It’s always exciting to launch a new book, and Cosmic Cat is no exception. I had a woman rush up to my table at a book fair last weekend, point to the violet cover with the gray and white cat, and say, “Oh, you have the new one! I’ve been waiting!” That was a stellar moment, and one I will long remember, but strangely, for me the most exciting part of the writing journey is not the end but the beginning. For me, the first draft of a story is pure joy, with limitless possibilities and great potentials.
When it comes to writing, I am what they call a “pantser” as opposed to a “plotter.” That means, instead of making planning and outlining my story, I just write, “flying by the seat of my pants.” I have the title; I have the idea of what that will entail. I sit down at my laptop (which, by the way, is not connected to the internet) and begin.
I tend to hear the words in my head, as if I were reading, and I write them down. I visualize scenes as if they were a movie and describe them. I move ahead quickly, and without editing. I make notes — lots of notes — and color code things such as duplicated words or places I need to research. I push through from beginning to end, writing for hours each day. When I’m done, I sit back and get ready for the real work.
Fun and exciting as that first draft might be, there is a long way to go to make it a book. I revise several times before even my editor sees it, and then a few times more before it goes to press.
Cosmic Cat evolved out of my own love for sci-fi-fantasy and the conventions that have come out of that genre. Anyone who has attended a comic-con or Star Trek convention knows it as a world outside of the norm. The feeling of comradery that comes from being around people who love the same things we do; the sale items based on all our favorite characters; the panels on things that interest us; the guest stars who tell tales no one else may know. It’s a wonderland for people like me, and I wanted to put a little of that into a Crazy Cat Lady mystery.
I had the initial layout and a hint to the characters. Then came the “what if?” What if’s are essential to fiction writers. That’s where it all begins.
What if a cosplayer is murdered at a comic-con? And what if his name is Captain Cat and he is leader of a tribe? And what if the tribe has a vigilante faction, trying to save the world like their comic-book heroes? And what if...?
The main character of my series, Lynley Cannon, is a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer with many interests and a cat-like curiosity that won’t quit, so it’s easy to put her in all sorts of circumstances. Since she, herself, is a Trekkie, she fit right in with the comic-con crowd. She even has her own uniform!
To sum it up, the book you read in mere hours may have taken the writer and their team months and even years to create. Next time you read a book, think for a moment about what led up to that bundle of words that so excites your own imagination.
About COSMIC CAT, Crazy Cat Lady cozy mysteries #6:
When a superhero cosplayer falls to his death at a comic con, Lynley is left holding the bag— and a cat!
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Who killed Captain Cat? His tribe wants to know.
When the Captain is murdered at Bridgetown Comic-con and philanthropist Esmae Westhouse is arrested for the crime, sixty-something cat shelter volunteer Lynley Cannon steps out of her comfort zone and dons her Star Trek uniform to expose the real killer.
A decade-spanning love triangle, a band of vigilante cosplayers, a shady pharmaceutical company, and an ancient black cat named Kitty tie into a puzzling plot that has Lynley running in all directions. The death of Captain Cat is only the beginning, and Lynley must stay one step ahead of a ruthless hit man if she is to make it out alive.
Praise for Cosmic Cat:
If you like to read Cozy Mysteries that involve cartloads of cats and action, I recommend Cosmic Cat by Mollie Hunt. If you are a cat lover/cat servant, do not miss this book! — The Book Decoder
...I would have sworn there was no way to include costumed vigilantes in a cozy and have it be anything but ridiculous. Yet, after reading this, my hat is off to the author for writing the plot into a cozy with skill and panache. —I Read What You Write
... this story moves along at a steady pace with a wide variety of unique characters throughout the story. Not to mention that we even get some kitties with their own personalities mixed in. —Socrates Book Reviews
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