In Memory of Skeezix

Hey everybody, it's Tara again! Boy, three posts in one week...am I taking over or what???

Actually I'm back today for a very sad occasion. Cats all around the blogosphere are posting their remembrances of a very special kitty who crossed the Rainbow Bridge recently. Skeezix was one of the very first cat bloggers, the original Flat Cat, and a divine Feline Fashionista who made it sexy for little boys to wear pink. Cat bloggers were asked to go pink for Skeezix today, but our blog is always pink...is there another color???

Mommy and I are actually quite sad that being new to cat blogging we barely knew Skeezix. We've been visiting a lot of the tribute blogs today and have to say that we've already fallen in love with him. (You have to check out Katie and Waffles tribute today showing what a pioneer Skeezix was in true western style...I hope that when each of us kitties is called to the Bridge that we are picked up in that pink covered wagon!)

So rest in peace, sweet Skeezix. Maybe you can teach all the kitties in kitty heaven how to blog so that they can stay in touch with their Mommies back here on Earth...wouldn't that be paw-some?




Click here to donate to his memorial fund: http://www.gofundme.com/3cv8gc

Tara Interviews Miss Marple from Lorna Barrett's Booktown Mystery Series

MEOW! Hey everybody, Tara here with a very special guest! I'm so, so excited to have had the opportunity to interview one of the most popular felines in mystery fiction...Miss Marple from Lorna Barrett's Booktown mystery series. I think it's super cool that we both have literary names...she from the famous Agatha Christie sleuth, me from Gone with the Wind.

Mommy asked me to make sure I let you know that the 7th book in the series, Not the Killing Type, will be in stores on July 2nd, and the paperback edition of Murder on the Half Shelf will be released the very same day!

Miss Marple, how did you come to live with Tricia?
I came from a kill shelter. I was very glad that Tricia came and rescued me before I could be euthanized.

What is your day typically like?

I start the day on Tricia's bed. Once we get up, she feeds me and we go down to the shop. It's an exhausting job working in a bookstore, and I need to take eight or ten naps a day, but in between I'm working just as hard as my human counterparts. (Being amazingly cute is a difficult job.)

Do you like being a bookshop mascot?

It's my duty to all I can to make our customers feel welcome. When I'm not napping, I try to greet them individually. Sometimes I even deigned to sit on someone's lap, but of course that doesn't mean I'm disloyal to Tricia. She must come first in my affections.

Did you know we have something in common...literary names! My name comes from Mommy's love for Gone with the Wind! Do you think you share any characteristics with Miss Marple the sleuth?

I have gray hair, that's why Tricia gave me the name. But I think it's my sense of curiosity that makes my name perfect for my personality.

How is Angelica's pup Sarge doing? Do you two get along?

Ick. He's a DOG. He's yappy. He steals my food. I won't go into his more loathsome traits.

What kind of mischief do you get into in Not the Killing Type?

Mischief? I never get into mischief. I'm a dignified cat. We don't do mischief.

Do you know what's coming up for you and Tricia?

There are dark times ahead in the next book, BOOK CLUBBED, which comes out in July 2014. Very dark times indeed. But ... I have faith that things will work out in the end.

Lastly, can you tell me a few of your favorite things?

The red bug taunts me. I will catch it one day. It will NOT beat me. I do NOT like being rubbed on the tummy. Those who do so risk my fangs. I eat wet and dry food. But if I had my way, it would be shrimp 24/7. I like sleeping best on Tricia's down duvet. It's warm and soft and comfy.

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

About Not the Killing Type:

It’s November in Stoneham, New Hampshire, and that means it’s time for the Chamber of Commerce elections. The race is already a bit heated, as the long-standing Chamber president is being challenged by a former lover—Tricia’s own sister, Angelica. Then local small business owner Stan Berry throws his hat in the ring.

Unfortunately, it’s not there for long when he’s found murdered in the Brookview Inn. The murder weapon is a brass letter opener belonging to the inn’s receptionist. Tricia knows there’s no way the receptionist is a killer. And when Angelica asks Tricia to help clear her name and win the election, she sees little choice except to start snooping.

She soon uncovers a ballot box full of lies and betrayals, and a chamber full of people who had grudges against the victim. But were they serious enough to lead to murder? And who truly had something to gain? Tricia will have to do some serious sleuthing before she pulls the lever on a killer.

Author Bio:

The immensely popular Booktown Mystery series is what put Lorna Barrett’s name on the New York Times Bestseller list, but it’s her talent -- whether writing as Lorna, or L.L. Bartlett, or Lorraine Bartlett -- that keeps her there. This multi-published, Agatha-nominated author pens the exciting Jeff Resnick Mysteries as well as the acclaimed Victoria Square Mystery series and the Tales of Telenia saga, and has many short stories and novellas to her name(s). Check out the links to all her works here:http://www.lorrainebartlett.com/index.html

The Joys of a New Series, by Jess Michaels

Hello and thanks so much to Melissa for having me here today! If you don’t know who I am my name is Jess Michaels and I write historical erotic romance. I’ve published or contracted 19 short stories, novellas and novels for Red Sage Publishing, Avon, self-publishing and Samhain Publishing. Phew! It’s a lot of books, actually and many of them in series (The Albright Sisters series and The Mistress Matchmaker series are my most popular). 

But on July 2, just a week from today, I’ll have a new book out. It’s called TAKEN BY THE DUKE and is the first book in a new series, “The Pleasure Wars”. Think of Romeo and Juliet, but in the Regency period and with tons of sex. Oh and, spoiler alert, no one kills themselves. So… don’t worry.

It’s always wondrous and weird and scary for an author to have a new series out. Why?

Well, it’s wondrous because it’s the beginning of a whole new universe in a way! By the time a first book in a series is out, I’ve finished the second and have started on the third. I’m immersed and in love with the characters and so ready to share their stories. There’s all the promise in the world with a new series, both in how readers will feel about it and how it will perform (which authors all think about and hope about even if they pretend they don’t).

It’s weird because publishing is always a little weird. You wait and wait and wait, then suddenly there’s a book out and it’s like a child who you hope will flourish when it goes out into the world all alone. Except you’ve got a webcam in its dorm room, so… yeah.

And it’s scary because even though you can peek on that “webcam”, there’s not a lot you can do to help the book. Oh, I do appearances on blogs like this one, I post on Facebook and send out newsletters, but ultimately by the time a book comes out I’ve pretty much done what I can and I have to set it free. I hope readers will love it. I hope people will buy it and that they’ll be excited for the next book and the next one.

A new series is filled with opportunity. And I’m so excited to see this next venture be let loose upon the world.

Preorder from Amazon here

An eye for an eye, a sin for a sin…

The Pleasure Wars, Book 1
Amid all the lies and scandals that fuel Society’s gossip mill, one truth has stood out: House Rothcastle and House Windbury have always hated each other.
Lady Ava Windbury prays the feud will someday end, to no avail. One dreadful night, her brother accidentally causes the death of Christian Rothcastle’s sister, a tragedy that leaves both men maimed.
Consumed by grief, Christian makes a grim decision. He will kidnap Lady Ava so that her family will feel the pain of loss as keenly as he feels the loss of his own sister. But once he has Ava in his clutches, desire takes unexpected hold. Even more surprising, she willingly surrenders to his every sexual whim—after haggling over the terms of giving up her virginity.
Too late, he realizes she is using her body for peace, not war. But just as their affair of revenges turns into an affair of the heart, the past rears its ugly head to take matters into its own hands…

Warning: This book contains scenes of erotic seduction, sexual revenge and the healing power of love.

Cat World Domination Day

Hey everybody, it's Tara! Don't tell anyone, but Mommy had a book review scheduled to post today but I snuck onto our computer, deleted it, and wrote my own blog post. (tee hee)

It's a very special day, you see. It's my cat blogger friend Sparkle's birthday, also known as Cat World Domination Day! (Which I believe should be everyday, but I digress.)

Truthfully, I already dominate my little corner of the world - I get whatever food I want, my litter pan is always spic and span, I can nap anytime and anywhere I like, Mommy is always at my beck and call. I may not be the healthiest cat around, but I am loved, worshipped, and adored.

Sadly, I know that for many cats life is not like mine. They are alone, scared, abandoned, abused, hungry, and unloved. That's why in honor of Cat World Domination Day, I envision:

* A world where everyone appreciates the awesomeness of the world's most perfect animal - the cat.

* A house for every cat, and a cat for every home.

It's quite simple, really...don't you think the world would be a much happier place if everyone lived by my philosophy?

Don't forget to visit Sparkle's blog today to wish her a Happy Birthday and join in all the fun and festivities. 

Oh, and more ways I believe we can achieve world domination:

  

The Sunday Post #47

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

Last week on Mochas, Mysteries and More:
* Review: The Cat, the Mill and the Murder by Leann Sweeney
* Review: Catnapped (A Klepto Cat Mystery) by Patricia Fry
* Review: Death of a Dowager by Joanna Campbell Slan
* Tara Thursday: 5 of My Favorite Things
* Read and Buried Book Tour with Erika Chase: A Conversation with Siamese Cats Brie and Edam

NetGalley:

    

Bought (went a little crazy with the Harper Collins 99 cent sale!!!)
        
 

Read and Buried Book Tour with Erika Chase: A Conversation with Siamese Cats Brie and Edam

           Okay, we all know that cats can’t talk but for now, let’s put that all aside and perhaps you two, Brie and Edam, would be willing to answer some questions and maybe give us some cat insights into life in Ashton Corners. I know there’s a way to do this, if you just give it a try. By the way, I’m talking to the two very regal, very spoiled Sealpoint Siamese cats, Brie and Edam from the Ashton Corner Book Club Mysteries, written by Erika Chase.

            Let’s start with a question about Erika and maybe that will loosen up your tongues. I see, they’re both a lovely shade of pink. Now pull them back in and listen up. Is she kind to you? Your author, I mean?

            Brie looks at Edam who seems to be pondering the question. Eventually, he rises from his sitting position, goes into an elongated stretch, then flicks his tail as he speaks. “She’s bossy and she doesn’t give us enough sleuthing to do but aside from that, she’s okay as far as authors go.”

            “I do agree,” Brie says and then starts licking her right paw. “You know, cats have that sixth cat sense which puts us in the enviable position to know it all. If she’d ask us to help her, she’d solve all these murders in the flick of a cat tail.”

            “Right,” Edam chimes in. “Even though we’re house cats and don’t get out in the world, in fact she won’t even take us to the book club meetings but I hear that Molly Mathews has an old Southern mansion to meow for, where was I…oh, yes we don’t get out much but we hear all about it. Lizzie shares all. She talks to us as if we were her cohorts…but she doesn’t listen when we reply.”

            Brie swats at Edam. “That’s not entirely correct. She does listen but then she gives us a treat or brushes our silky fur. Her problem is she just doesn’t talk cat.   But I, for one, am happy to stay put. Our Lizzie has had too many close calls for my liking. Sometimes I think she should stick to her job as a Reading Specialist with the school board.”

            “Hiss on that. I like a touch of danger in my life, the thrill of the chase, the adrenalin charge of the pounce. So, we’re not right there but at least we hear about it.”

            “Hiss right back at you!”

            Uh, thanks you two. I think that about covers it. I see you’re on the cover of Read and Buried and also on the new Cover Story which is out in August. Enjoy brush with fame.

            “It’s purrrfectly delightful,” Brie drawls as she stretches out in the patch of sunlight.

 

An Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery, #2
Publisher: Berkley
Released: Dec 4 2012

Hosting an award-winning novelist is quite a Christmas coup for the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straw Society. But when he’s murdered in Lizzie Turner’s house, she’s got a holiday homicide on her hands...

For their very first guest author event, most of the book club members can’t wait to pull out all the stops in Southern hospitality. But for Lizzie, Derek Alton is nothing but trouble—from his massive ego to his smarmy moves. When he’s found murdered in her living room, it seems someone decided that this womanizing writer would be better off dead than read.

After suspicion falls on Lizzie’s friend, she and her fellow book club members discover that Derek wasn’t who he pretended to be. Cracking this case means going up against Lizzie’s boyfriend, police chief Mark Dreyfus, and unearthing a novel’s worth of nasty secrets. And as they get closer to uncovering Derek’s scandalous final manuscript, someone hiding in plain sight is out to write finis to Lizzie’s sleuthing for good...

Buy Links: Book Depository | Amazon | B&N

About the Author:

Erika writes the Ashton Corners Book Club mysteries for Penguin/Berkley Prime Crime. In a parallel life Erika Chase is also known as Linda Wiken. A former mystery bookstore owner (Prime Crime Books in Ottawa, ON, Canada), Linda is also a short story writer. She is a member of those dangerous dames, The Ladies’ Killing Circle.

Her short stories have appeared in the seven Ladies’ Killing Circle anthologies (three of which she co-edited), and in the magazines Mysterious Intent and Over My Dead Body. She has been short-listed for an Arthur Ellis Award, Best Short Story, from Crime Writers of Canada.

Before life in the world of mystery, she worked as an advertising copywriter, radio producer, journalist and community education worker. Besides writing and reading mysteries, her other passion is choral singing and she is a member of two choirs.

She shares her house with Keesha and Mojo, her two Siamese cats. Actually, they allow her to live there.

Connect with Erika Chase: Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

 

Tara Thursday: 5 Of My Favorite Things



Hey everybody, Tara here! Mommy says Top 5 lists are really popular in the blogosphere so I thought my adoring public might like to learn more about a few of my favorite things...

5) Snuggie Blankie. I never used to be a kitty who loved blankies, but now that I'm older I find myself getting chilly easier. Mommy and I have spent the last 2 winters cuddled up in this super fashionable Snuggie...weren't my tortie colors just made for animal print???

4) Tattered Old Catnip Bag. This is one of the first toys Mommy ever bought me. She thinks she bought it at the Cat Fanciers' Association cat show one year because she's never been able to find another one. I hold it between my paws and lick and lick it...the catnip scent has never faded. Mommy has even had to stitch up the ends a couple times after I bit a hole in it, and one awful night I even puked on it!!! Mommy saved the day by immediately rinsing it out and letting it air dry in the window, even before she cleaned up the carpet!

3) Weruva Grain Free Pouches. I love gravy and since I became a sugar kitty Mommy's been scouring the stores for as many grain free gravy foods as she can find. These are my favorite. One of the supplements I take comes in a capsule; Mommy just empties the powder into the gravy and I've had my meds without even knowing it (or so she thinks...)

2) Simply Nourish Grilled Chicken Cat Treats. I adore freeze dried chicken and these are my favorites, sold only at Petsmart. I'm pretty much gumming it these days and many freeze dried treats are too hard to break up. Mommy can crush these up really easy and spread them on top of my food as sprinkles when I'm being fussy.

1) Chicken. Mommy says I love chicken so much she wouldn't be surprised if one day she woke up to find me clucking instead of meowing. Baked, boiled, rotisserie...I'm not picky, I love chicken any way it's prepared. But my favorite...don't tell the vet...barbequed. Purr.