Janet Cantrell's Blog, page 6

Only as Good As?

They say a writer is only as good as her last book. True, very true. If you’ve turned out a string of pearls and deliver a lump of coal, that’s what you’ll have to overcome in the next book.
I don’t think I’ve done that yet. Not to brag (OK, it’s bragging), but one reader says each Duckworthy book is better than the last one. I’m not examining that sentiment far enough to see what it says about the first two. Nope, not doing it.
But what occurred to me yesterday, as I completed a scene that I very much like, and one that popped up all on its own, as they are wont to do, is that maybe a writer is only as good as her last chapter. Her last paragraph? Her last sentence?
No wonder writers exist in a constant state of mild anxiety, broken up by periods of sheer terror, usually induced by deadlines.
Am I overthinking this? Maybe not. After all, you can’t stick awful sentences into your paragraphs and just continue on your blithe way. They all have to be crafted. They all have to hang together. Nothing must impede the reader, speeding through your deathless prose, turning the pages into the night—ideally.
When we do put in a stumbling block, we sure do depend on our beta readers to point those out to us so we can smooth the way.
This is very much on my mind as I finish up the second Fat Cat book and embark on the third. The first one was so well received, that I can’t believe the second one will measure up, let alone the third. All I can do is write the best book I can and fling it out there. Talk about a wing and a prayer!

I will add that I depend on my publishers’ editors to keep me on the straight and narrow to producing an entertaining book. However, it’s my name on the cover, right? One of my names, anyway.

This blog is duplicated at Kaye's place, http://travelswithkaye.blogspot.com/

Cover Reveal!

I'm so pleased to be able to show you the cover for FAT CAT SPREADS OUT, which will be published June of 2015 if everything goes well and I don't have to do lots of additional rewriting.
Here's the come-on:
Butterscotch tabby Quincy is back and hungrier than ever in this frisky follow-up to Fat Cat at Large…A booth at the Bunyan County Harvest Fair seems like the perfect opportunity for Charity “Chase” Oliver and Anna Larson to promote their Bar None bakery business. Unfortunately, plus-sized pussycat Quincy has plans for their delicious dessert bars other than selling them to customers. After tearing through their inventory, Quincy goes roaming the fairgrounds in search of more delights.
But what he finds is murder. One of the top contenders in a butter-sculpting contest has been killed, and Chase is churning on the inside when she sees Quincy’s handsome veterinarian, Dr. Mike Ramos, being led away by the police. With a little help from a kitty with butter on his whiskers, Chase needs to find the real killer and clear the doctor’s good name….
AND the cover:

You can preorder it already, too. Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, or Amazon.  

Winner of autographed book!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered last week. I used random.org to pick the winner of an autographed copy of FAT CAT AT LARGE, d.gatrell@gmail.com. Congratulations, Dee! I hope you enjoy it!

I also hope to have a cover for the second book to show you soon. The title, I think I've announced in a couple of places, will be FAT CAT SPREADS OUT. I'll share the cover copy as soon as I have that, too, so you'll know a little about it. But I can tell you that butter is involved. A lot of butter.

It's National Cat Day!

Really, it is! Take a look at some of these strange and wonderful cats at the official website:
http://www.nationalcatday.com/. Aren't they beautiful?

I missed posting last week and just haven't been around much in general. This is mostly due to a big push to get the second book ready to turn in to my editor. I have a few more days to polish it up, but I think it's mostly there.

The second book has a title! FAT CAT SPREADS OUT. I think I'll be able to share the cover soon. The blurb hasn't been written, but I'll tell you that it involves a county fair and butter--and Quincy getting into trouble, of course.

photo from Paula Benson at BAMTo celebrate the official title, I'd love to give away an autographed copy of FAT CAT AT LARGE. If you'd like a copy, please leave a comment and INCLUDE your email address. If you're not comfortable sharing that, or if you have trouble leaving a comment, please feel free to email me at janetcantrell01@gmail.com.

Cats Are Strange

But, if you’re reading my blog, you probably already knew this. But just how strange are they?
Did you know that cats can drink sea water without ill effects? (But can’t taste sweets.) Or that most female cats are right pawed and most males are left pawed?
I’m sure you know that cats sleep most of the time. A 9-year-old cat has been awake for only about 3 years! But did you know that their purr is calculated to win our hearts by being very similar to a baby’s cry?
Our son’s cat meows a lot and I think it might be because he has Kitty Alzheimer’s. At least it doesn’t live in Disneyland, where 200 ferals are released every night to control rodents. The article doesn’t say how those cats are rounded up in the daytime.
http://www.omgfacts.com/lists/818/15-Strange-Facts-About-Cats-That-Actually-Exist
http://www.buzzfeed.com/robynwilder/marvelous-cat-facts#44q1fu2

Billions and billions of blogs

Not really, but it feels like it.

I've been very busy promoting FAT CAT AT LARGE and I think it's paying off. It reached national bestseller status last week! (Details are in the newsletter I just sent--if you'd like one, please email me at janetcantrell01@gmail.com.)

I'm going to cheat on this blog and post a (very long) list of the the blogs for this month. But FIRST, thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has supported me and this new series!!! The success is all due to you!

[There will be a recap of the Writers' Police Academy, which I attended a couple of weekends ago on http://travelswithkaye.blogspot.com/ tomorrow, if you're interested in what went on there.]

Advice for writers: http://bookbeatbabes.blogspot.com/2014/08/kaye-georges-alter-ego-janet-cantrell.html
Interview with Rocco the Cat: http://www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com/2014/08/author-kaye-george-in-hotseat.html
Interview at Writers Who Kill: http://writerswhokill.blogspot.com/2014/08/janet-cantrell-aka-kaye-george-interview.html
Fat cats, music, and mystery, oh my: http://killerhobbies.blogspot.com/2014/08/fat-cats-music-and-mystery-oh-my.html
Interview by PJ Nunn: http://bookbrowsing.wordpress.com/2014/08/28/an-interview-with-kaye-george/
A day in the life of Quincy: http://drusbookmusing.com/2014/09/02/quincy-oliver/
Review by A Cozy Girl Reads: http://acozygirlreads.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-fat-cat-at-large-by-janet.html
Interview by Kate Wyland: http://katewyland.com/2014/09/02/fat-cats-and-dead-bodies/
Review and Where did Quincy come from: http://www.books-n-kisses.com/2014/09/blog-tour-review-fat-cat-at-large-by-janet-cantrell/
Mochas, Mysteries, and Meow: http://nblo.gs/ZGHAJ
Review and essay: http://mariescozy.blogspot.com/2014/09/cozy-mystery-blog-tour-author-guest_8.html
Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/book.php?id=69071
Review: http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2014/09/blog-tour-fat-cat-at-large-by-janet.html
Overweight cats: http://www.writersandotheranimals.blogspot.com/2014/09/overweight-cats-and-what-to-do-about.html
Back to school for writers: http://www.mustardseedmarketinggroup.com/authors-corner-blog/janet-cantrell-is-a-guest-at-the-authorscorner-blog-today#.VBb7J_lSZvA
Something different—Interview on my short stories: http://www.nancychristie.com/findingfran/2014/09/15/short-takes-interviews-with-short-story-writers-with-kaye-george/
Review: http://drusbookmusing.com/2014/09/15/fat-cat-at-large-by-janet-cantrell/

Writer's Police Academy!

I'm so excited that I'm going to attend this! This is a place where mystery writers learn to get it right. It's run by some police personnel and designed to give writers the lowdown on how they operate.
There are a few things I've picked up from courses and from the Citizens’ Police Academy I attended in Austin, TX. Things like--don't put biodegradable clues into plastic bags. They should be saved in paper bags, contrary to what people do on TV shows.
This event, though, is geared toward things mystery writers need to know. Should be fun!
We writers are so fortunate that Lee Lofland, retired police officer, loves to work with us enough to put this on each year.
There are some things we can’t photograph, but I hope to bring back a good report when I return. I’m visiting some East Coast family after the academy, so I won’t be posting next week, but the week after, should have a report.
Meanwhile, if you don’t have a copy of FAT CAT AT LARGE yet, it’s in the bookstore! If you have a copy and liked reading it, please consider posting a review online.
I need to thank all my supporters and readers for lifting me to the clouds for my book launch. It’s been a fun time!

Release Day is Next Tuesday!

The contest for what Quincy is thinking was fun, wasn’t it? I must give credit to my friend, Marilyn Levinson, for thinking of it.
The contests here are over for now, the Good reads Giveaway is over, and I’m pleased that so many people are looking forward to the release on Tuesday, September 2nd. If all goes as it should, the paperback book should be in bookstores on that day and the e-book versions should be live.
Many, many thanks to everyone who has responded to my promotions for this new series. The second book, Fat Cat Spreads Out, is with my editor and I’m beginning the third, as yet untitled. As a writer, I’ve grown to love these characters and feel that, at times, Quincy is really my own cat. As some of you know, some of his antics are taken from my Agamemnon, who left us three years ago. I love that he’s living on in Quincy, even though Agamemnon was black and Quincy is an orange tabby.
I’ve done quite a few blog appearances for this book in August and have a few more in September. For now, I’m reporting my activities on Kaye George’s newsletter. If you’d like to keep up with me, please email me at JanetCantrell01@gmail.comand I’ll sign you up for the newsletter.
Again, thanks for following along and for your interest in the Fat Cat series!

Last Contest Before Release!

I’ll pick a random number from the comments on this one for a free paperback of FAT CAT AT LARGE.
The picture of Quincy on the cover is so cute, I can’t get enough of it. BUT, I haven’t figured out what Quincy is thinking? Can you? Post your thoughts to enter!
I’ll announce the winner in next week’s post.

That was hard!

I had a difficult time picking a winner on the cat tales posted here last week! So I phoned a friend--do people still say that?--anyway I emailed and to more than one friend! I roped them into reading and judging. There were two that kept popping up in my friends' replies after they read the entries.

What could I do? I am declaring a tie!

If Margo Bitner and Christine Hammar will send me your addresses, I'll mail each of you a copy of FAT CAT AT LARGE. Please email me at janetcantrell01@gmail.com.

Stay tuned! I'm posting another contest next week. You can also sign up for the Goodreads Giveaway, where 25 (25!) copies will be given away after the 25th.

Thanks so much for the postings. They were all a treat!