Janet Cantrell's Blog, page 5
April 16, 2015
A couple of nice things!
I was invited recently to a new blog AND a new Facebook group. They were both announced in my newsletter that went out yesterday, but I’d like to do another announcement here, that’s how excited I am about these!
The blog is KILLER CHARACTERS. This is a place where the characters in our novels get to speak outside the book! I’m slated for the 4th of every month. My first entry was by Quincy. I liked this one a lot because Quincy doesn’t ever get to speak in the FAT CAT books. In fact, the reader doesn’t even get to hear his thoughts. He’s just a cat, going about doing his cat-things in his cat-way.
My new Facebook group is called Nose for Trouble. Anyone interested in mysteries with pets can join to learn about the five authors on the group. I’m thrilled to be here with Krista Davis, Sparkle Abbey, Miranda James, and Linda O. Johnston. Krista just announced her newest cover today!
(If you would like to be added to my newsletter list, please send me an email at janetcantrell01@gmail.com and request it.)
April 1, 2015
Bookmarks--A Poll
In anticipation of stirring up some interest at Malice Domestic, I just put together a file to take to the printer to get bookmarks made for FAT CAT SPREADS OUT. I haven't gotten there yet, though. In fact, I'm trying to decide something. Maybe you can help me.
There are two things I'd like to know.
(1) Does anyone ever use the QRC thing from a bookmark? I've used them in the past, but don't know if they're useful or not.
(2) Would you rather have a separate bookmark for each book? I have them for FAT CAT AT LARGE, so would eventually have 3 for this series. Or would you rather have both books (then all 3) on the same bookmark? I'm not so sure the colors go together for the two covers.
By the way, if you would ever like me to send you bookmarks, just shoot me an email and I'll send you some to distribute. (This is NOT an April Fools Joke!)
There are two things I'd like to know.
(1) Does anyone ever use the QRC thing from a bookmark? I've used them in the past, but don't know if they're useful or not.
(2) Would you rather have a separate bookmark for each book? I have them for FAT CAT AT LARGE, so would eventually have 3 for this series. Or would you rather have both books (then all 3) on the same bookmark? I'm not so sure the colors go together for the two covers.
By the way, if you would ever like me to send you bookmarks, just shoot me an email and I'll send you some to distribute. (This is NOT an April Fools Joke!)
March 25, 2015
Thanks to my readers!
I'd like to pause to say thanks to all who have entered my recent contests. It does my heart good to know that my reading is reaching people, even one woman who read FAT CAT AT LARGE after a tough surgery. I appreciate all of Fat Cat's fans so much!
March 18, 2015
Fat Cat Spreads Out ARC Giveaway
Guess why I haven't been posting lately? I was busy furiously editing to meet the deadline to turn in my manuscript for Fat Cat #3, as yet unnamed. I’d like to call it FAT CAT UNLEASHED, because Quincy, in the process of being leash trained, gets loose and finds—you guessed it, a dead body. However, there’s no official title yet. Lots of editing left, too!
Meanwhile, a couple of days ago, the ARCs (Advance Reader Copy) arrived for Fat Cat #2—FAT CAT SPREADS OUT! It does have a title and will be released June 2nd.
I have earmarked most of the ARCs to be doled out to reviewers. However, there are still a few left. Below is what the actual cover will look like.
I’d like to give away 2 of the ARCs here. If you’d like one, please leave a comment below. (You may see a post very similar to this one at Kaye George's Travels with Kaye blog.) The giveaway will close at midnight EST on Sunday, the 22nd.
Maybe, with this deadline met, I’ll post more regularly.
Meanwhile, a couple of days ago, the ARCs (Advance Reader Copy) arrived for Fat Cat #2—FAT CAT SPREADS OUT! It does have a title and will be released June 2nd.
I have earmarked most of the ARCs to be doled out to reviewers. However, there are still a few left. Below is what the actual cover will look like.
I’d like to give away 2 of the ARCs here. If you’d like one, please leave a comment below. (You may see a post very similar to this one at Kaye George's Travels with Kaye blog.) The giveaway will close at midnight EST on Sunday, the 22nd.
Maybe, with this deadline met, I’ll post more regularly.
February 18, 2015
Taking the Easy Way Out
We've had a time of it this week! The governor of Tennessee has declared a state of emergency for the whole state. Knoxville is pretty much shut down for the foreseeable future. The ice is beautiful, but for a place that doesn't get much snow and hardly ever gets temperatures this low, it's treacherous. The worst for us, so far, has been losing the internet and phones for a night an half a day. There's also a large limb on the roof that we'll have to do something about--someday.
Those pine branches, brushing the ground, are usually out of my reach.
Anyway, I'm going to take the easy way out and post a link to something that caught Quincy's fancy. We saw it when Peg Cochran posted it and couldn't resist. We hope you like it!
http://www.dose.com/lists/2968/25-Famous-Paintings-Photobombed-By-A-Fat-Cat-WARNING-4-Can-t-Be-Unseen
Those pine branches, brushing the ground, are usually out of my reach.Anyway, I'm going to take the easy way out and post a link to something that caught Quincy's fancy. We saw it when Peg Cochran posted it and couldn't resist. We hope you like it!
http://www.dose.com/lists/2968/25-Famous-Paintings-Photobombed-By-A-Fat-Cat-WARNING-4-Can-t-Be-Unseen
February 11, 2015
Killer Characters
Do you know about this blog? Here's where it is:
http://www.killercharacters.com/
I'm SO excited about it because I've just been asked to join! I'm pondering which characters will post for my slot. It will be once a month, so that should be doable and I should be able to keep up much better there than here, where I'm supposed to post every week, but, I think, have been hitting about once a month.
I will plead the Third. That is, the third Fat Cat book, which is almost finished. I have been slaving away at it while fighting off some kind of cruel, lingering crud that STILL is not completely gone. Aren't I a hero? Heroine?
Anyway take a look at the blog and see if you don't think I'm so lucky!
http://www.killercharacters.com/
I'm SO excited about it because I've just been asked to join! I'm pondering which characters will post for my slot. It will be once a month, so that should be doable and I should be able to keep up much better there than here, where I'm supposed to post every week, but, I think, have been hitting about once a month.
I will plead the Third. That is, the third Fat Cat book, which is almost finished. I have been slaving away at it while fighting off some kind of cruel, lingering crud that STILL is not completely gone. Aren't I a hero? Heroine?
Anyway take a look at the blog and see if you don't think I'm so lucky!
February 4, 2015
Watch this space!
Why? Because I'm expecting ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) of FAT CAT SPREADS OUT this month! Depending on how many I receive, I'd like to run one or more giveaways. So, if you like that sort of thing, stay tuned on Wednesdays.
I will note here that the posting has been awfully sketchy lately. I've been laid low since the end of December with something that's still hanging on just a bit, but is almost gone. It wasn't flu and it wasn't pneumonia (per the chest x-ray). It was diagnosed as bronchitis, but I think it was the Real-Live Crud. Things should occur more regularly around here, I hope.
I will note here that the posting has been awfully sketchy lately. I've been laid low since the end of December with something that's still hanging on just a bit, but is almost gone. It wasn't flu and it wasn't pneumonia (per the chest x-ray). It was diagnosed as bronchitis, but I think it was the Real-Live Crud. Things should occur more regularly around here, I hope.
December 31, 2014
New Year, New ???
What are you going to do differently in 2015? Anything?
I don't propose to make any big changes. I would like to put a new bookcase in the office and should exercise more. But I gave up resolutions last year. I'm doing something I like a lot better. I'm doing a Good News Jar.
All during 2014, I've saved my good news and will get it all out and review it going into 2015. I actually started out with a jar, but decided I didn't like printing out a lot of stuff. And besides, the jar got too full. So my Jar is more of an online Folder. I call it Attagirl. When I get emails I like, I label the Attagirl. I also do put some things into the folder. It will be fun to review all the positive things that happened in 2014. I hope I have an equal number of Good Things in 2015. And I hope all of you do, too!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I don't propose to make any big changes. I would like to put a new bookcase in the office and should exercise more. But I gave up resolutions last year. I'm doing something I like a lot better. I'm doing a Good News Jar.
All during 2014, I've saved my good news and will get it all out and review it going into 2015. I actually started out with a jar, but decided I didn't like printing out a lot of stuff. And besides, the jar got too full. So my Jar is more of an online Folder. I call it Attagirl. When I get emails I like, I label the Attagirl. I also do put some things into the folder. It will be fun to review all the positive things that happened in 2014. I hope I have an equal number of Good Things in 2015. And I hope all of you do, too!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
December 17, 2014
My Morale Problem
In the face of the violence exploding all over the world, especially the deaths of so many children in Pakistan at the hands of sub-humans, I’m finding I have to gird myself to get up the gumption to write about death and murder.
I asked myself yesterday, How can I write about fictional murder when actual atrocities are occurring right now?
Not having an answer, I went ahead and got my quota for the day written. Actually, I exceeded it and had a good writing day. It’s nice to have an alternate world that I can retreat into. A world where order reigns supreme—after the disorder gets taken care of.
After quite a bit of thought, I realized that this is something I’ve told myself and others many times. What I do as a mystery writer is very different. I’m turning the tables, setting the crime on its head. In my fiction, the murderer gets caught and justice is done. In real life, that doesn’t always happen. Fiction gives me a chance to display good triumphing over evil. Fiction isn’t real life. It’s better.
Also, I never kill children.
This blog is cross posted on http://travelswithkaye.blogspot.com/
I asked myself yesterday, How can I write about fictional murder when actual atrocities are occurring right now?
Not having an answer, I went ahead and got my quota for the day written. Actually, I exceeded it and had a good writing day. It’s nice to have an alternate world that I can retreat into. A world where order reigns supreme—after the disorder gets taken care of.
After quite a bit of thought, I realized that this is something I’ve told myself and others many times. What I do as a mystery writer is very different. I’m turning the tables, setting the crime on its head. In my fiction, the murderer gets caught and justice is done. In real life, that doesn’t always happen. Fiction gives me a chance to display good triumphing over evil. Fiction isn’t real life. It’s better.
Also, I never kill children.
This blog is cross posted on http://travelswithkaye.blogspot.com/
December 3, 2014
Feeding Cats
I’ve gleaned some guidelines from various places for this post. I’ve listed my sources at the bottom if you’re interested.
Since I always wondered if I was feeding my cats right, I thought I’d do some research and see if I could come up with the proper way. Turns out, this depends entirely on how old your cat is.
First cat to consider, the one from a shelter. They haven’t been starved, most likely, but they also haven’t been overfed. There might be a tendency for you to overfeed once you’ve rescued your little darling, but resist! Twice a day is plenty.
WebMD does not recommend dry food, but we haven’t had problems with it for most of our cats. This site also stresses that enough water is always available. The Cornell University site is not against dry food, saying that some cats prefer it. Some dislike it, and some like a mixture of dry and canned.
Everyone is against homemade cat food. They need a specific, delicate balance of nutrients, and the cat food manufacturers take care to achieve that.
Also, each cat is different. While the guidelines below and elsewhere are good, you’ll probably want to tailor each cat’s diet to her individual quirks.
Kittens. You should look for cat food specifically for kittens since they need lots of protein, fatty acids, and minerals, plus more calories than adults. Most experts disapprove of grazing, saying to leave the bowl down only until kitty is finished, then picking it up.
Adult cats, one year old. They can still be fed twice a day, but now you need to buy adult cat food. To transition, of course, you can mix the kitten food, using less and less of it over a couple of weeks.
Senior cats, over 8. Now it gets tricky. These kitties are slowing down and need senior food, or just enough to maintain weight and not increase it.
All cats! They need protein. Food with grain added is fine unless yours has an allergy. As cats age, they also may develop problems with kidneys or thyroid and require a special diet for that. Don’t ever put your cat on a vegetarian diet! They’re not people, actually, they’re meat eaters.
I always have fed my cats side by side, but this is not recommended by the Cat Fancy article. Our sons cats cannot be fed this way, or one would be obese and the other starving. I think you should play this one by ear, depending on how your cats act.
Although I write the FAT CAT series, I don’t recommend that you try to fatten up your cat! Overfeeding is the number one mistake cat owners make. If your cat isn’t a working barn cat, he doesn’t need a lot of calories as an adult. Sometimes you can’t prevent a few extra ounces (or even a pound or two), but let’s not TRY to have fat cats.
Cat Fancy magazine September 2014 http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/mistakes-people-make-feeding-cats http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/FeedYourCat.cfm photos from http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sns-viral-fat-cats-pictures-photogallery.html http://www.morguefile.com/ http://photobucket.com/images/fat%20cat?page=1
Since I always wondered if I was feeding my cats right, I thought I’d do some research and see if I could come up with the proper way. Turns out, this depends entirely on how old your cat is. First cat to consider, the one from a shelter. They haven’t been starved, most likely, but they also haven’t been overfed. There might be a tendency for you to overfeed once you’ve rescued your little darling, but resist! Twice a day is plenty.
WebMD does not recommend dry food, but we haven’t had problems with it for most of our cats. This site also stresses that enough water is always available. The Cornell University site is not against dry food, saying that some cats prefer it. Some dislike it, and some like a mixture of dry and canned.
Everyone is against homemade cat food. They need a specific, delicate balance of nutrients, and the cat food manufacturers take care to achieve that.
Also, each cat is different. While the guidelines below and elsewhere are good, you’ll probably want to tailor each cat’s diet to her individual quirks.
Kittens. You should look for cat food specifically for kittens since they need lots of protein, fatty acids, and minerals, plus more calories than adults. Most experts disapprove of grazing, saying to leave the bowl down only until kitty is finished, then picking it up.Adult cats, one year old. They can still be fed twice a day, but now you need to buy adult cat food. To transition, of course, you can mix the kitten food, using less and less of it over a couple of weeks.
Senior cats, over 8. Now it gets tricky. These kitties are slowing down and need senior food, or just enough to maintain weight and not increase it.
All cats! They need protein. Food with grain added is fine unless yours has an allergy. As cats age, they also may develop problems with kidneys or thyroid and require a special diet for that. Don’t ever put your cat on a vegetarian diet! They’re not people, actually, they’re meat eaters.
I always have fed my cats side by side, but this is not recommended by the Cat Fancy article. Our sons cats cannot be fed this way, or one would be obese and the other starving. I think you should play this one by ear, depending on how your cats act.
Although I write the FAT CAT series, I don’t recommend that you try to fatten up your cat! Overfeeding is the number one mistake cat owners make. If your cat isn’t a working barn cat, he doesn’t need a lot of calories as an adult. Sometimes you can’t prevent a few extra ounces (or even a pound or two), but let’s not TRY to have fat cats.
Cat Fancy magazine September 2014 http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/mistakes-people-make-feeding-cats http://www.vet.cornell.edu/FHC/health_resources/FeedYourCat.cfm photos from http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sns-viral-fat-cats-pictures-photogallery.html http://www.morguefile.com/ http://photobucket.com/images/fat%20cat?page=1
