Win a FREE copy of the latest Klepto Cat Mystery—our first Christmas story—A Picture-Purrfect Christmas—at Socrates Book Reviews: http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2015/11/spotlightgiveaway-picture-purrfect.html#more
Several chances for you to win a print or ebook version–but you have to sign up by midnight December 2.
Lily talking up the Klepto Cat Mystery books
Check it out!! Reviews are coming in for A Picture-Purrfect Christmas and they’re all 5-star reviews! http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Purrfect-Christmas-Klepto-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B016BBY2GY/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1446995750&sr=1-3&keywords=klepto+cat+mysteries
While I’ve promoted some of my books for holiday giving, I’ve never actually promoted a Christmas book before—a book featuring a Christmas story with a feel-good sugarplum fairy ending. And I’m having a lot of fun showing A Picture-Purrfect Christmas around, reading the rave reviews, watching the stock on tissues rise as so many readers weep happy tears, and knowing that I’ve put a smile in the hearts of many this season. Order your autographed copies here: http://www.matilijapress.com/Klepto-Cat-Mysteries
The fact that this book involves cats—in particular, a clever, interesting, unpredictable, flexible klepto cat—makes this book and all of my Klepto Cat Mysteries especially intriguing. In this story, for example, Rags rides a horse! He also has his first ride in a helicopter. His adoration for a special little girl is his driving force and makes this story one of my most unusual and charming.
In the meantime, our resident cats are responding and reacting to the temperature changes. The heater has come on, their little beds have come out, and they are happy kitties. Actually, they’re always pretty happy—what do they have to complain about? They’re pampered, well-served, their every whim (well almost) accommodated and pretty much on demand. How spoiled are our cats?
We adjust our position, put down the newspaper, etc. when one of them wants some lap time. We break the egg yolk before eating our over-easy egg so Lily can lick yolk off a spoon. We have step-ups where 17-year old Max wants to be and when he doesn’t feel like making the climb, we lift him onto the sofa or the desk. We bought a rubber grooming tool so the process is more pleasant for them. They love the massages. Oh yes, and I get up before dawn every morning to feed a starving Lily (who is probably three pounds overweight). They get three meals a day and have two treat times and are allowed to sleep the day away undisturbed if they want. Talk about a dog’s life… Our cats are purrfectly happy being cats, thank you.
Cats are marvelous creatures. They’re cute, puffy, little things. Some, of course, are more sleek and rather aristocratic. And most of them are curious, have a great sense of humor, and a sensitive side.
Cats are a curiosity and they’re often in the news. I read a while back the percentage of uTube videos that involve cats—it’s amazingly high. On last night’s newscast, they showed a cat who helps electricians pull wire into small passageways. We’ve all seen videos of klepto cats burglarizing the neighborhood and we’ve heard of cats traveling long distances on their own or while caught in a crate or a car engine. We read stories of cats outsmarting dogs, cats befriending dogs (and other animals), cats who are sensitive to emotions and even illness. Some claim cats can heal. They can also act as watch-animals.
Our cats, for example, let us know by their actions or stance when someone is approaching our front door or driving into our driveway. They certainly alert us when the neighborhood terrorist cat is around. And they always form a circle around one of us when it’s treat or meal time.
Smokey, AKA the Klepto Cat
I write cozy mysteries featuring cats and the scenes involving cats are inspired by my cats, cats I’ve known, and those I’ve read about or heard about.
If you enjoy cats and a good light mystery, pick up one of my Klepto Cat Mystery books—any one—and sit down for an enjoyable read.
Book 13, A Picture-Purrfect Christmas is the featured book for the season. We came out with it in Kindle format as well as print for holiday giving. Order your copies here: http://www.matilijapress.com/Klept-Cat-Mysteries or go straight to amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Purrfect-Christmas-Klepto-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B016BBY2GY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1444740885&sr=1-1&keywords=a+picture+purrfect+christmas
What fun I’m having this Halloween! I’m guest blogger at Brenda’s Kitty Crochet blog site and I’m talking about my impressions and thoughts about Halloween. Brenda also features two of my spookiest Klepto Cat Mysteries—Mansion of Meows and Pawsitively Sinister. Check it out here. Leave a comment!
http://kittycrochettwo.blogspot.com/2015/10/patricia-fry-is-guest-blogging-today.html
My grandson has adopted a kitten and, when I visit Baby Brucie (named for Batman), it comes to mind how many measures you must take when you introduce a new kitten into your home. Of course, most of us consider the demeanor and intentions of the resident cat—which are sometimes far from benign. And we’re aware of certain potential hazards—such as the toilet, the out-of-doors, and rodent poisons, for example.
But there’s so much more to consider in keeping a kitten (or a curious, active cat) safe in 
your home. And hazards can crop up when you least expect it. A kitten or cat might get tangled in cords from blinds, chew electrical cords, eat string or ribbon, eat a poisonous flower from a bouquet, upset a cup of hot coffee—tea, fall from a high place, pull heavy objects on top of himself, get stepped on…the list is long and frightening. Those kittens that go outside can get hit by a car; attacked by a dog, wild animal or larger cat; get lost… This cat liked to climb into the stove and refrigerator–in fact they called him Fridgie.
I won’t even go into the rather bizarre accidents I’ve heard of involving a cat—but I can tell you I’ve learned to keep coat hangers out of their reach, be careful about lazy Susan and slide out cupboards, make sure old wooden windows are secure when open and that screens cannot be easily removed by an active cat.
Recently, I remodeled my office and, for some reason, six-year-old Lily kitty likes to hang out around the wheels of my office chair. That was a real hazard when she was small. I couldn’t roll in or out from my desk without checking for her whereabouts. Again, she has my attention in that regard. I barely nicked a paw one day with my chair wheels. She didn’t learn a lesson, but I did. Now I don’t roll without looking for Lily.
The Klepto Cat Mysteries
Rags, in my Klepto Cat Mystery series probably lives the most precarious existence of any real life cat and he seems to be charmed. He always comes out on top and in good shape. This week, Brenda over at Kitty Crochet (http://kittycrochettwo.blogspot.com) is featuring the spookiest of the Klepto Cat Mysteries this week. I’ll be guest blogger on Friday. Be sure to visit! Order your print or Kindle copies of any of the 13 Klepto Cat Mysteries, including the NEW Christmas story, here: http://www.matilijapress.com/Klepto-Cat-Mysteries
You can now purchase autographed copies of A Picture-Purrfect Christmas at my website. Order here—for deliveries in the US. http://www.matilijapress.com/Klepto-Cat-Mysteries/Picture-Purrfect-Christmas.html
To order note cards with three of our favorite Klepto Cat Mystery book covers or to order any of the 9 Klepto Cat Mysteries in print, go here: http://www.matilijapress.com/Klepto-Cat-Mysteries
You can still order the Kindle version of all 13 Klepto Cat Mysteries here: http://amzn.to/1kAI8I2
To make comments or ask questions leave a comment at this blog site or email me here: PLFry620@yahoo.com
This is one of the covers we chose to use on note cards this year. See the others here: http://www.matilijapress.com/Klepto-Cat-Mysteries
Cats don’t always make fast friends like Lily and Sophie shown here in this photo. Sometimes, when a new cat is introduced into a home, there’s some hissing, spitting and even fur-flying before everyone settles down for a peaceful life together. I remember there being some tension for a while years ago when I brought Katy Kitty home. She was an adorable three-month old Himalayan. My resident cat, Daisy, was not happy about having a little sister and strongly exerted her power, thus Katy spent the first week of her life under various pieces of furniture afraid to come out.
One night, Katy drummed up the courage to join Daisy and me on the bed. Daisy was not happy. She began to growl and yeowl. Katy yeowled right back. I had a rare headache and all I wanted to do was sleep. So I tried some mind-talk with the two cats. (You can read more about mind-talk with cats and other fascinating cat stories in my book, Catscapades, True Cat Tales. Order your copy here: http://www.matilijapress.com.)
The following morning when I woke up, the cats were gone. I expected to find Katy under the dresser and Daisy blocking her escape. Instead, I found both cats calmly eating from their kibbles bowl together. And this was the beginning of a lovely friendship between them.
This week, I witnessed something between two cats that could be an episode on “Cats From Hell.” The resident cat is mad as h— about a tiny intruder she evidently does not want in her world–no way, no how. She even came across the room to show me how much she objected to my part in this intrusion. I came away with a scratch on my face.
Everyone involved is doing their best to help the resident cat realize the benefits of having a little brother. I wonder how long it will take her to agree. I wonder if mind-talk would help–if she would even listen…
It continues to amuse and delight me to observe how cat-like cats are, yet how different they can be from one another.
Just this morning, I was scurrying around here in my office getting copies of the new Christmas book ready for shipping and delivery. Our sweet tabby Lily thought the carnival had come to town. She had a grand time exploring packing materials, jumping in and out of boxes, chasing after the paper strips when I’d pull them from the sticky part of the envelopes, and scattering the stack of bookmarks. While Lily took full advantage of an opportunity to play and explore, the other two cats simply got out of the way.
Sophie disappeared into another part of the house and Max slept soundly on my desk, only to open one eye when Lily inadvertently knocked the roll of tape on the floor.
Lily must be the only cat in this household who is excited about our new Christmas book, “A Picture-Purrfect Christmas.” The other cats are older and have seen a lot of books created in this office. So I guess there’s nothing special about one more.
On the other hand, Lily is interested in most anything that goes on in this house. If you’re cooking, she’s in the kitchen watching. Laundry day is exciting because clothes items are being tossed into piles—she thinks for her benefit. She especially enjoys helping to change the bed. And even when my year-old great grand-twins came to visit the other day, she couldn’t resist being smack dap in the middle of the activity.
You’ve heard (and some of you have discovered) that cats are like potato chips, you can’t have just one. And maybe the reason is because they come in so many flavors.
Lily and Sophie
Both the print and Kindle version of A Picture-Purrfect Christmas are now available for purchase at amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Purrfect-Christmas-Klepto-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B016BBY2GY/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1444478144&sr=1-12&keywords=klepto+cat+mysteries
Just received my first review for A Picture-Purrfect Christmas. It is paws-itively purrrrr-fect!
http://www.mikishope.com/2015/10/book-review-picture-purrfect-christmas.html
