Writers are well known to have an affinity for cats (multiple books have been written on the subject)! As a cat lover, I get the appeal. Cats are good company, generally unobtrusive, frequently entertaining, and the perfect distraction when you need a few minutes away from the keyboard. If you’re lucky enough to have a lap cat, they’ll make sure you get work done by helpfully pinning you in place for hours (and they keep you warm too). My home would feel pretty sad and empty without my three kitties.
Cats can also provide literary inspiration, especially to poets. T.S. Eliot wrote an entire book about them (which then inspired a musical and, unfortunately, a movie). Jorge Luis Borges wrote these words:
Mirrors are not more silent nor the creeping dawn more secretive; in the moonlight, you are that panther we catch sight of from afar. By the inexplicable workings of a divine law, we look for you in vain; More remote, even, than the Ganges or the setting sun, yours is the solitude, yours the secret. Your haunch allows the lingering caress of my hand. You have accepted, since that long forgotten past, the love of the distrustful hand. You belong to another time. You are lord of a place bounded like a dream.
-“To a Cat” by Jorge Luis Borges
It seems that what the ancient Egyptians started, writers are happy to carry on. I know I am.
Patricia Highsmith apparently preferred cats to people (relatable)
Stephen King
Ann M. Martin
Ernest Hemingway, whose Key West home is now a cat sanctuary.
Colette
Neil Gaiman
Ursula K. Le Guin
Haruki Murakani
Do you have cats (or other pets)? Tell us in the comments…
Don’t forget to take advantage of the July Summer/Winter E-Book Sale and get Love Lies Bleeding at 25% Off (there are no cats in the story, but there are plenty of fanged predators…)
It’s World Goth Day today, so break out your black eyeliner and Sisters of Mercy CDs, and head to the local cemetery for a discussion on why we’re celebrating goths in May instead of the obvious choice of October.
I thought I’d mark the day by sharing some pictures of real vampires I found. Enjoy!
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Cheers,
Aspasía S. Bissas
PS: Thanks for everyone’s support after this post, where I shared that my entire family contracted or was exposed to COVID, while my SO had his own sudden health crisis. I’m happy to report that everyone is fine now. My sister, who’d been vaccinated shortly before this all happened, never got COVID, even though she lives with three people who had it. Vaccines work.
I’ve written before about the natural affinity between cats and books (here, here, and here). People who love books tend to also love cats, and vice versa. And since you can never really have enough of either, here are more pictures of cats with books. Enjoy!
These photos were all found online–if you see any that belong to you and would like me to remove them, please comment to let me know…
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
It’s the most wonderful time of the year– and to give it some of the appreciation it deserves, I snagged this tag from A Geek Girl’s Guide. Feel free to post it yourself (please share your link) or leave your answers in the comments 🎃
What’s your favourite thing about October?
Wow, I have to pick only one thing? In that case, what I like best about October is that everything about it feels like home to me. It speaks to my spooky, pumpkin-loving, pagan soul.
Are you a big celebrator of Halloween?
I used to be. I’d decorate the house, carve a jack o’ lantern, and do all kinds of Halloween-themed cooking and baking. I’d have people over and shell out (give out candy). The last few years…not so much. I’m hoping to get back to proper celebrations in future.
What’s your favourite horror movie?
Nothing will ever scare me more than the original Alien movie. As far as I’m concerned it’s the perfect horror film.
Would you rather a cosy night in watching horror movies or a big night out in a costume?
I would never willingly choose a big night out. A cozy night in with The Nightmare Before Christmas and a few other spooky/scary movies is perfect.
Which has been your most favourite costume to date?
Confession time: I haven’t liked wearing a costume since I was a kid (I won’t bore you with reasons). But when I was a kid, I went as a fortune teller a couple of times and remember having fun with it. (I should also add that costumes back then were always ruined because it was so cold where I lived. We couldn’t go out without extra layers under the costumes, as well as gloves, hats, scarves, a winter coat, and– worst of all — snow pants on top.)
Welcome to my childhood Halloweens. Photo by Tetyana Kovyrina on Pexels.com
If you prefer a good paperback to an ebook, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
