Only as Good As?

They say a writer is only as good as her last book. True, very true. If you’ve turned out a string of pearls and deliver a lump of coal, that’s what you’ll have to overcome in the next book.

I don’t think I’ve done that yet. Not to brag (OK, it’s bragging), but one reader says each Duckworthy book is better than the last one. I’m not examining that sentiment far enough to see what it says about the first two. Nope, not doing it.

But what occurred to me yesterday, as I completed a scene that I very much like, and one that popped up all on its own, as they are wont to do, is that maybe a writer is only as good as her last chapter. Her last paragraph? Her last sentence?

No wonder writers exist in a constant state of mild anxiety, broken up by periods of sheer terror, usually induced by deadlines.

Am I overthinking this? Maybe not. After all, you can’t stick awful sentences into your paragraphs and just continue on your blithe way. They all have to be crafted. They all have to hang together. Nothing must impede the reader, speeding through your deathless prose, turning the pages into the night—ideally.

When we do put in a stumbling block, we sure do depend on our beta readers to point those out to us so we can smooth the way.

This is very much on my mind as I finish up the second Fat Cat book and embark on the third. The first one was so well received, that I can’t believe the second one will measure up, let alone the third. All I can do is write the best book I can and fling it out there. Talk about a wing and a prayer!

I will add that I depend on my publishers’ editors to keep me on the straight and narrow to producing an entertaining book. However, it’s my name on the cover, right? One of my names, anyway.

This blog is duplicated at Kaye's place, http://travelswithkaye.blogspot.com/

Cover Reveal!

I'm so pleased to be able to show you the cover for FAT CAT SPREADS OUT, which will be published June of 2015 if everything goes well and I don't have to do lots of additional rewriting.

Here's the come-on:

Butterscotch tabby Quincy is back and hungrier than ever in this frisky follow-up to Fat Cat at Large…

A booth at the Bunyan County Harvest Fair seems like the perfect opportunity for Charity “Chase” Oliver and Anna Larson to promote their Bar None bakery business. Unfortunately, plus-sized pussycat Quincy has plans for their delicious dessert bars other than selling them to customers. After tearing through their inventory, Quincy goes roaming the fairgrounds in search of more delights.

But what he finds is murder. One of the top contenders in a butter-sculpting contest has been killed, and Chase is churning on the inside when she sees Quincy’s handsome veterinarian, Dr. Mike Ramos, being led away by the police. With a little help from a kitty with butter on his whiskers, Chase needs to find the real killer and clear the doctor’s good name….

AND the cover:

You can preorder it already, too. Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, or Amazon.  

Winner of autographed book!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered last week. I used random.org to pick the winner of an autographed copy of FAT CAT AT LARGE, d.gatrell@gmail.com. Congratulations, Dee! I hope you enjoy it!

I also hope to have a cover for the second book to show you soon. The title, I think I've announced in a couple of places, will be FAT CAT SPREADS OUT. I'll share the cover copy as soon as I have that, too, so you'll know a little about it. But I can tell you that butter is involved. A lot of butter.

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!