading material? What if you want a book that features cats?
If you’re looking for books in all genres that have a cat-centric theme, you’re in luck. There is one place to go, and that is the Cat Writers’ Association Members’ Booklist. Whether you want a thriller, a Western, a historical novel, a fantasy, or my favorite, a cozy mystery, you can find it on the list. There are plenty of non-fiction subjects too, from pedigreed cats to humor to photographs to gifts, all listed and easy to find.
The Cat Writers’ Association, of which I am a member as well as the association’s proud librarian, is a “global cat-centric professional organization dedicated to excellence in written, visual and audio media,” so of course they have the best collection of cat books.
Happy Reading!About the CWA Book Directory: “CWA is extremely proud of our member authors and their publications. Among our over 250 international members are non-fiction book authors, animal behaviorists, novelists, poets, short story writers, illustrators, and photographers whose works are sold through professional bookstores and online venues.
December 6, 2022
SANTA-CAT’S HOLIDAY FAVES – TYLER’S WISH LIST 2022
Merry Almost Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Once again my dear Tyler, with a little help from Jaimz the Gray, has collected a few items that he thinks would make nice gifts for cats and their people. Sometimes I had a hard time understanding his cat-speak, and others he fell to napping in the middle of a sentence, but I still managed to get several of his suggestions. I’ll share them with you now.
Tyler’s Choice for 2022: The Daily CATfirmations bowl
Beautiful bowls made by Sandy Cooper of Denver, Colorado, just for cats. The bowl is slightly elevated level and has a wide and shallow bowl area to minimize whisker stress. Tyler loved this bowl the moment I brought it home from House of Dreams cat shelter’s fundraiser, the Pretty Kitty Bazaar. As you can see from the photo, Jaimz likes it too. Unfortunately Sandy only sells her work at places like the PKB. We were lucky to find this one.
Jaimz’s Choice for 2022: K&H Pet Products Heated Amazin’ Kitty Pad
There are a lot of heating pads for cats out there, but this one has stood the test of time and cats in our house. I bought one in 2017 to use at the beach where our electric heat is sporadic and it gets cold. I’ve since bought two more and have been using all of them in various places, both at the beach and at home. While Angel Ginchan was with us, it was important to keep his old bones warm, and now tiny Jaimz has that same need.
The bed heats well (but not overly hot) when there’s a cat on it. It’s barely warm to the touch when the cat is absent. I leave ours on all the time unless I am going out of town. It’s relatively inexpensive and a workhorse. And yes, the 2017 bed still works as well as it did when it was brand new!
Favorite Cat Toy: Bergan Star Chaser Turbo Scratcher
This interactive toy provides both fun and exercise for cats, and it’s not just Tyler who plays with it. Most of the cats I foster for the Humane Society get a kick out of it too. The Star Chaser is the top of the line, with a LED ball that flashes red when touched. The cardboard scratcher in the middle can be replaced when it gets worn, and my cats simply love to sit there. You can also rub catnip onto it for added flavor.
Favorite Cat Mystery: The Calico Cat Mysteries, by Patricia Fry
Prolific cozy mystery writer Patricia Fry has done it again! In May of 2021, she started a new cozy mystery series featuring her own cat Olivia as the feline hero. Since then, she has produced ten books staring the lovely Olivia!
The Calico Cat Mysteries are cozy mysteries featuring Olivia, a clever, intuitive, smart, and sassy calico. Olivia often teams up with her favorite person, Parker Campbell, an investigative reporter, on tough and tantalizing assignments. While some of Parker’s assignments revolve around hard-hitting criminal cases, she and Olivia often find themselves drawn into more frivolous and sometimes dramatic situations. If you’ve enjoyed the Klepto Cat Mysteries by Patricia Fry, you’ll adore these fun, enlightening, suspenseful, and enticingly charming stories introducing the calico cat in all of her mischievous and exquisite glory.
We love this series and can’t wait for the next one!
Are you looking for cat-themed books that aren’t mysteries? Check out the Cat Writers’ Association Book Directory for everything cat.
Favorite Etsy Store (again!): houseofdreamspdx, Handcrafted goodies to support cat rescue!
Catnip Poptarts? House of Dreams merch? A lovely 2023 calendar featuring the finest models of all-the HOD cats? It’s not too late to buy holiday cards. Look no further. At houseofdreamspdx you’ll find these and much more. New items added weekly. 100% of profits goes to the kitties at House of Dreams all volunteer, no-kill cat shelter in Portland, Oregon.
Favorite Tribute Item: Volana Kote Whisker Tributes Custom Jewelry, handmade with real fallen whiskers
Nothing makes it easier when we lose one of our beloved cats, but Volona Kote has created a simple way for us to carry a bit of them with us wherever we go. The picture above is of a pendent she crafted from a single whisker that my Angel Blaze dropped right before he crossed. I cherish it every day.
Tributes need not be confined to Angel cats, of course- the beautiful custom jewelry comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Why not make a charm bracelet of whiskers from all your cats? Or a ring with whiskers and fur? To get the magnitude of Volana Kote’s work, you really need to visit her website.
Favorite Christmas Artwork: “Matcha Cats” Fine Art Print by The Dancing Cat
Alright so it isn’t a Christmas print, but the Dancing Cat, also known for their amazing line of cards, has many other prints that are both cat and Christmas themed. I picked this one to show because I find the limited edition Japanese inspired cat print series absolutely beautiful, any time of year.
From the Dancing Cat Website: The Dancing Cat features the modern and distinct cat art of Rhode Island School of Design graduate Jamie Shelman. Founded in 2008 (while living between NYC and Martha’s Vineyard), our shop seeks to capture and share our love of fat cats and good design. Inspired by their fat plump shapes and seal like bodies, we’ve found cats to be the perfect form of self expression. From cats doing ‘cat things’ to more human activities, our art hopes to capture & stir the same love and passion for cats & art that you experience, often in a whimsical or unique manner.
Favorite Cat Item: High quality Cat Water Fountains by ThirstyCat
It’s so important to keep cats hydrated, especially cats like Jaimz who has thyroid and kidney issues. ThirstyCat makes one of a kind ceramic fountains that will enhance any room. They are very quiet aside from the sound of the tumbling water, which is a plus for me. We don’t have one of these fountains… yet. Maybe Santa will bring one this year!
Ceramic cat fountains made completely by hand including our glazes so we can ensure their quality and safety. Certified, 100% food safe, handmade in Cambridge, New York.
Tyler’s Wishlist
What does a cat want for Christmas?
Who knows? The cats fortunate enough to have a home and a family who loves them are already getting most everything they want and need. Healthy meals, toys and treats, medical care when required. But what about the other cats, the ferals and strays, the ones lingering in shelters because someone deems them too old, too shy, too feisty, too much trouble or expense because of medical conditions? If Tyler could speak, he would ask the following:
Shameless self-promotion: My New Books for 2022!
GHOST CAT ON THE MIDWAY , Tenth Life Cozy Mysteries #2
When the keeper of an aging tiger is murdered at the Cove County Fair and the tiger goes missing, ghost cat Soji must make sure Camelia isn’t the next to die.
“Ghost Cat has it all; memorable characters, an interesting and fun setting, a ghost cat, pie, and a mystery that will get you guessing! I highly recommend this book to all cozy mystery lovers!” – Christy’s Cozy Corners 5-Star Review
CATS’ PLAY, Crazy Cat Lady Cozy Mystery #9
A clairvoyant cat and a covert cult place Lynley and her feline ward in the direct path of danger.
Thanks, friends, for all your ongoing attention and support.
Tyler found it hard to choose among all the lovely and useful items available, especially the ones made by independent craftspeople, so his list is a bit arbitrary and incomplete. He would love to hear about your favorites. Please post comments.
***Note: None of the businesses or artists mentioned in this blogpost have solicited my endorsement, nor have I received compensation of any kind for listing them.
December 3, 2022
Who Are The Cat Writers’ Association? VALERIE RAMER
My guest on Who Are The Cat Writers’ Association is Valerie Ramer.
Tell us a bit about your writing career.
My first children’s book, Alastair McAllister Goes to School, was published in September 2021.
Before that, I wrote and directed children’s theater around the Seattle area. I have a background in theater, I was trained as an actress, and I have always loved writing.
I learned a lot about writing for different venues while working as a ghostwriter. I wrote for TV movies, films, and episodic television. Each one required a different structure and different rules in writing. It helped me to be flexible and willing to edit my own words, and not get too attached to what I had written. I did however learn this the hard way! My first ghostwriting experience was to rewrite an entire LifeTime movie. This meant keeping the main story line but taking out or adding in characters as I saw fit and writing to the specific locations where they would be filming. I dove in, adding characters with strong backstories and creating rich dialogue which led to a plane crash on page 60 which was pivotal to the story.
My first notes from the producers were: The plane crash has to happen on page 20! I learned this was because every 20 minutes you had to break for commercials on TV. You always had to leave the audience hanging during the break. But this also meant I had to cut out many pages of what I thought was great dialogue and backstory!
How do cats inspire your creativity?
I love this question! Alastair McAllister, my cat, is my MUSE! Since I was 9 years old, I had a thought to write a children’s book. It took a while—clearly, I had to do several other things before I gave birth to my book. I have always loved orange tabby cats. I had 2 of them, Scout and Ollie. They were both 13 years old when Alastair came to me as a kitten. My adult son, who had adopted Alastair, an exotic long -haired cat, with a flat face and a bushy tail, was being transferred from Seattle to NYC for work. He didn’t know where he was going to live so taking Alastair with him was not the right choice. I was already in love with Alastair, and he came to join my family when he was about 5 months old.
Scout and Ollie were not happy about this arrangement. It took a long time to try and bond them, and besides being a kitten, Alastair required different care than I was used to. Alastair needed to eat from a flat dish—he couldn’t use a bowl because of the shape of his face. His eyes need to be cleaned all the time, and he has to go to the groomer because his hair gets too long! Alastair looked so different with his long hair, short legs, big eyes, and bushy tail that I wondered if Scout and Ollie even knew he was a cat!
These differences, and watching their interactions, inspired my book Alastair McAllister Goes to School. It is all about Alastair, a kitten who doesn’t look like the other kittens, and he gets teased. Alastair wants to fit in and comes up with a unique plan. It is a meaningful story about appreciating the differences in each other.
What do you enjoy about belonging to CWA?
I was so happy to discover CWA and learn there is a place for other cat lovers and writers to network and be recognized for their work. I think it is a great, supportive community. I like that you can network with others and read what everyone else is up to. I am a new member and was so honored to receive a Certificate of Excellence for my book.
~Finley and Alastair~
Let’s move on to the questions. Please answer a few for our readers.
Can cats show empathy?
My beloved orange tabby, Ollie passed away. He left not only heartbroken me but also his biological brother Scout. We had been together for 13 years.
A few months before this, my adult son David, who had his own apartment, adopted an exotic long haired kitten he named Alastair. Shortly afterwards, David found out he was getting transferred to NYC for work. Not only did he have no place to live, but he also had to leave almost immediately. What to do with Alastair?
Without hesitation, Alastair came to join my family. Scout and Ollie were not so open to this flat-faced little kitten living with us. It was a lot of work to get them bonded—my boys were not having it. The experience was exhausting.
Alastair had been with me about 3 months with not much progress in being accepted, when Ollie passed. For weeks afterwards, Scout hid under the bed, clearly mourning the loss of his brother. One day I couldn’t find Alastair. When I looked under the bed, to my surprise, Alastair was laying there with Scout. Alastair moved closer to Scout, but he turned away. Alastair reached his paw towards Scout, and they just sat like that for a long time. It was the most amazing sight; was I witnessing an act of empathy?
After this, Scout allowed Alastair to be near him.
(Alastair McAllister Goes to School is based on the relationships I witnessed between Scout, Ollie, and Alastair.)
What would your life be without cats?
I was born into a family that had a cat named Friskey. I remember her fondly. I was too young to really understand the relationship potential, but I knew that I felt better when the cat curled up next to me or slept on the edge of my bed. Somehow, I felt chosen when she did this, as though she was watching over me.
Our neighbors had a cat named Whiskey and the 2 of them played together. That is a wonderful memory, Friskey, and Whiskey! Oddly they looked similar, both white cats with black markings on them. Friskey was thin, and Whiskey was about double the size! They played and snuggled as if they were meant to be together.
Friskey died when I was seven, and then we got a dog. I grew up with that dog, and we all loved him dearly. When I moved into my own apartment in NYC, it was the first time I was without an animal in my life. I would come home to —– nothing. The silence was deafening. It took 3 months of feeling like this every day when I thought I need to go adopt a cat. A dog was out of the question for me, living in NYC. I have always been drawn to felines; Lions, Tigers, Cheetahs, Leopards. In my mind an orange tabby was the closest thing to a baby tiger. My intention was to bring home one orange tabby— but I fell in love with 2 of them and discovered they were brothers. I adopted Bustopher Jones and Atticus Finch who filled my little apartment with warmth, love, and shenanigans.
Those two precious boys were part of my life as I got married, moved across the country to Seattle, and had my first child. Bustopher lived for 7 years, and Atticus lived on to be 18 years old. He was with me through so many significant changes in my life. Soon after he passed, Scout and Ollie, 2 orange tabby brothers, joined my family. They got to be part of my 2 children growing up and moving out on their own.
Now, my grown daughter has 2 grey tabby cats, Tucker, and Bentley. If you read my book, you will understand the character names! Alastair goes to school with Scout, Ollie, Tucker, and Bentley!
Have you ever seen a ghost cat?
My short answer to this is no, I have not SEEN a ghost cat. But I chose to answer this question because I have FELT a ghost cat. Scout and Ollie were my orange tabby cats that I had for 13 years. When we slept at night, Scout was always on me, and Ollie was always next to me. Ollie passed first, then 18 months later, Scout. I had a kitten at the time, Alastair, who was small. I remember distinctly many nights of feeling the slight shift of the bed as though Scout or Ollie had jumped up on it. I felt the weight on my legs as though Scout was sleeping there. Alastair was much too small to cause this and with his short legs could barely jump onto the bed! It was a comforting feeling, as if they were with me.
I think my new orange tabby cat, Finley McKinley has been channeling Scout—strange to say, but that is what it feels like. They have the same body type, long and lanky. Unlike Scout, Finley does not like to be held—in fact the record for holding him is 15 seconds— but Scout loved it. Scout and I had a little ritual, when I came out of the shower, I would wrap a towel around me and sit on the edge of the tub, and he would jump in my lap and snuggle with me. There have been a few times that Finley has done this with me—Finn, the cat that hates to be snuggled! Finn jumped into my lap, and I closed my eyes and I FELT Scout—his soft head butts, the purring, the closeness. It was Finn, acting like Scout. Finn was staying with me well past his usual 10 seconds, and it made me feel I had a visit with Scout.
There have been a few times that I called Finn “Scout” – it had to do with his expression in the moment and something oddly familiar. I would like to think that all the kitties I have loved in my life are still with me in some way.
~Baby Alastair~
Please give us the names and short descriptions of your cats.
Alastair McAllister – Born August 26, 2017. He is an exotic long-haired cat. He is in the Persian family.
Alastair is curious, gentle, loving, and slow. Even when he plays, he bats at things very gently and almost in slow motion. When people come to visit, Alastair tends to be aloof.
His large, furry paws look like mittens. He has short legs and a huge fluffy tail. He is absolutely adorable, and he makes me laugh a lot. He has a little mustache, and he can move each side independently, so sometimes it looks like he is curling his lip, as if giving an opinion. Alastair’s long hair requires professional grooming every 3 months. He comes back smelling so good, and he likes his short hair in the summer months.
Alastair can be very vocal, especially when he wants to play. He also makes other little noises that I find adorable to communicate how he is feeling or what he wants. His favorite sleeping position is next to me with his forehead pressed against my hand and his paw wrapped around my arm.
~Finley~
Finley Rocket McKinley “Finn” – Born May 17, 2019. He is an orange tabby.
I found Finley in a Craigslist ad, and he was handed to me in a parking lot. I adopted him so Alastair would have a playmate. From the get-go, he was non-stop energy and mischief.
Finley is a force to be reckoned with—everything about him is the opposite of Alastair. Finley is tall and lean, and his tail is about 3 inches longer than an average tail—the vet measured! He is a big talker, and he is very smart. He understands many words and he is constantly letting me know what he wants. He takes toys and invents games with them. He is very curious and friendly to anyone who enters our home. And he is FAST! He earned his middle name Rocket. Finley is prone to moving so fast he destroys things in his path. He will run very fast and launch himself onto the window screen. First time, I had to save him and the screen from plummeting 2 stories. This forced my carpenter friend and I to invent a new unrippable, boxed-in screen that fits in the frame of my window, dubbing it the FINNDOW.
Finley plays a little rougher than Alastair would like, and he needs to sit everywhere Alastair sits. He also thinks he must have whatever toy Alastair has. Finley’s calm-down space is a box where he feels very secure. He has many shapes and sizes of boxes to choose from. If he is getting too ramped up, I throw a blanket over him. That immediately stops him, and he lies down and naps under the blanket.
Finley is not a fan of being held or getting his nails clipped. The record for holding Finley is held by me; 15 seconds. With all that being said, Finley loves to cuddle and take naps across my keyboard while I am working. He also lies in my lap—I just can’t hug him too much when he does!
***Important to note that Finley was not yet born when I wrote Alastair McAllister Goes to School! My next children’s book will definitely have Finley in it!
About Valerie Ramer
Valerie Ramer has a degree in theater and has worked as an actress, talent agent and acting coach. She has written and directed many plays for children around the Seattle area. Her writing uses teachable moments, told with humor, to shed light on issues children face. She has also worked as a ghost writer for TV and film scripts.
She has raised two amazing humans, Rebecca and David, and lots of kittens. Alastair McAllister is her real-life Exotic long-haired cat. Valerie is a strong advocate for animals.
These days, Valerie spends her days deep in the details working for Microsoft and working on her next book.
She hopes everyone can see themselves in Alastair McAllister, as every child is unique and special in their own way.
Valerie’s Amazon Page: https://amazon.com/Valerie-Ramer/e/B09G84XKXD/
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/valerie.ramer/
