Winter Warmers

It has been a cold start to the month although I have been fortunate enough to escape the snow here. Snuggled next to the crackling fire in the kitchen I feel almost like hibernating as the wind blows outside, even finding its way in through the draughts. My hands curled around a mug of tea I recall the heat of the summer and smile to myself as I remember sheltering from the soaring temperatures in this very same room. But refusing to let the winter win I head out each day, wrapped up in so many layers I've lost count, and wander the countryside with Dolly, the neighbour's dog, at my side. Even the cat's brave the chilly weather to stretch their legs before scampering back indoors for a nap beside the fire.
During these winter days it has been a pleasure to read the emails sent in by readers letting me know what they thought of The True Story of a Not So Crazy Cat Lady. I appreciate every single one! It's great to know that so many of you are enjoying it and just as lovely to hear you ask about 'the next book'. Well I'm never far away from my laptop and with so many ideas swimming around my head, I'm always working on a story. So for those of you eager to know what's coming next, be sure to stay tuned!
And if you haven't yet got your hands on a copy of The True Story of a Not So Crazy Cat Lady, then make sure you check it out here. Available now in paperback and eBook.

Teddy alongside the book he inspired- The True Story of a Not So Crazy Cat Lady

Baby Photos!

From left to right; Cookie, Debbie and Hercules

Don't you just love looking back through all of your old photographs and finding those of your cat(s) when they were so small they could still fit in the palm of your hand? I remember wondering back then what those tiny little kittens would look like when they grew up... I wasn't disappointed one bit!
I remember one particular occasion when three kittens of mine, Hercules, Cookie and their sister Debbie were all curled up together in a pair of my dad's work boots. Their mother had nipped out to catch mice that afternoon and Cookie would not settle. He squeaked and squeaked and squeaked...constantly! He wanted his mum. I felt like I was baby sitting, but not very successfully! Thankfully my mum came to the rescue. A mother of six herself she knows how to deal with unhappy babies and amazingly as soon as she picked up that little kitten and worked her magic, he fell straight to sleep in her arms.
Cookie was in many ways the inspiration for the character of Modi in the The True Story of a Not So Crazy Cat Lady. I think we all have a Modi in our lives...get in touch and share your story. I'd love to hear from you :)

The True Story of a Not So Crazy Cat Lady in available now in paperback and eBook



Hercules swats his little sister with a paw...

...then realises he's been seen!

Debbie sleeps soundly in a boot.

Cats and Christmas Lights!

Are you all ready for Christmas? Is the tree set up and decorated?  Does your cat have their own stocking hanging up next to the fireplace? I'm not quite there yet but I have seen some very impressive Christmas lights. Have you ever been to Bordeaux in France? Imagine Paris but a little smaller, with the same old stone buildings and wonderful architecture. Every little street is effortlessly chic. Picture decorative ironwork balconies, little cafés on street corners and galloping horses at the centre of water fountains.
At this time of year the city is just magical. As the sun falls beyond the horizon the Christmas lights go on and I have to say I have never seen such a beautiful city. The lights dance and sparkle against the dark sky and at the end of a wide street, set against a backdrop of the cathedral, is a tree shimmering with a thousand lights. Christmas in Bordeaux isn't just elegant and stylish, it's got a magic touch, and I only hope you get to see it for yourself.
Tomorrow I will put up my own Christmas tree, hang on the lights and baubles, and wonder which cat will be unable to resist pinging a decoration from the lower branches first!

The True Story of a Not So Crazy Cat Lady is available now in paperback and ebook!

A New Wardrobe

November is here, the nights are drawing in, and to coincide with the change of the seasons my kitties have each grown their lovely winter coats. For Archie, there's no better time of the year. He stands out in appearance a great deal from the others, and not just because he is black and white rather than ginger, but also because he has a very thick, long-haired coat.

He was one of those kittens that everyone commented on more than the others. "I love the black and white one," they would say. Four years later he is still a popular fellow and his is the first name anyone will call when they want a cat for company. He's a gentle sort with a petit meow and this afternoon he is lying on the garden wall soaking up the November sunshine. I am very tempted to follow his example!

Showing off his handsome coat, autumn suits Archie well. The only trouble is of course, is that after a wander through the fields and the hedgerows, he comes back home looking like a mobile compost heap. There are leaves, seed pods, grass, all sorts of things tangled up in his fur and I have to dig out the brush. He doesn't mind this; naturally who wouldn't enjoy being brushed and pampered, but he has a limited attention span. Before I can finish tidying him up he's off again, a leaf or two still stuck to his tail.

Those people who know me will say that wherever I am, Archie is never far away. His existence in my life was another stepping stone towards writing the book, The True Story of a Not So Crazy Cat Lady, and so I had to squeeze in his name somewhere. And so... QUIZ TIME!

QUESTION; Which character in The True Story of a Not So Crazy Cat Lady had a cat called Archie?

If you don't know then it's not too late to find out!

The True Story of a Not So Crazy Cat Lady is available in paperback and eBook now.