Mollie Hunt's Blog, page 43
October 5, 2018
CRAZY CAT LADY SALE – BOOKS 1-4!
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With a new Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery just around the corner, now is a great time to catch up on the previous books in the series. Kindle editions of books #1, #2, #3, and #4 are on sale from now through the end of October!
Follow the adventures of sixty-something cat shelter volunteer Lynley Cannon as she finds more trouble than a cat in catnip.
Cats’ Eyes, Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery #1:
Look what the cat dragged in? When Lynley’s old kitty Fluffo discovers a stolen uncut diamond, Lynley finds herself accused of murdering the thieves.
Copy Cats, Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery #2:
Lynley exposes a breed cat counterfeiting ring and becomes the target of a serial killer who murders with a grisly cat-like claw.
Cat’s Paw, Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery #3:
Two suspicious deaths at an elite art retreat send Lynley running back to Portland, but murder follows in her wake.
Cat Call, Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery #4:
Lynley takes over as cat handler for a TV pilot only to find the show is hexed and murder is waiting in the wings.
And don’t forget the launch date for Cat Café, the 5th Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery is October 29th, National Cat Day. Pre-order your copy now!
I want to give a shout out to my wonderful cat artist, Leslie Cobb. Please visit her website to see her original paintings of these pieces and many more.
October 1, 2018
THERE’S MORE TO CAT CAFÉ: Black Cats and Black Cat Rescue
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Coming soon! Cat Café, a new Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery by Mollie Hunt
A body is discovered on the floor of the cat café, and all the black cats are missing!
The 5th Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery finds sixty-something cat shelter volunteer Lynley Cannon confronted by the murders of some very senior citizens, including the elderly owner of the Blue Cat café, a schoolmate and friend of her mom Carol. Could Carol could be next on this deviant killer’s list?
Cat Café has lots of twists and turns before the killer is finally revealed. The story also highlights many exciting subjects along the way. They all fit somewhere— can you guess where?
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October is Black Cat Awareness Month
The official tagline for Cat Café is, “A body is discovered on the floor of the cat café, and all the black cats are missing!” Right there, you have to know we’re going to do some serious— and some not-so-serious— chat about this often criticized, habitually feared, absolutely gorgeous feline demographic.
According to the ASPCA, black cats are the least likely to get adopted from the shelter system. Superstition condemns them as unlucky; unfounded rumor calls them aggressive; and if that’s not enough to cause the unenlightened to look elsewhere for their next kitty pet, the black cat is said not photograph well.
Ridiculous!
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1: Black Cats are bad luck.
This bit of horse-pucky is a carryover from the 17th century when black cats were associated with witches and witchcraft, but it all depends where you live. In Scotland, a black cat at your door brings prosperity; in Japan, black cats are said to be bearers of good luck.
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Black Cats are aggressive.
Any cat can be aggressive, depending on the circumstances and the cat’s background, but for some reason, black cats have gained an unfair reputation for being more hostile than other colored cats. A study by the UC Davis debunks that belief, having actually found just the opposite, that black cats tended to be calmer and more approachable than cats of other colors.
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Black Cats don’t photograph well.
Face it, cat photography is fraught with difficulties at the best of times. My cats either walk straight toward me or flop down and begin to lick when they see me with a camera. To get the best possible cat photos, preset your stage. By planning ahead to photograph somewhere your cat likes to be, you can set the exposure and lighting just right. Check out How to Take Beautiful Pictures of Your Cat: A Step-by-Step Guide to Cat Photography, by photographer and CWA member Rich Reichenbach for the best results.
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Thankfully there are lots of people who see the beauty of the black cat and are stepping up to help. There are several black cat rescue shelters in the United States, dedicated to saving the lives of homeless black cats and kittens and run by people who have looked beyond the bad rap to the outer and inner beauty of the black cat. Whether sleek like cut velvet or smooth like floofy silk, whether older and tending toward brown or still a fuzzball kitten, the cats who find their way into one of those shelters can count on being cared for and loved.
In Cat Café, there is a fictitious black cat rescue called Shadowcat Sanctuary. It’s not your average shelter as you will see in this excerpt from Cat Café:
Reese opened the gate to the catio and was met with a symphony of cat-song. Doing a little foot shuffle to keep them from darting, she said, “Come on in and meet the family. They’ve been fed, but I like to pick up the empty dishes so as we don’t get rats. Not that the cats mind, would you Tommy?” She reached down and scratched the thick neck of an extremely large black male.
I ducked in after her, then stopped in sheer astonishment. The crimson light was dim and deceptive, but everywhere I looked, eyes stared back at me.
Reese began to retrieve the empty paper trays and was instantly surrounded by kitties, many of whom extended their greeting to me as well.
“Quite a clowder,” I commented, kneeling to pet the ebony heads. “How many do you have here?”
“Twenty six at the moment. It varies. We adopt ’em out when we can. Sometimes we do swaps with local shelters to give ’em more exposure”
The conversation lapsed. Who knew what was running around in Reese’s mind, but I was trying to think what other questions I should ask while I was there. The only sound besides the city background was the purring of cats. It was peaceful in the big catio. I was impressed by the Shadowcat’s quality of space.
“There was one thing, Lynnie,” Reese said in a slow and calculated drawl.
“About the black cats?”
“No, about Bea, what she told me.”
“What’s that?”
Reese picked at a frayed buttonhole in her denim coat. Discovering a loose thread, she pulled at it, unraveling the zigzag stitch in a long blue strand which she proceeded to dangle in front of a nearby cat. The cat leapt into action as if it were the choicest prey, and for a few moments, we both watched the feline antics.
“Well, I didn’t really get it,” she said finally. “Like I mentioned, she wasn’t her usual self. But I remember her saying…
To find out what the murder victim told Reese, you’ll have to read the story…
Here’s Little, our very own little house panther as well as a reoccurring star of Lynley Cannon’s Crazy Cat Lady cozy mysteries.
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~Little~
Love black cats? For more black cat fun, check out my Pinterest board, Chat Noir
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Brian Nash, Le Chat Noir avec le Collier Poofy
Launch date for Cat Café, the 5th Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery is October 29th, National Cat Day. Pre-order your copy now!
September 28, 2018
Lynley Cannon’s FRIDAY FELINE FACTS & FANCIES, Mr. Big
Lynley Cannon, star of the Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series, is often referred to as a crazy cat lady herself, but when it comes to the feline species, this sixty-something cat shelter volunteer knows her stuff. Check here each Friday for instructive and intriguing information on our favorite subject: cats!
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There are many theories as to the origin of the Maine Coon breed of cat. Some think they are descendants of cats that traveled with the Vikings; others speculate they were sent to America with the belongings of the ill-fated Marie Antoinette. Maine Coons are larger than the average cat; four to five times larger than the smallest cat, the Singapura.
Cats’ Eyes, Chapter 7
Robert Sijka, Maine Coon Series
Check out more of Lynley Cannon’s kitty tips, tricks, and facts preceding each chapter in CATS’ EYES, COPY CATS, CAT’S PAW, and CAT CALL.
September 27, 2018
REMEMBER ME THURSDAY: Shine a light on orphan pets waiting for forever homes
On September 27, 2018, the entire world will share the importance of pet adoption, and shine a light on all orphan pets waiting in shelters and rescues. In 2017, people using #RememberMeThursday reached nearly 330 million people on social media.
Can we get even more people sharing the importance of pet adoption in 2018? It’s up to you to spread the word. #RememberMeThursday
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“Shine a light on orphan pets waiting for forever homes.”
Unwanted.
Stray.
Abused.
Neglected.
In line for euthanasia.
Can we replace those words with:
Forever home.
Soulmate.
Best friend.
Loved.
Protected.
Blaze’s Story
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This year I adopted Blaze from the Oregon Humane Society. Initially he came to me as a foster with a badly broken leg. For 3 months, I cleaned the pins that set the bones, washed where he dribbled his food because of the cone he had to wear to keep him from messing with the leg, and sat for hours with him purring on my lap because he wasn’t allowed to jump, run, or play. He especially enjoyed watching Dr. Who on my phone with me. We fell in love with each other, and when he was well, I couldn’t let him go. He fit seamlessly into our family with our 2 other cats, Tyler and Little.
My home was missing him before he came.
I just didn’t know it.
Read more about Blaze and my Foster Success here.
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I am so privileged to live in a community that embraces the practice of saving all homeless pets, where none are euthanized for lack of space, where a brilliant program of low-cost (and free) spay & neuter has reduced the unwanted pet population to where our shelters can take animals from shelters in other, less fortunate areas. It’s all because of the ASAP.
“ASAP stands for the Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland, greater metro area. This acronym was chosen because the mission of ASAP is, indeed, one of urgency.
ASAP Vision: We envision a community that values, protects and cares for animals and provides a safety net for homeless and at-risk cats and dogs.
ASAP Mission: Working together, we develop and sustain metro-wide programs and services that reduce the number of homeless cats and dogs, and save the lives of all shelter pets that can be humanely and responsibly rehomed.”
And it’s working. Between the six ASAP shelters, over 12,000 cats and 9,000 dogs were adopted into loving families in 2016 alone. These include seniors and special needs animals as well as the more popular kittens and puppies.
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Volunteer – Adopt – Love
Remember Me Thursday® is a global awareness campaign uniting individuals and pet adoption organizations around the world as an unstoppable, integrated voice for orphan pets to live in forever homes, not die waiting for them.
#RememberTheRescue
#REMEMBERMETHURSDAY
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September 25, 2018
IT’S HAPPENING! CAT CAFÉ COMING SOON!
I can’t describe the thrill of releasing a new book! It’s like taking a roller coaster ride with an ice cream cone and an angel on my shoulder. It’s like the Big Bang, a universe born, expanding, filled with the unknown. But mostly it’s like I’ve worked really hard for a very long time on something so amorphous as to have once been a figment of imagination, where now it’s finally something real. Beam me up Scotty— poof! It’s a book!
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Cat Café – A body is found on the floor of the cat café and all the black cats are missing!
Cat Café, the 5th Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery is the story of a group of elderly people who are getting picked off, one by one, for no apparent reason. My hero, sixty-something cat shelter volunteer Lynley Cannon, becomes involved when her mom’s friend, the owner of the cat café is found dead at her business. Lynley sets about working hand in hand with a handsome detective of a similar age. Sparks fly, people die, cats cry, and the whole thing comes down to the old saying: Revenge is a dish best served cold.
The story touches on lots of subjects besides murder. Follow this blog for the next month to catch a few. How do you trap a feral cat? What is the best cat gear to wear to a café opening? Do you know the top ten hits of 1950? Just what is a cat café anyway? These questions and more will all be answered very soon.
Launch date for Cat Café, the 5th Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery is October 29th, National Cat Day. Pre-order your copy now!
If you’re in Portland Oregon or interested in jumping on a plane, I’m having a pre-launch party at Another Read Through independent bookstore on October 27 at 2:00. I will have advance copies of Cat Café to sign and sell, so you can get yours before anyone else!
For launch week, I’m going to blog hop around some of my fellow CWA members’ blogsites:
Oct. 29th– National Cat Day: The 1st day of the hop starts with Jeffy Jeffy Bad Boy (and Dusty Rainbolt). I can’t wait to see what JJBB asks me!
Oct. 30th: Melissa Lapierre interviews Lynley’s cats, all 8 of them! Blogger, Mochas, Mysteries and Meows
Oct 31: Why cat café? Patricia Fry (the Klepto Cat mystery series) wants to know.
Nov. 1: Fun Questions with Amy Shojai, CABC
Nov. 2: Kathleen S. Mueller, the Traveling Dog (and Cat) Lady, reviews Cat Café, and we chat about 1950’s trivia.
And if that’s not enough, I started a special Cat Café board on Pinterest.
Are you excited yet? I am.
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September 22, 2018
CAT WRITING with TAMARA ANNE FOWLER
Tamara Anne Fowler is Edit Kitten, a writer with 20-plus years of experience offering a softer, gentler approach to editing and coaching. Her personal editors —Armani, Max Factor and Spicey’D—are also her cats.
Her writing career began with articles in DOG FANCY and CAT FANCY. She has published poetry and was a stringer for LIFE Magazine 1989-1993. When she lived in Los Angeles, she was also an actor, appearing in commercials, DAYS OF OUR LIVES, and in many, many independent films (not “those” kind). She penned a children’s book series which consists of 21 short books for 7-9 year olds, the only thing that kept her sanity when she worked for INDY MAC Bank 2005-the bank crash of 2007.
Currently she lives in the Portland area and is working on Western sci-fi and horror novels as well as a series of futuristic short stories. She “ holds writers accountable” with her weekly coaching sessions.
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My Guest Today Is Tamara Anne Fowler, cat writer, editor and writing coach.
Welcome, Tamara!
~What do you consider your greatest accomplishment in the cat world? And your greatest disappointment?
Tamara: Greatest accomplishment— Rescue rescue rescue! I used to volunteer for Kitten Rescue when I lived in LA. My cats were all KR rescues. I would volunteer for adoption events and soon I became adoption lead which was very stressful because I had the last word if someone could adopt or not.
I was responsible for a litter of found little kittens. I could not foster them at my apartment but the woman who found them offered to house them if I would come by every Saturday, pick them up and take them to adoption events. They were adopted out with ease (even though KR has very strict adoption needs).
One day, this frazzled and disheveled man came in. He said, “My sister wants to be one of these.” Our president said, “Your sister wants to be a cat?” The man ran out (seriously, ran). Weeks later I saw this man on a flier warning of cat abusers.
Greatest disappointment? I tried T&R and was no good at it. It really upset me. So I had to leave it to my KR friends Charlotte and Mi and they did an incredible job. My other disappointment was that I was unable to continue to volunteer for the Oregon Humane Society. I would have brought home too many cats. I have zero restraint.
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~What would you most like to discuss in this interview?
Tamara: Cats! Cats! Cats! Nothing is off the table!
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lil miss coco chanel
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~Tell us the story of your “soul cat”?
Tamara: I adopted lil miss coco chanel on June 30, 2001. I knew she would be special because when I drove up to the pet store, Centinella Feed and Pet, I had trouble parking. I was shaking.
When I met her she was running around in her cage with her siblings. They took her out, put her in my arms. She immediately calmed down and started purring. I started to cry.
When I got her home she was so comfortable in her own skin I did not need to put her into a separate room and let her slowly get used to my apartment.
Every night she slept in between my breasts. Until she finally got “too big.” Ah, first separation of mother and child is so painful.
We were always so in-tuned. We always needed to know where each other was in the apartment. We had a deep connection.
This leads up to me losing her May 9, 2017 at 4:10 am. She was 5 days shy of her sweet 16th birthday.
To her vising me at 4:10 am this past year on the 9th and the 10th.
At least I didn’t try putting her on TV!!
~Losing a beloved kitty is so hard! I’m glad you still see her, even if she is a ghost cat now.
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Max Factor
~Like me, you are a member of the Cat Writers’ Association, demonstrating your true dedication to cats. How many cats do you have? Do they help with your writing?
Tamara: Well, if I have to be honest, no. Max Factor likes to jump up on my laptop when I am trying to write or trying to edit. However, their little spirits and the beauty of their personalities is quite inspiring.
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~Tell us your favorite real or fictional cat story.
“Puff’s Vegetable Garden,” a Tiny Tale book I got at a birthday party in the late 60’s. I love it so much it is the one item I would save in a fire (besides my cats, of course) so I always know where it is.
It is a quick little tale about Puff, a fluffy white kitten, trying to help his owner, Timmy, plant a vegetable garden. Timmy puts all the bags of seeds in a little pile on the ground and then goes off and gets some gardening supplies so he can dig up the dirt. While he is gone, Puff tries to help by scratching open all the packets. Now they are all mixed up!!! All the seeds are together and you cannot tell which is which . They end up calling it Timmy’s vegetable soup garden. Last page: “Poor little sad Puff could only say, “Mew!”
Outside of my living kitties it is my most precious possession.
~What five words would you use to describe yourself?
Tamara: nice, honest, fun, loyal, C-A-T
~What is the most useful writing tip you’ve ever been given?
Tamara: There is no such thing as writer’s block. If you feel stuck just sit down and write ANYTHING: “This sucks. This really sucks. I hate this” and soon you will be off and writing.
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~Add something you would like to tell us just for fun.
Tamara: In 1991, my orange Maine Coon, Humbert Humbert, was on the Pat Sajak Show. I would never do this again. For all his glory it was a horrible experience.
Well (ugh) first of all I had to drug Humbert Humbert to drive him over to CBS studios “over the hill.” The windy windy street of Laurel Canyon Blvd.
THEN, once I had him happily set up in his dressing room — his litter box secured, food and water out, got to watch him carefully explore everything, with his belly close to the floor — the “actress” that had been hired to be in the scene with him arrived and freaked out. She yelled, “What is THAT doing in HERE???”
She claimed to be allergic but I think she just wanted a dressing room all to herself.
I put Humbert back into his carrier and into an old equipment room we went. I couldn’t let him out of his carrier because it was all cameras and wires and many places to get lost in. Plus — BONUS! — there was a high pitch squealing noise. Non-stop.
I got us moved to a conference room, with cold, uncomfortable table and chairs but at least I could let him out of his carrier.
Then, when it was time for him to be on stage, I had to take my place backstage to be ready. Why didn’t I think of this …. what accompanies late night talk shows? Lives bands. He just shook in my arms as they played away. And, believe you me, they are ear-shatteringly LOUD standing right behind them.
I had asked the “actress” not to let go of his leash because we had almost lost him the day before in rehearsals. What does that bitch do? You guessed it. She lets go of his leash.
Luckily, he only jumped up on the back of the couch and went no further. As I write this I am close to tears. Poor baby.
I had some great photos of Humbert with Pat, however, they have long since turned to dust.
~Do you have any big news coming up soon? (Awards, articles, shows, readings, etc)
Tamara: Nothing. (Sad face here.)
Well, to be fair, I write two articles every month on community happenings for the Concordia News. But only one of my articles was ever about cats.
I edit. And I am an accountability coach for writers as well.
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~What is the best way to keep up with you? (social media & links here)
Instagram: edit_kitten
Twitter: @EditKitenCoach
Facebook: Edit Kitten
~Thank you for being with us today and best of luck, Tamara!
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September 21, 2018
Lynley Cannon’s FRIDAY FELINE FACTS & FANCIES, The Not-so-great Escape
Lynley Cannon, star of the Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series, is often referred to as a crazy cat lady herself, but when it comes to the feline species, this sixty-something cat shelter volunteer knows her stuff. Check here each Friday for instructive and intriguing information on our favorite subject: cats!
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When an indoor cat escapes outdoors, he suddenly finds himself in an alien environment. Instinctively he will hide in silence so as to avoid unwanted attention from predators.
Cat Call, Chapter 3
Cat Painting – Cat Hiding In The Rainforest by J Linder
Check out more of Lynley Cannon’s kitty tips, tricks, and facts preceding each chapter in CATS’ EYES, COPY CATS, CAT’S PAW, and CAT CALL
September 14, 2018
CATS AT COMIC-CON: Part 1, The Art of the Cat
Last weekend I went to Rose City Comic-con. I attended mainly to catch the celebrity guests Davis Tennant from Doctor Who and the Star Trek Next Generation trio, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, and Gates McFadden. I enjoy seeing the stars I watch on television close up and personal. For the most part, I’ve found them to be gracious, funny, and human.
I’ve been to many sci-fi/fantasy themed conventions, so I knew what to expect when it came to the panels; what I didn’t plan on was the abundance of cat-related material I found among the exhibit booths as well as the con-goers. From a guy who called himself Captain Cat to beautiful art and illustration to graphic novels, I discovered cat-centric themes just about everywhere I looked.
In this three-part blog, I’ll share my fun sightings of cat-themed art, cat-themed merchandise, and cat fans, proving once again, you never know what can happen at a comic-con.
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GHOST CATS BOOKS – Canada. Brian FH Clement, seen here, writes the text and Arinn Westendorf illustrates these small booklets with sweet line drawings. The stories are gentle and ethical, nice for all ages. Who wouldn’t want their departed kitties to come back as a ghostly guide?
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Braden Duncan loves black cats. Her artwork (a.k.a. Clockwork Art) is inspired by the intricate elegance created by the convergence of biological & mechanical elements.
“As our lives become increasingly mechanised & electronified, humans & animals must adapt to survive. Braden’s pieces represent organic beings enhanced for their new roles in a bio-industrial world. With watercolour & oil, Steampunk & circuitry, she aims to reshape the world with the strange & the adorable.”
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Of course I loved the work of HEATHER NESHEIM, especially her two Star Trek pieces, Spock with the black cat from “Assignment, Earth” and Data with Spot (signed by Brent Spinner!)
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NATALIE METZGER of Fuzzyslugstudios paints many things besides cats, but I couldn’t pass up this fuzzy fellow. (I think it’s a cat.)
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I love this fine woodcut print by Celia Connaire (@BHDemon) called “Cat in a snapback.”
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Another cat story writer and illustrator, Abby Denson shows off her book and her great cat scarf. She writes, draws, travels and much more. Her time spent in Japan has influenced her art style.
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More Japanese influence is seen in the art of Stasia Burrington. (The Japanese love thieir cats!) Her original illustrations are simple, whimsical, and pleasing to the eye. I’m interested in checking out the Magic Neko Deck of “oracle cat cards”!
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Cindy Liu is a concept artist and illustrator. The big guy on the left is Habibi the cat, who manifests as all sorts of things including a tee shirt that I really want to get. Habibi is an Arabic word which means “my love”.
Thank you, Rose City Comic-con, for featuring these and many other local and regional artists. It was so nice to have something to look at besides manufactured merchandise.
But speaking of merchandise, there was some great cat stuff there too. Check it out in my next blog post, CATS AT COMIC-CON: Part 2, The Merch.
Lynley Cannon’s FRIDAY FELINE FACTS & FANCIES, What’s that Smell?
Lynley Cannon, star of the Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series, is often referred to as a crazy cat lady herself, but when it comes to the feline species, this sixty-something cat shelter volunteer knows her stuff. Check here each Friday for instructive and intriguing information on our favorite subject: cats!
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If you think you smell cat pee, you probably do.
Cat’s Paw, Chapter 23
Cats Fleece Blanket featuring the painting “Meditation” – Cat Art By Dora Hathazi Mendes
Check out more of Lynley Cannon’s kitty tips, tricks, and facts preceding each chapter in CATS’ EYES, COPY CATS, CAT’S PAW, and CAT CALL.
September 7, 2018
Lynley Cannon’s FRIDAY FELINE FACTS & FANCIES, Tortitude
Lynley Cannon, star of the Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series, is often referred to as a crazy cat lady herself, but when it comes to the feline species, this sixty-something cat shelter volunteer knows her stuff. Check here each Friday for instructive and intriguing information on our favorite subject: cats!
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Tortoiseshell cats are often gifted with something affectionately known as tortitude. The tri-colored females tend to be extremely sensitive to stimulus. Noise, action, even the touch of your hand can suddenly become too much for them, at which time they may lash out like the little divas they purport to be.
Copy Cats, Chapter 6
Artwork by Karen Margulis
Check out more of Lynley Cannon’s kitty tips, tricks, and facts preceding each chapter in CATS’ EYES, COPY CATS, CAT’S PAW, and CAT CALL.
