Meow readers, it’s Sneaky here waiting for Santa Claws. Of course, my feline counterparts, Stripey and Oliver, will get all the real gifts. I know Debbie has bought catnip toys to fill their stockings, but she’s given me an even better gift. She’s written another Cobble Cove mystery. I’ve seen the first draft of it, and I think she’s beefed up my role a bit but there’s always room for improvement. At least she’s on the right track. Now all I have to do is get her and her publisher to put me on one of the covers. That would truly make me purr. I also heard the great news that our second book, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, was recently on the Amazon bestseller list for cozy mysteries.
Another pawsome kibble of news for you all is that I wrote, with Debbie’s help, a blog article in Dru’s Book Musings. “A Day in the Life of Sneaky Cat” further explains my life in Cobble Cove and how I came to meet Alicia. There’s information about our book and even a contest to win a copy of each of our first two mysteries in ebook form. Check out the post here: http://wp.me/p3nHH-8Mi
One thing you should be aware of is that Debbie is planning to reprint our first book, A Stone’s Throw. I’m sure this version with a new cover and some additions Debbie is considering will be even better than the first. However, this may take some time, hopefully not too many of my nine lives. In the meantime, although the book is currently not available for purchase, Debbie will continue to offer it as a giveaway.
Today, December 22, is the last day you can vote for Debbie as Author of the Year. If I could vote, I would definitely paw this page and choose Debbie De Louise: http://solsticepublishing.com/vote-for-author-of-the-year/ You might also win some prizes just for casting your vote.
For those that aren’t aware, the Cobble Cove Character Chat event is now a group where you can ask me or any of the other characters from our mysteries questions. Alicia is the current character host and has been posting to the group, but someone new will take a turn in January. I hope it’s me. If not, you can still send in your questions, and I will purrsonally answer them at anytime. To join the group, just sign up at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/748912598599469/
Last but not least, I’m hoping to continue more cat character interviews next year. If your author writes cozy cat mysteries or any books featuring a cat character, please have them contact Debbie at debbiewriter@yahoo.com to arrange an interview for you. Debbie will even consider dog characters, and I will generously allow Fido to take over my blog and interview them.
I will end this post with a special poem I’ve composed. I call it “The Night Before Catmus”
‘Twas the night before Catmus, when all through Cobble Cove,
Not a creature was stirring, not Sneaky or Fido;
The stockings were hung in the library lounge with care,
In hopes that Santa Claws soon would be there;
The patrons were home all snug in their beds,
While visions of catnip danced in my head,
And Alicia with John, and Sheila and Mac,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap-
When out on Cove Point there arose so much chatter,
I sprang from my cat bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a bird,
Tore apart the blinds, and ripped off the cord.
When, with my sharp cat eyes I glimpsed
a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny kittens,
With a little old driver, sporting whiskers and paws,
I knew in a moment it must be Santa Claws.
More rapid than mice his baby cats came,
And he meowed and purred, and called them by name:
“Now! Kitty now! Tiger, now! Ginger Cat,
“On! Max, on! Missy, on! Smokey and Misty;
Up to the library roof-he flew,
With the sleigh full of cat Toys – and some dog gifts, too:
As I drew in my paws, and was turning to prowl,
Down the library chimney Santa Claws came with a howl:
I meowed when I saw him not meaning to lurk,
He hissed at first, then went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a purr,
And licking his whiskers and then all his fur,
He sprung to his sleigh, to his Kits gave a yowl,
And away they all flew, like they’d been swatted with a towel
But I heard him meow, as he continued his trip
Happy Catmus to all, and to all good catnip.