Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Truffles Interviews...KeeKee the Calico from the KeeKee's Big Adventures Series (w/Giveaway)


Hey everybody, it's Truffles! How lucky are you? A "Truffles Interviews" feature TWO days in a row! I actually have a few more over the next couple weeks along with some really cool giveaways. It is the holiday season, after all!

Before we get to today's feature, Mommy asked me to take care of a little housekeeping and announce a few giveaway winners. The winner of the Himalayan Blue Pagoda Fountain is ‏Morgen Pittman from The Cat Blogosphere. Mama Cat won the Kathi Daley Christmas Cozy book and mug, and Katreader won the Black Friday Book Bonanza. Concatulations, everyone :)

Today I'm excited to be interviewing the calico kitty star of the award winning KeeKee’s Big Adventures Series. We were first introduced to KeeKee earlier this year when we won the first two books in the series in a giveaway from Cat Chat with Caren and Cody. We fell in love with the world-travelling calico, and now the third volume in the series, KeeKee’s Big Adventures in Athens, Greece, is on store shelves just in time for the holiday season. It's the perfect book to give children an introduction to other cultures - without ever leaving home - KeeKee introduces children to the sights and sounds of Athens. Each volume in the series includes an educational glossary at the end of the book that includes vocabulary, pronunciation and places to visit.

I hope you enjoy the interview, and please check out our fun giveaway too!

Welcome, KeeKee! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. Could you tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be a world-travelling cat?
Thank you so much for having me, Truffles! My parents adopted me from a shelter in Seattle, Washington in the United States. We moved to Amsterdam, the Netherlands when I was just a kitty. We lived there for four years. I took the opportunity to see as much of Europe as I could while my mom and dad were working.

Do you have a favorite place that you have visited?
Oh it’s so hard to pick because every destination has it’s own special culture, food, language and traditions. And I love making new friends in each spot and getting their suggestions on what they like to do.

I usually ask my interviewee felines what a typical day is like for them, but I would imagine that you never have a typical day! What kinds of things do you like to do when you have some down time at home?
Research my next adventures, look at photos from my trips, make recipes that I’ve collected on my travels, play with my sister Luna and of coarse, nap. ^..^<

I would love to know more about the real-life KeeKee that inspired your series of children's books.
Real-life KeeKee is a 10 1/2 year old calico kitty that we did indeed adopt in Seattle, Washington. She moved with us to the Netherlands and that’s where we got the idea for the KeeKee’s Big Adventureschildren’s book series to entertain and educate children about places and cultures around the world.

Any idea where your next adventures are going to take you?
Right now we’re deciding on our next book from my adventures. And I’m gearing up for travels to Asia, Africa and South America.

************************


About the book: Opa! It’s Athens, Greece! KeeKee, the world traveling kitty, lands for another exciting adventure. Join KeeKee as she explores one of the oldest cities in the world. Children and adults will delight in discovering what makes Athens a must-visit destination, from it’s history and culture to food and hospitality. KeeKee's latest adventure includes a kid-friendly pronunciation guide and glossary in the back of the book along with a charmingly illustrated map of Athens. Entertaining and educational, KeeKee's Big Adventures will spark curiosity and inspire appreciation for our great big wonderful world!

About the author: Shannon Jones has a soft spot for rescue cats, children and culture. While head of marketing and product for Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa, Jones lived in Europe with her husband for four years and was able to tour some of the largest European cities including Paris, Rome, Athens and Istanbul.

When their friends’ children started asking how their rescue cat, KeeKee, liked living in Europe and what it was like to live there, Jones decided to pursue her passion for writing and created the award winning KeeKee’s Big Adventures Series to introduce children to the tastes, sounds, sites and cultures of Europe.

Giveaway: Leave a comment by noon eastern on Monday, December 8th for your chance to win a KeeKee Kit containing KeeKee's Big Adventures in Athens, Greece, as well as 2 KeeKee tattoos, 2 KeeKee buttons, 4 coloring pages, and a KeeKee ornament! (US entries only please, and don't forget your email address!)


26 comments:

The Island Cats said...

What a good interview, Truffles. This sounds like a good book.:)

skkorman said...

My niece would love this book—thanks for the opportunity to win!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

Anonymous said...

A wonderful book, for a Christmas gift.


patucker54 at aol dot com

Deanna Stevens said...

What a cute book & the interview with KeeKee was so fun!
My grandkids would like this one :)

dkstevensne AT outlook Dot Com

petite said...

This is so adorable for my granddaughter. thanks for this feature.elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Two French Bulldogs said...

Sure sounds like a good read! In the spotlight again Truffles, whooooa
Lily & Edward

Grandma Cootie said...

This sounds like a really cute book. Thanks for the giveaway.
sallycootie@gmail.com

traveler said...

What a delightful and perfect book. My grandson would love it. thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

pilch92 said...

Congratulations to the winnes of all the great prizes. Great interview Truffles, Oprah and Barbara Walters better watch out.

Anonymous said...

fun prize. thanks.
txmlhl@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

What a fun premise for a series.
libbydodd at comcast dot net

Fish Crew said...

Cute. I'm starting early with our grandson on reading. ourbutton@yahoo.com

Clickner said...

This is so cute. sclickner@juno.com

CatInTheFridge said...

Truffles! You're very high tech now with that microphone. Did you have that before? I have a question for KeeKee - did she have to go through quarantine to get to Greece? I've heard international travel for kitties is such a hassle! - Crepes.

MommaTygress said...

How stinkin adorable was this!! My girls would ♥♥♥ to win this..specially my 10 year old "crazy cat lady" in training, lol
Thank you for the opportunity :-)

MommaTygress said...

Ooops, almost forgot...tinytygress@gmail.com

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Truffles you always do a great job on your interviews! We bet that is a great book.

Anonymous said...

ConCats to all da winners. Maybe one day weez'll get one of those pawsum pagoda's. MOL

Luv ya'

Dezi and Lexi

meowmeowmans said...

We love KeeKee! We wonder which shelter in Seattle she was adopted from, because our Aunt and cousins fostered many kittens (and they live in Seattle).

Marty the Manx said...

What sweet books! Thanks for the great interview! Concats to all the winners too!

Cathy Keisha said...

Wonder if he’s ever been to Athens, GA. please don’t enter me.

Kitties Blue said...

I think anyone of my nieces would love this book, after Mom has, of course, read it to us! Ho, Ho, Ho, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

Unknown said...

Thank you, Truffles, for having us!! And thank you everyone for entering!! Happy Holidays!! >^..^< Shannon & KeeKEe

Unknown said...

Thank you! >^..^< KeeKee was adopted from the Seattle Humane Society in Bellevue!

Carol M said...

This would be great for my grandchildren! I know they would love it! Thank you!
mittens0831 at aol dot com

servedogmom said...

Our granddaughter would love having this book read to her. We are currently reading Hitty and discussing her adventures. servedogmom@yahoo.com