The Real Reason I Put Cats In My Books
Even though I'm a crazy dog lady at heart...
Psst. At the bottom of this post, there’s a very special announcement just for you!
One of the benefits of having young parents is that I had close relationships with my grandparents and great-grandparents. One set of great-grandparents lived on a farm that had countless barn cats.
Every spring, there was at least one litter of kittens, and one of these litters produced a gray tomcat who captured my heart at first sight. That’s right. I was once a diehard cat person through and through.
Despite my attempts to call the cat Smoky, his behavior dictated a different name. Every time a door opened, we saw a gray streak. He flashed right past us. All too soon, everyone in the family called him Flash.
Flash lived to a ripe old age, roaming the neighborhood and visiting different homes like the mutt in Disney’s Lady & the Tramp. He was a friend to all (except mice who attempted to reside in my parents’ micro-barn).
Why I Love Writing About Cats (& Put Them In My Books!)
Somewhere along the way, I developed an allergy to cats. One of the benefits of writing books with animal characters is that I can spend time with cats without sneezing or itching. And I can name them whatever I like. Or so I thought.
The cat in THE CURSED COFFEE BEANS (pictured above) was supposed to be called something clever like Coriander or Nutmeg. No one was more surprised than I when, a few chapters into the book, I was using the “find and replace” feature to change the cat’s name to Basil.
You can read more about this snarky British cat in the prequel and first book in the series. Right now, I’m hard at work on THE TAINTED TEA LEAVES, which finds Zip and her crew getting a visit from Cousin Ross from the UK. The book is chock-full of magical secrets, and the two recipes at the end are super delicious.
More books? Yes, please!
Amanda's glamping vacation turns into a fur-nomenal fiasco when her psychic cat finds a body. Can Amanda and her forgetful feline solve the campground caper before it becomes a real cat-astrophe? Get your FREE copy of Kerfuffle at the Border today!
That's all for now. I hope your day is filled with books and coffee (or whatever you’ve got in your favorite mug). Happy reading!
Until next time,
Becky
P.S. Special Announcement!
I have a little confession…
Late at night, after everyone’s gone to bed, I’ve been sneaking in time to write a secret passion project—short stories set at the county fair. Ever since I read Charlotte’s Web as a kid, I’ve been enchanted by the fair’s lights, laughter, and sense of wonder.
The summer I turned sixteen, I spent an entire week at the fair. My crush noticed me. Like, really noticed me. He held my hand as we wandered the midway, playing games, riding the Ferris wheel, and sharing sticky-sweet bites of candy apples and funnel cake. And at the very top of that Ferris wheel? Well, I’m not one to kiss and tell.
These stories are my way of bottling that end-of-summer magic—the cool breeze after a sun-soaked day, the stars twinkling like fairground lights, and the fireflies dancing in the fields nearby. The collection includes ten heartwarming tales.
Finding Love at the County Fair is available now for pre-order. I hope it brings a little bit of sweet nostalgia—and a whole lot of heart—into your summer reading.
P.S. If you enjoyed reading this, please show it a little love by clicking the ❤️ heart below. You can use the “Leave a comment” button to let me know your thoughts!
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Basil sounds like quite the character! And congrats on the new series. Our local county fair starts next weekend, and I always look forward to it. :)
I loved this newsletter. It felt very real and genuine, and I was totally immersed in the storytelling. Great job!