Thursday, July 27, 2017

A Happy #Feline Birthday--#Cats This Week by Karen Rose Smith



Happy birthday to Miss Paddington and her siblings, Mason and Tia.  The trio were born three years ago on July 29.  The "babies" and mama are all doing well.

We took in Halo, the mama cat, a month before she gave birth.  In addition to being pregnant, she had some other medical issues which, over the course of the next year, we dealt with.  She has gained weight and is my constant companion, seemingly always grateful for her forever home.

Paddy, Mason and Tia have all grown into beautiful adult cats. Mason and Tia have worked their way into the hearts of their forever owners as has Paddy with us. Although Halo now sometimes resists Paddy's advances for attention, there is still an inseparable bond between the two of them.  Paddy has developed into a beautiful young lady and has a sweet personality, but she often prefers to lie at the foot of the bed, leaving the close cuddling to Halo.

The birthing experience is one that I was so glad to witness. Halo and her kittens have brought many sweet memories to our home.  This week's photos celebrate Halo and her birthday family.


Miss Paddington - Firstborn


Mason - The Middle Child



Tia - The Lastborn


Paddy, Mason and Tia's First Ten Days



Looking back over these photos and cherishing the memories--all the kitten antics and the laughter they provided--made me yearn over the past few weeks for that same vitality and excitement to permeate our home all over again.  Do dreams really come true?  Stay tuned  and watch for a special blog in three weeks!

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Coming November 2017

Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery #7


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially now that Caprice De Luca has wrapped up her holiday-themed staging gig at a stunning historic home in downtown Kismet, Pennsylvania. Behind all the red ribbon and glowing string lights, homeowners Chris and Sara Merriweather have it all. But Chris, a Vietnam vet who plays Santa every year at the community park, has been displaying strange behavior after a recent trip to Washington, D.C.

The joy of the season vanishes entirely when Chris is found murdered on Santa Lane, leaving behind his loyal malamute and lots of unfinished business. As Caprice uncovers hidden secrets in Santa's workshop, the pressure is on to catch the candy cane-wielding culprit--before she's next on a killer's deadly wish list . . .

Pre-order SLAY BELLS RING on Amazon

Pre-order SLAY BELLS RING on Barnes and Noble


*****************
Click on the link below to read an additional blog entry by Karen  
every Thursday on the Cozy Chicks blog





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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. This award-winning and bestselling author will have her 100th novel released in 2018.  At present she is working on two mystery series for Kensington Books--Caprice De Luca Home Staging cozies and Daisy's Tea Garden mysteries. From time to time, she also writes romance for Harlequin Special Edition.
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 and does watercolor paintings 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. 




©2017 Karen Rose Smith

Thursday, July 13, 2017

#Feline Contortionists--#Cats This Week by Karen Rose Smith


Often I watch our cats sleep. I so wish I could fall into a relaxed state as easily as they do. Whether it's a leg across their eyes, a hugging position while they nap together or squeezing into an unlikely space that seems much too small, they give the appearance of an experienced contortionist.  Their unusual positions often give me pause and provide a peaceful interlude in a sometimes otherwise hectic day.

This week I have captured some of their contortions and thought I would share the photos. 

Zoie Joy napping on the bed.




Miss Paddington between 
the rungs of my towel rack.


Paddy snuggling with her mom, 
limbs intertwined. 

 

Halo, a beautiful and 
totally relaxed sleeper.  









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

Coming November 2017

Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery #7


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially now that Caprice De Luca has wrapped up her holiday-themed staging gig at a stunning historic home in downtown Kismet, Pennsylvania. Behind all the red ribbon and glowing string lights, homeowners Chris and Sara Merriweather have it all. But Chris, a Vietnam vet who plays Santa every year at the community park, has been displaying strange behavior after a recent trip to Washington, D.C.

The joy of the season vanishes entirely when Chris is found murdered on Santa Lane, leaving behind his loyal malamute and lots of unfinished business. As Caprice uncovers hidden secrets in Santa's workshop, the pressure is on to catch the candy cane-wielding culprit--before she's next on a killer's deadly wish list . . .

Pre-order SLAY BELLS RING on Amazon

Pre-order SLAY BELLS RING on Barnes and Noble

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

Click on the link below to read an additional blog entry by Karen  
every Thursday on the Cozy Chicks blog





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

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. This award-winning and bestselling author will have her 100th novel released in 2018.  At present she is working on two mystery series for Kensington Books--Caprice De Luca Home Staging cozies and Daisy's Tea Garden mysteries. From time to time, she also writes romance for Harlequin Special Edition.
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 and does watercolor paintings 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. 




©2017 Karen Rose Smith

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Visiting My Grand #Kitty--#Cats This Week by Karen Rose Smith




My husband and I just returned from a trip half way across the country to visit our son and grandkitty. Willow, his beautiful long-haired calico, is the "model" for Sophia, my sleuth's cat in my Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery series. She appears in many of my promotional materials for the series and is featured on the home page banner on my new mystery web site (www.karenrosesmithmysteries.com).



Unfortunately, Willow was rather lonely on this visit because she and my son had recently lost their sixteen-year-old companion cat. Willow definitely appreciated the extra attention that was so easy to extend to a feline with her sweet disposition.  She was my buddy the whole time we were visiting.

The exciting news (for a cat lover) is that we took a side trip to our son's vet's house where she was fostering two litters of six adorable kittens who were rescued from a shelter. It was so much fun watching the antics of the baby felines and helping our son choose two to become, in his words, "Willow's kids". He chose a black tuxedo and a Japanese calico.

I fell in love with a shy little gray tuxedo kitten. My husband informed me after we returned home that he had no doubt that if we had lived in the area, that little fellow would be joining our crew. But unfortunately a half of a country distance prevented the obvious from becoming reality.

So this week, I would like to share some photos that I snapped of Willow during our visit. We hope to make a return visit in November and will share photos of our new grandkitties when we return.


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

Coming November 2017

Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery #7



It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially now that Caprice De Luca has wrapped up her holiday-themed staging gig at a stunning historic home in downtown Kismet, Pennsylvania. Behind all the red ribbon and glowing string lights, homeowners Chris and Sara Merriweather have it all. But Chris, a Vietnam vet who plays Santa every year at the community park, has been displaying strange behavior after a recent trip to Washington, D.C.

The joy of the season vanishes entirely when Chris is found murdered on Santa Lane, leaving behind his loyal malamute and lots of unfinished business. As Caprice uncovers hidden secrets in Santa's workshop, the pressure is on to catch the candy cane-wielding culprit--before she's next on a killer's deadly wish list . . .

Pre-order SLAY BELLS RING on Amazon

Pre-order SLAY BELLS RING on Barnes and Noble

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

Click on the link below to read an additional blog entry by Karen  
every Thursday on the Cozy Chicks blog






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

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. This award-winning and bestselling author will have her 100th novel released in 2018.  At present she is working on two mystery series for Kensington Books--Caprice De Luca Home Staging cozies and Daisy's Tea Garden mysteries. From time to time, she also writes romance for Harlequin Special Edition.
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 and does watercolor paintings 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. 




©2017 Karen Rose Smith