Paws Up for Wednesday — NEW Klepto Cat Mystery

Rags delights in this sweet and spirited story.

Valuables are going missing in an upscale neighborhood. Even the authorities are at a loss in this quirky mystery. So they call in Rags, and he sniffs out the very surprising culprit. While on duty, Rags alerts the detective to a heinous crime taking place in their midst and manages to free a battered woman.  He saves a group of children from a boisterous dog, then helps in the dog’s time of need. He sounds the alarm that results in the capture of a criminal on the loose, and he changes the heart of a man who had lost his way.

 

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Meowy Monday – Turning Fiction Into Teaching Opps

I don’t always realize it when it’s happening, but I do quite a bit of teaching in my fiction books. Maybe it’s because of my background—forty years writing nonfiction articles and books. I can’t not teach.

Sometimes I don’t realize I’m doing it, but readers are starting to mention it and thank me for it and tell me how much they appreciate it. I’m so glad because, like everyone else who writes or teaches or creates art or…I want to make a difference. And part of making a difference is to share, to open minds, to offer new ideas ideas, and to  teach. I guess I do this and people are noticing. For example, here are a few reviews for the Calico and Klepto Cat Mysteries:

“I love these books so much, not only for the stories, but for the teaching moments. Thank you Ms. Fry for your teachable moments.”

Others have posted similar comments:

“It’s a crazy world and books like these can make a difference.”

“I liked this book because it’s very educational.”

“This author is knowledgeable and these books are informative.”

I get emails from readers thanking me for offering so much in my stories to delight, entertain, and teach.

In my world, writing is my outlet, but it’s also my gift to others and my gift includes entertainment, of course, but also education when I can offer it and definitely moments of insight and awareness for readers.

You’re welcome.

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Feline Fun Friday – The Right Way to Pet a Cat

I thought this was a good topic for Cuddly Kitten Day, which is tomorrow.  If there’s one thing a cat person truly loves to do it is to cuddle with a kitten or a cat. for some of us, it’s difficult and sometimes impossible to resist running your hand over a cat’s fur. But sometimes a cat doesn’t want to be petted. How do you know this? The cat might roll over and show her claws, slap your hand, bite you–either warning bites or serious bites, or she’ll just walk away.

Then there are cats with preferences as to how they want to be petted. Does she enjoy light petting, rough petting and ruffling, or would she prefer just gentle head scratches?

Does the cat want to be picked up and stroked or allowed to walk around you rubbing your hand as she strolls past and butting her head against your hand. Some cats adore the luxury of a full-body massage.

It’s been my experience that cats certain do have preferences and they will usually let you know them. Some invite tummy rubs. I had a pregnant female once who adored having her bulging tummy rubbed and petted and scratched, until she had the kittens. Then that tummy became off limits.

Cats will sometimes balk at seeing a hand come at them from above. Ever notice that? If you want to pet a cat you don’t know, be alert to her signals. And try to keep your hands where the cat can see them so she knows what to expect. While some cats adore having their head or chin or tummy scratched, others will avoid allowing hands where they can’t see them.

Many cats like being scratched at the base of the tail. Oh, but beware of those paws. It’s a pretty relaxed and trusting cat who will allow her paws to be touched, let alone massaged.

Then there are cat moods. A cat is not always in the mood to be petted, scratched, or massaged and this may depend on who’s doing the petting.

I read the other day that you should ask a baby if it’s okay to change his diaper—not just dive in and do it. Maybe that concept came about because of cats. You sure don’t want to intrude on the privacy of a cat who prefers not to be touched at that moment or who simply doesn’t expect it.

As for kittens, we’re in kitten season, which is generally from March through October, except in California where we often have a longer season because of the warmer weather. So if you yearn to celebrate Cuddly Kitten Day today or any day, visit your local animal shelters and help socialize kittens so they’re more likely to find the best homes with the best humans possible and live a good life.

This is also another good time to advocate for spaying and neutering

 

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Paws Up for Wednesday — Favorite Cat Toys

I’ve had a lot of cats over the years and some of them have unusual preferences in toys. Lily adored Beany Baby-type small stuffed toys. She especially enjoyed bringing her favorites to me each morning as a gift. She didn’t play with them, but she did decorate the house with them—dropping one here and another one there… You move one and she’d often find that toy and put it back where she had put it.

Max loved those larger white mice toys with a red pompom nose. He’d play with the mouse just long enough to get that pompom off, then that became his toy. His favorite game with that pompom was to kick it under the fridge. Then he’d lie on the floor with me, peering eagerly under the fridge, while I tried to fish it out using a yardstick.

Olivia loved colorful plastic springs as a kitten. She’d fetch them and bring them to me to throw again—a fetching cat. Recently she has taken over a piece from a finger rocket toy—the sponge part. She adores that crazy thing. She also likes wrestling with a plastic water bottle. Her toys are non-toys.

What toys strike your cats’ fancy?

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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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