With Thanksgiving, decorating for the holidays and the release of my newest cozy mystery, SHADES OF WRATH, it was a busy week in the Smith household. And, of course, the cats were in the middle of the fracas. But looking over the cat photos I snapped this week, I realized that perhaps we should take a few hints from our feline friends and step away from the frenzy of activity that surrounds the holidays and just take a moment to relax and enjoy the true beauty of the season.
Miss Paddington decided it was much easier to observe the goings-on from the distance. She perched on top of the refrigerator while we stuffed the Thanksgiving turkey and peeled the potatoes, but she couldn't resist the temptation to help preparing the dining room table for dinner. As the table extenders were inserted and the pads fitted on top, she decided to claim the area as her own. Halo wasn't far behind, settling on a chair under the table. Needless to say, setting the table was delayed until right before our guests arrived.
I expected the same amount of interest when the boxes of Christmas decorations were stacked in the living room, ready to be emptied. But there were a few sniffs from Halo and a short inspection by Paddy, then Halo headed off for an afternoon nap and Paddy perched on a nearby chair and quietly supervised the decorating.
Despite all the glitter, lights and tinsel that we consider necessary to make our holidays brighter, Halo and Zoie quickly settled on their Christmas throw and nestled in for a long afternoon nap. Warmth and comfort are their Christmas preferences.
While my husband readied and hung the outside decorations, he spotted Clyde (one of our outside duo of Bonnie and Clyde) snoozing on the deck in the November sunshine. He seemed oblivious to the extra outside activity. Of course, hubby had to do a few sidesteps so Clyde's afternoon nap wasn't disturbed. I'm sure Bonnie was out doing her Christmas shopping. She often leaves us "presents" in the basement. 
The launch day of a new book is busy and the daily routines can be disrupted by social media that needs to be addressed and preparations for the Facebook launch party later in the day. The felines were accepting of the disruptions. Paddy liked being near the center of activity, following us around the house and settling nearby to observe the packaging of prizes or the back and forth between my e-tablet and the desktop computer. Now that the launch party is over and the prize packages are in the mail, I can go back to finishing my next writing project and hopefully enjoy a few holiday parties and family gatherings. But just like Caprice De Luca, my fictional sleuth, I always make sure the cats are in a safe spot while we have guests or that the pop-up food dispensers are full before we leave the house for a holiday shopping spree or to spend an evening with friends. And, of course, I follow Caprice's decorating style and add a few cats to my holiday trimmings. Enjoy your preparations for the holidays!
*****************
NOW AVAILABLE!!
Wendy Newcomb, director of the Kismet women's shelter Sunrise Tomorrow, is thrilled when the shelter receives a legacy. She hires Caprice to decorate the mansion to serve women who need more than an overnight port in a storm. But in her drive against domestic violence, Wendy has made enemies and is murdered. Caprice finds herself in danger once more as she asks questions and even calls on St. Anthony for inspiration to solve this murder mystery.
SHADES OF WRATH on Barnes and Noble
****************
Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.
****************
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Karen Rose Smith is an only child who delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that's why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances. Her 97th novel will be released in 2017.
 |
Karen and Paddy
|
Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flowers and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn't all about work, awards and bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.
Karen looks forward to interacting with readers. They can find her at the links below.
*****************
©2016 Karen Rose Smith
I loved reading your blog this morning. All four of your cats are beautiful. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDelete