It's National Cat Day!

Really, it is! Take a look at some of these strange and wonderful cats at the official website:
http://www.nationalcatday.com/. Aren't they beautiful?

I missed posting last week and just haven't been around much in general. This is mostly due to a big push to get the second book ready to turn in to my editor. I have a few more days to polish it up, but I think it's mostly there.

The second book has a title! FAT CAT SPREADS OUT. I think I'll be able to share the cover soon. The blurb hasn't been written, but I'll tell you that it involves a county fair and butter--and Quincy getting into trouble, of course.

photo from Paula Benson at BAM

To celebrate the official title, I'd love to give away an autographed copy of FAT CAT AT LARGE. If you'd like a copy, please leave a comment and INCLUDE your email address. If you're not comfortable sharing that, or if you have trouble leaving a comment, please feel free to email me at janetcantrell01@gmail.com.

Cats Are Strange

But, if you’re reading my blog, you probably already knew this. But just how strange are they?

Did you know that cats can drink sea water without ill effects? (But can’t taste sweets.) Or that most female cats are right pawed and most males are left pawed?

I’m sure you know that cats sleep most of the time. A 9-year-old cat has been awake for only about 3 years! But did you know that their purr is calculated to win our hearts by being very similar to a baby’s cry?

Our son’s cat meows a lot and I think it might be because he has Kitty Alzheimer’s. At least it doesn’t live in Disneyland, where 200 ferals are released every night to control rodents. The article doesn’t say how those cats are rounded up in the daytime.

http://www.omgfacts.com/lists/818/15-Strange-Facts-About-Cats-That-Actually-Exist

http://www.buzzfeed.com/robynwilder/marvelous-cat-facts#44q1fu2

Billions and billions of blogs

Not really, but it feels like it.

I've been very busy promoting FAT CAT AT LARGE and I think it's paying off. It reached national bestseller status last week! (Details are in the newsletter I just sent--if you'd like one, please email me at janetcantrell01@gmail.com.)

I'm going to cheat on this blog and post a (very long) list of the the blogs for this month. But FIRST, thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has supported me and this new series!!! The success is all due to you!

[There will be a recap of the Writers' Police Academy, which I attended a couple of weekends ago on http://travelswithkaye.blogspot.com/ tomorrow, if you're interested in what went on there.]

Advice for writers: http://bookbeatbabes.blogspot.com/2014/08/kaye-georges-alter-ego-janet-cantrell.html

Interview with Rocco the Cat: http://www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com/2014/08/author-kaye-george-in-hotseat.html

Interview at Writers Who Kill: http://writerswhokill.blogspot.com/2014/08/janet-cantrell-aka-kaye-george-interview.html

Fat cats, music, and mystery, oh my: http://killerhobbies.blogspot.com/2014/08/fat-cats-music-and-mystery-oh-my.html

Interview by PJ Nunn: http://bookbrowsing.wordpress.com/2014/08/28/an-interview-with-kaye-george/

A day in the life of Quincy: http://drusbookmusing.com/2014/09/02/quincy-oliver/

Review by A Cozy Girl Reads: http://acozygirlreads.blogspot.com/2014/09/book-review-fat-cat-at-large-by-janet.html

Interview by Kate Wyland: http://katewyland.com/2014/09/02/fat-cats-and-dead-bodies/

Review and Where did Quincy come from: http://www.books-n-kisses.com/2014/09/blog-tour-review-fat-cat-at-large-by-janet-cantrell/

Mochas, Mysteries, and Meow: http://nblo.gs/ZGHAJ

Review and essay: http://mariescozy.blogspot.com/2014/09/cozy-mystery-blog-tour-author-guest_8.html

Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/book.php?id=69071

Review: http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2014/09/blog-tour-fat-cat-at-large-by-janet.html

Overweight cats: http://www.writersandotheranimals.blogspot.com/2014/09/overweight-cats-and-what-to-do-about.html

Back to school for writers: http://www.mustardseedmarketinggroup.com/authors-corner-blog/janet-cantrell-is-a-guest-at-the-authorscorner-blog-today#.VBb7J_lSZvA

Something different—Interview on my short stories: http://www.nancychristie.com/findingfran/2014/09/15/short-takes-interviews-with-short-story-writers-with-kaye-george/

Review: http://drusbookmusing.com/2014/09/15/fat-cat-at-large-by-janet-cantrell/

Writer's Police Academy!

I'm so excited that I'm going to attend this! This is a place where mystery writers learn to get it right. It's run by some police personnel and designed to give writers the lowdown on how they operate.

There are a few things I've picked up from courses and from the Citizens’ Police Academy I attended in Austin, TX. Things like--don't put biodegradable clues into plastic bags. They should be saved in paper bags, contrary to what people do on TV shows.

This event, though, is geared toward things mystery writers need to know. Should be fun!

We writers are so fortunate that Lee Lofland, retired police officer, loves to work with us enough to put this on each year.

There are some things we can’t photograph, but I hope to bring back a good report when I return. I’m visiting some East Coast family after the academy, so I won’t be posting next week, but the week after, should have a report.

Meanwhile, if you don’t have a copy of FAT CAT AT LARGE yet, it’s in the bookstore! If you have a copy and liked reading it, please consider posting a review online.

I need to thank all my supporters and readers for lifting me to the clouds for my book launch. It’s been a fun time!

Release Day is Next Tuesday!

The contest for what Quincy is thinking was fun, wasn’t it? I must give credit to my friend, Marilyn Levinson, for thinking of it.

The contests here are over for now, the Good reads Giveaway is over, and I’m pleased that so many people are looking forward to the release on Tuesday, September 2^nd. If all goes as it should, the paperback book should be in bookstores on that day and the e-book versions should be live.

Many, many thanks to everyone who has responded to my promotions for this new series. The second book, Fat Cat Spreads Out, is with my editor and I’m beginning the third, as yet untitled. As a writer, I’ve grown to love these characters and feel that, at times, Quincy is really my own cat. As some of you know, some of his antics are taken from my Agamemnon, who left us three years ago. I love that he’s living on in Quincy, even though Agamemnon was black and Quincy is an orange tabby.

I’ve done quite a few blog appearances for this book in August and have a few more in September. For now, I’m reporting my activities on Kaye George’s newsletter. If you’d like to keep up with me, please email me at JanetCantrell01@gmail.com and I’ll sign you up for the newsletter.

Again, thanks for following along and for your interest in the Fat Cat series!

Last Contest Before Release!

I’ll pick a random number from the comments on this one for a free paperback of FAT CAT AT LARGE.

The picture of Quincy on the cover is so cute, I can’t get enough of it. BUT, I haven’t figured out what Quincy is thinking? Can you? Post your thoughts to enter!

I’ll announce the winner in next week’s post.

That was hard!

I had a difficult time picking a winner on the cat tales posted here last week! So I phoned a friend--do people still say that?--anyway I emailed and to more than one friend! I roped them into reading and judging. There were two that kept popping up in my friends' replies after they read the entries.

What could I do? I am declaring a tie!

If Margo Bitner and Christine Hammar will send me your addresses, I'll mail each of you a copy of FAT CAT AT LARGE. Please email me at janetcantrell01@gmail.com.

Stay tuned! I'm posting another contest next week. You can also sign up for the Goodreads Giveaway, where 25 (25!) copies will be given away after the 25th.

Thanks so much for the postings. They were all a treat!