Meowy Monday – Glitches in the Klepto Cat Mystery Factory

It’s nothing serious, folks. We’ve produced 13 Klepto and Calico Mysteries per year for the last two years and 12 the year before that with a total of 87 books over the last 11 years. Pretty ambitious for someone who began her mystery-writing career in retirement, wouldn’t you say?

The fact that I continue to write these fun, cozy mysteries certainly reflects my joy in doing so. So, while you may become disappointed when a book is delayed for any reason—it happens—you can bet it annoys me, as well.

While all of the glitches we’ve encountered over the years have resulted in only minor delays in the production process, it’s still annoying. I rely on people, equipment, and my health to keep these books rolling off the assembly line. I’ve been sick, some of my production team have had surgery or they might be traveling when a book is ready for the process they provide (editing, formatting, creating the cover)…But we bounce back as quickly as we can and we will this time too.

So what’s the problem? A main printer has failed us—the machine has bit the dust. Why do we need a printer in house? Amazon does the printing for us. Here’s why: I’m in the last stage of proofing Book 69 in the Klepto Cat series and I do that proofing on the hard copy. Unless you’ve done the type of work I do, you may have never noticed how different your brain works when editing/proofing a manuscript on a device (computer) and on the hard copy. You switch from the computer copy to the hard copy (or vice versa) and you catch errors your eyes did not even see before. It’s uncanny.

So, like many authors, I create on the computer and do multiple edits there, but the major editing/proofing is done on the hard copy.

Good news: The new printer has arrived and the proofs will be completed within hours and turned over to the e-book formatter. The cover design is finished. There is one more step to publishing Book 69—it’s now the e-book formatter’s turn to do her thing. This book should be ready to order around the week of March 25th. You’re welcome.

In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying Olivia’s latest book. “The Good, the Bad, and Olivia,”

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Feline Fun Friday— National Catio Day

Are you taken aback by the number or cat-related “holidays”? I am. Here’s a new one on the books, established just last year: Today is National Catio Day. Why? Apparently this is to bring awareness to an alternative to allowing cats to roam.

Not only are there a lot of dangers outside a home for cats, but roaming cats also are a danger to birds and other wildlife.

According to the CatTipper site, there are at least 175 cat-related holidays now—12 for March. In fact March 14-21 is Pet Theft Awareness Week.

As for a catio for your cats. It can be a small alcove built into a window of your house—like a garden window for cats or a quite elaborately designed area complete with an overhead screened in tunnel where the cats can meander through your orchards or gardens with drop down options into enclosed rooms where the cat can romp through grass and chase butterflies and curl up in a sun puddle.

You can build your own catio creation or purchase a smaller ready-made catio to install either as part of your house or outside of it.

If you’ve ever considered a catio for your cats, maybe today is the day to start creating the purrfect design. Do you already have a catio? Would love to see pictures

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Paws Up for Wednesday – New Calico Cat Mystery

Book 19 of the Calico Cat Mysteries is available for purchase at Amazon.com in both Kindle and print.

Olivia has her paws full healing hearts and saving lives.

Olivia takes on many roles in this poignant story which involves murder, mayhem, and mystery. She thrills an elderly gentleman who had lost his sense of joy, and she helps a group of lonely people to love again. She aids in resolving some sticky mysteries and offers comfort to those in dire need of it. In the end, she leads the way to a truth that had to be told.

Order your print or kindle copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXWDXM1F/ref=sr_1_1crid=1EAWA28J84LSZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.e4tsbLBjFHcRxVNoqG7PvrK788R5XxrNKi0DwjGCe8hggmO9lTDs9r8WUaHXAKK1wO6GTbtbobbHFVJMMsBZMG5n0wNi0MgWt8I3lP2SeGMQvru3lilv_XREfUme0sQpWtlgtW5Zr2bd_dWsrnoczfVL4ihnlazwOznWCjTQltfxbrve0t7_w7YJTJ7HbAcU.HAQmSz4_AqvbWuWJK97A39yipTxrdYXjeHM5PcV2wtw&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+good%2C+the+bad%2C+and+Olivia+fry&qid=1710336302&sprefix=the+good%2C+the+bad%2C+and+olivia+fry%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

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Meowy Monday – How Cats Move Us

Cats have been used in advertising for years. I have a large poster with pix of adorable cats promoting a variety of products—cat food and litter, of course, but also matches, sewing thread, department stores, hats, mortgage companies, biscuits, milk, and so much more.

Celebrities are often photographed with their cats—giving the actor, model, or politician a softer, caring side. I think we’ve even seen cats advertising motorcycles and cars.

One of the most lovely jobs for cats is as a therapist—a therapy cat. Cats are natural calming agents for those who live with them, but some cats are chill enough to live in a library or a bookstore, nursery, and so forth to delight and entertain shoppers and visitors. Cats are also taken into assisted living homes and hospitals as therapy cats. The Denver and the San Francisco airports are a few who offer therapy cats for tense travelers.

Well, here’s a first for me—a library in Massachusetts is waiving library late fees and costs for lost books if the patron brings in a picture of a cat.

What are some of the most creative and unusual ways you’ve seen a cat or cats used to promote and help?

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Feline Fun Friday – Which Olivia will I wake up to today?

This is a question I ask nearly every day. Why? As you know, Olivia is a calico and she has her moods. She can be energetic, playful, wildly athletic, and eager for an audience that cheers her on. She can also be…gosh I dislike using the term aloof.  But I’m afraid it describes Olivia at times. Yes, she can be a bit of a snob—you know, snooty and distant. She wants to hide even from us. She seems distant. I can approach her and give her snuggles and tiny kisses, but she doesn’t always respond by rolling over and showing her fluffy tummy and purring.

Her veterinarian has labeled her a Chimera because she has the markings of a Chimera—half of her face is black and half partly orange—with a definite line down the middle. She has a line down the middle of her back, too—half orange, half black.

The thoughts about a Chimera cat is that she was actually two kittens, but melded into one while in the womb. Could this be why Olivia has two such distinct personalities? She can be an over-the-top lovebug/snugglebug with a big purr. But there are days when we rarely see her. She opts to hang out in a closet or under the bed. She might come out in the evening, but stares at us from across the room, not wanting to engage.

She is a puzzle—keeps us guessing and I always wonder, which Olivia to expect when I wake up in the morning.

 

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Paws Up for Wednesday – What’s New Under the Cat’s Paw?

Most of us adore cats—all cats, any cat no matter their background. I don’t know about you, but I love meeting up with new cats and seeing cat antics on the Internet. Cats are all catlike, yet they come in so many different shapes, colors, styles, and personalities. While I don’t buy cats from breeders, I’m always curious about new and unique breeds of cat. I imagine you are, too. So here’s a rundown on some I discovered (or revisited) this week. You can see 15 of them displayed at this site. https://www.catster.com/breeds/newest-cat-breeds

Here are a few that grabbed my attention: The Highlander is an experimental breed—a cross between a Desert Lynx and a Jungle Curl. These cats have a wild look about them with curled ears and a bob tail and wild markings in a variety of shades and coat patterns.

The Aphrodite or Cyprus is an interesting breed, occurring naturally and can be traced back to over 10,000 years. So these cats have come from a feral population of cats. I found it interesting that their coloring and markings vary

Some of these cats are considered Aphrodite Giants and they can reach weights of 11 to 18 pounds for females and as much as 24 pounds for males.

If you enjoy knowing about some of the most rare and unique cats around, do as I did and initiate a search to learn more.

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Meowy Monday – What’s Happening in the Klepto and Calico Cat Mystery Factory?

We’re juggling three books here this week, all in various stages of the process. Book 19 of the Calico Cat Mystery series is with the Kindle formatter. Watch for this book to debut soon. Warning, while there are some wonderfully touching moments with Olivia in this story, I’ve also included a couple of murderous episodes giving this book another dimension of mystery and intrigue. As with all of the Calico and Klepto Cat Mysteries this lively story will be available at Amazon (and autographed and paw-tographed copies at https://CalicoCatMysteries.com).

Meanwhile I finished my edits/proofs on Book 69 of the Klepto Cat Mysteries over the weekend and sent it to the editor (the woman who makes me look good). This story was a lot of fun to write as it kept me on my toes and allowed me to have fun along the way. I think you’ll enjoy the twists and turns and little surprises I tucked into this story. Watch for this book to debut around the end of March.

Would you believe that I’ve started writing Book 20 of the Calico Cat Mysteries? At this point in the writing journey I can’t even give you a clue as to where the story will take us. Just know that it will most likely include captivating episodes, beguiling tales, and plenty of kitty-cat antics.

 

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Feline Fun Friday—International Cat Rescue Day

Tomorrow is International Cat Rescue Day. If you’ve been thinking about adding to your feline family, this is a good day to do it. I’m still working to save the little orange tabby that’s roaming free in my neighborhood. That would be an important rescue. If each of us focused on just one abandoned or free-roaming or shelter cat today, just imagine how much of a difference we could make for cats.

Rescue, adopt, and spoil that cat like crazy.

 

 

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Paws Up for Wednesday – World Spay Day

I cannot understand why in this day and age, with so many cats being abandoned and left to fend for themselves and so many being euthanized every year, why cat owners do not have their cats neutered/spayed. But the evidence (of so many feral and sheltered cats and euthanized cats) shows that still way too many people are not getting it!!! They don’t understand that we have created a crisis situation among cats worldwide. There are not enough people to care for the number of cats that need care. The simple answer is to spay and neuter your cats.

I was shocked to see that the sweet orange tabby that’s been hanging around our yard—bird-watching, mostly—is an intact male. Dang. And I have not been able to find out who he belongs to. He’s a gorgeous cat and looks healthy, but someone is certainly falling down on their responsibility to keep this cat safe and to be proactive in the future of hundreds of unwanted kittens. That’s not taking responsibility for your pet.

I’ll keep looking for his owner and maybe even intervene. It is World Spay Day, after all.

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Meowy Monday – Keep Your Cats Close

I’m interested in some of the judge shows on TV—well, an author needs a break from writing and the curiosities that come up in some of the cases keep the brain active. Sometimes you see cases to determine custody of dogs and even cats. A typical cat case is when someone leaves their cat(s) with a roommate or a friend for a couple of weeks and they don’t return to get them until many months later. Who should be given custody of the cats—the person who owned them, but abandoned them or the person who cared for them and has become attached to them?

In most cases the one who is now in custody of the cats gets to keep them. In a recent case, however, one judge (of three) ruled that the original owner should get his cats back—since, by law, cats are considered property and the cats are his property.

The other two judges on this panel, however, thought it would be best for the cats to stay where they are—a stable home where the cats have been for many months. Do you agree or disagree? By the way, both litigants in this case were men and both quite emotional about these cats.

I’ve seen cases where the original owner seems to do everything she can to visit the cats, take food to them, and so forth, but the temporary custodian of the cat(s) won’t let her on their property. In some situations the fact that the original owner has been recorded displaying disruptive behavior and acting rather crazy outside the custodian’s home causes her to lose her cat(s).

It’s a good thing to have a backup person to care for your cat(s) should you become ill or you must go out of state to care for an ill relative or something. But if you want your cats back, you really need to create evidence that you truly deserve to have them. You know how easy it is to become attached to one or more sweet cats. The caregivers just might want to keep them and they’ll start gathering evidence against you.

In one cat case I watched, the person who had agreed to care for the cat for a period of a few weeks or a month or so, ended up giving the cat away after having it for several months. The owner sued for monetary damages. The judge ruled against the owner because he believed that he had abandoned the cat.

While we’re on the topic, be sure to choose a willing and capable guardian for your cat should you become unable to care for it and put it in writing—in your will for example.

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