Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Wednesday Scramble (and a Book to Give Away)

Tomorrow's Guest

I'm pleased to feature Linda Faulkner as my Thursday guest this week. She has an interesting twist on "write what you know," so I hope you join us. I'll have the coffee on (and hot water for the tea drinkers).


Giving Away a Copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul

I attended a reading and signing of one of the contributors to the new Chicken Soup for the Soul: Shaping a New You on Saturday. I've been enjoying my copy of the book so much that I bought an extra copy to give away here. Just leave a comment on today's or tomorrow's blog post to be eligible. Be sure you have a way for me to reach you in your profile or in the body of the comment. I'll close off entries tomorrow night at midnight, and will announce the winner on Saturday.


Katie Kat Takes Over

When I use my desktop computer, Katie likes to sit in my lap. Unfortunately, my chair is a little high, so my lap slopes and Katie tends to gradually slide toward the floor.

I found a solution yesterday. I moved the pillow that I kept behind my back to my lap and braced it against the keyboard tray. Katie slept on the pillow while I wrote this blog post. I'm not sure who's the pet and who's the mistress here.


Recommended Blog Post

Check out The 7 Secrets of an Indie Editor by Victoria Mixon at write to done: unmissable articles on writing. Victoria is the author of The Art & Craft of Fiction: A Practitioner's Manual. She blogs at A. Victoria Mixon, Editor.

20 comments:

Kerrie said...

I am looking forward to reading more adventures of Katie Kat--would love to see a picture of your new writing buddy.

Rena Jones said...

I really enjoyed The Desert Hedge Murders. I'm looking forward to reading Prairie Grass, too.

Unknown said...

Hey, Pat. Don't you know cats rule the roost. KK is just practicing her true role in life.

Patricia Stoltey said...

Kerrie -- if I ever succeed in getting a photo of more than just her tail as she races past, I'll post it here. I need to catch her during naptime...

Hi Rena -- Thanks! The only way to get "The Prairie Grass Murders" at the moment is e-book for Kindle or Nook, although I do have a few hardcovers and paperbacks on hand. I guess I need to set up a page to sell them online.

Kay -- it's been so long since I've had a pet of any kind that I'd forgotten. It's clear Katie is already in charge...

Kathy McIntosh said...

Hmmm. Katie Cat must be a tad smaller than my two kitties. When they hop on my lap the keyboad is covered in fur!
I'm heading over to check out the recommended blog post.

Patricia Stoltey said...

Hi Kathy -- The shelter from which we adopted Katie said she was three months old. She's pretty small (and has short hair so she doesn't have any added fluffiness).

Jan Morrison said...

Hi Patricia - this post link is brilliant - I really like this site - thanks. I went to the Write to Done site and now I'm heading over to Victoria's own page. Thanks a bundle!

Unknown said...

My dog would love to sit on my lap but she's huge and I don't think I'd allow it.

Great links.

CD

Talli Roland said...

I'd love some photos of KK! I have some serious cat envy.

Cruella Collett said...

Haha, at least your mistress/cat stays put in your lap. I've heard stories of cats that take over the keyboard, and I think your real problem starts when it becomes unclear who is the pet and who is the writer... ;)

Patricia Stoltey said...

Hi Jan -- I check out Write to Done often and have it in my blogroll, but hadn't discovered Victoria's blog until yesterday. She's now in my writing and social media list.

Clarissa, the last dog I had was a Pug, so lap time was acceptable.

Talli, I'll get those pictures sooner or later. I've been wanting to get a cat for a long time, so I'm really enjoying this.

Hi Cruella. Katie has tried to type but isn't very good at it. This morning she also tried using my husband's Morse code key. Luckily it was not connected to the radio at the time. She's fast, but not very accurate, so goodness knows what she would have transmitted.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You're going out of your way to make the cat comfortable - Katie has you now!

Helen Ginger said...

Ahh, the things we do for our furry children (or feathered or scaled ones). All is well if Katie is happy!

Mason Canyon said...

You are lucky Katie likes to sleep in your lap. When I sit down to use the laptop, Gum Drop stretches out in front of it (I had to push it back on the desk to keep her off the keys) and puts her head on my right hand. Before long Little One decides she wants in my lap and then the fight begins. You need a second kitty to entertain Katie. :)

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Patricia Stoltey said...

Alex and Helen...yes, she's in charge.

Hi Mason, Katie has now taken that extra stretch that puts her head on the back of my hand so I'm typing away, bobbing her little head, and she's sound asleep. We actually looked at the possibility of taking two kittens, and still may get another one.

Jaime Anderson said...

Aww I miss me kitty...so many accommodations we make for them. Mine had his own staircase onto my bed when his hips started giving him problems.

Patricia Stoltey said...

Jaime, thanks for stopping by. That's bittersweet about your kitty. My son's dog had hip problems and arthritis, too, and it was so sad to see my son helping his dog up into a truck because the dog could no longer get up there by himself. There's a hard part to loving our pets.

P.I. Barrington said...

I have a new found love of kittens! Got it from watching the old Creationscapes programs on DayStar channel! Would love to have the Chicken Soup!
pibarrington@dslextreme.com

Patricia Stoltey said...

Thanks, P.J., and good luck.

It's been so long since I've had a kitten around that I'd forgotten just how much fun and how loving they can be. Also exhausting...she demands playtime at the same times every morning and every evening. :)

Patricia Stoltey said...

Oops, sorry P.I. I didn't really mean to type P.J. -- I have a disconnect between my brain and my fingers today.