Where do I get my Inspiration? Well, he’s four legged and
furry.....
By T. C. Lotempio
I have always been an animal lover, especially of cats. When my calico died a few years ago, I went
to my local Animal Shelter and adopted a handsome tuxedo cat named ROCCO. It
soon became apparent that he is the “boss” of my family, which includes three
other cats! But never, in my wildest
dreams, did I ever expect him to be the driving force behind our blog, www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com,
or end up as the star of his own mystery series!
Well – to clarify – the series isn’t named after ROCCO. He was just the inspiration for one of the
main characters, a feisty tuxedo cat named Nick. Nick’s a cool cat, one with a sharp mind who
likes to play SCRABBLE, and spell out clues so his human, Nora, can solve
mysteries! Here’ a brief synopsis of
book one, Meow if it’s Murder, taken
from the cover back:
Nora Charles doesn’t believe in
fate, even if she is a crime reporter who shares a name with a character from The
Thin Man. In fact, she’s moving back to Cruz, California, to have a quieter
life. But after finding an online magazine eager for material, and a stray cat
named Nick with a talent for detection, Nora’s not just reporting crimes again.
She’s uncovering them…
Back in her hometown, Nora
reconnects with old friends and makes some new ones, like Nick, the charming
feline who seems determined to be her cat. But not everything about Cruz is
friendly. Writing for a local online magazine, Nora investigates the curious
death of socialite Lola Grainger. Though it was deemed an accident, Nora
suspects foul play. And it seems that her cat does too.
Apparently, Nick used to belong to a
P.I. who disappeared while investigating Lola Grainger’s death. The coincidence
is spooky, but not as spooky as the clues Nick spells out for her with Scrabble
letters—clues that lead her down an increasingly dangerous path. Whether fate
put her on this case or not, solving it will take all of Nora’s wits, and maybe
a few of Nick’s nine lives.
Granted, ROCCO wasn’t the only inspiration for the series –
but he was and is a large part of it!
And he reminds me, every day, in his own catly way…I mean, you would
think HE wrote the book! Although….in
many ways, I think he did. But let’s
keep that OUR secret. J
ROCCO isn’t my only source of inspiration, either. His brother Maxx was the prototype for Toby
in the Cat Rescue mysteries! Maxx was a stray that my friend Barbara found in
South Jersey; in the book Toby’s a stray too, and a very particular one. He’s
been deliberately chasing away people who might adopt him, waiting for, as one
of the volunteers put it, “his perfect human”.
Well, Syd McCall seems to fill the bill!
A one-eyed Persian cat that was owned by a former neighbor
of mine was the inspiration for the character of Purrday in the first Pet Shop
mystery, The Time for Murder is Meow.
And the popular Princess Fuzzypants is the inspiration for yet another
character in an upcoming series!
So I suppose when people refer to me as the “Lady who writes
those cat mysteries” they’re not far off the track!
What are some things your pets do that inspire you to do
different things? ROCCO and I would love
to know! Visit my website, www.tclotempio.net and drop us a line!
You can keep up with Toni and ROCCO at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com,
where they interview authors and have giveaways every month!
You can also sign up for Toni’s newsletter on her website: www.tclotempio.net
You can purchase the Nick and Nora Mystery Series and the
Cat Rescue Series here:
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Midnight Ink (August 8, 2019)
Paperback: 312 pages
ISBN-10: 0738760366
ISBN-13: 978-0738760360
Digital ASIN: B07HL4F1Z6
Shell and her two furry sidekicks must cat-ch a killer to save their pet shopCrishell "Shell" McMillan sees the cancellation of her TV series as a blessing in disguise. The former actress can now take over her late aunt's pet shop, the Purr N' Bark, and do something she loves.While getting the shop ready for re-opening, Shell is asked to loan her aunt's Cary Grant posters to the local museum for an exhibit. She finds the prospect exciting—until a museum board member, who had a long-standing feud with Shell's aunt, votes against it. When she discovers the board member dead in the museum, Shell becomes suspect number one. Can she, her Siamese cat Kahlua, and her new sidekick—her aunt's Persian Purrday—find the real culprit, or will her latest career go up in kitty litter?
REVIEW
*I recieved a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
What an adorable start to a new cozy series! We meet Shell who is tired of acting so jumps at the chance to move to a small town to run a pet store when her Aunt dies leaving a house and store to her. On day one she meets lots of new people and the most amazing cat though her current cat is quite awesome in her own right as well. Just when she is starting to get settled she finds a dead board member making her the main suspect. Talk about a bumpy new start. Great blend of wonderful new characters, setting up the town, and a well written mystery. A must read for fans of animal themed cozies!! I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
What an adorable start to a new cozy series! We meet Shell who is tired of acting so jumps at the chance to move to a small town to run a pet store when her Aunt dies leaving a house and store to her. On day one she meets lots of new people and the most amazing cat though her current cat is quite awesome in her own right as well. Just when she is starting to get settled she finds a dead board member making her the main suspect. Talk about a bumpy new start. Great blend of wonderful new characters, setting up the town, and a well written mystery. A must read for fans of animal themed cozies!! I totally loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
About the Author
While Toni Lotempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic. She and her cat pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime and the Cat Rescue series from Crooked Lane. Her latest, the Pet Shop Mysteries, makes its debut August 8 with The Time for Murder is Meow.
You can cat-ch up with them at ROCCO’s blog, www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com or her website, www.tclotempio.net
Where to find them:
ROCCO’s blog: www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com
Website: www.tclotempio.net
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