PROCESS, by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer

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!
________________________________________

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 

COZIES IN A DANGEROUS TIME, by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer

Cozy Night by Kim Parkhurst

I know of way too many people who are depressed, stressed, frightened, angry, or all of the above combined in one big ball of woe. Whether you look local— break-ins and vandalism—, national— political unrest—, or global— climate change and garbage in the ocean—, scary things abound, and unfortunately, there is only a limited amount we can do about them. This helplessness causes frustration and anxiety. Psychiatrists and therapists have seen an increase in their patients of late. Uncertainty abounds.

So what  do people do to relieve this angst? Some garden or work out. Some read. There has been a revival of the good old cozy mystery of late, and I believe our dangerous times are responsible for it.

Who wouldn’t want to immerse themselves in a small British town a la Miss Marple or hang out with a sleuthing cat such as Joe Gray? Suddenly, instead of the disturbing thriller, many readers are choosing books they know will give them a happy ending. That doesn’t mean there won’t be mystery and mayhem along the way, but in a cozy, we won’t be inundated with graphic violence, foul language, or riotous sex. And we can be assured it will all work out in the end.

I grew up with cozy mysteries, my favorite author being the underappreciated Mary Stewart. When I discovered Lillian Jackson Braun’s Cat Who series, and found that cats could play a part in mystery stories, I was overjoyed. Since then I’ve been elated to find an abundance of cozy themes such as cooking, baking, gardening, quilting, scrapbooking, knitting, and antiquing— just about anything people like to do in their spare time. There are also more cerebral themes such as science, archeology, forensics, or world travel, and we mustn’t forget the paranormal themes of vampires, witches, hauntings, and hexes. (My personal favorites of course are the cat mysteries, a popular genre unto itself, though you can find many dog and other animal mysteries to suit all tastes.) Most cozies engage an amateur sleuth, often a woman, but there are also cozies featuring police, detectives, and private investigators. Something for every taste.

Cozies vary in technique, intensity, and quality. I’ve read everything from inspired and intelligent writing to formula style that’s as dull as a post. (I’ve also learned that just because it has a cat on the cover doesn’t mean it’s a cat mystery.) Some cozies are referred to as “beach reads” because they are the easy-to-read escapist fare that’s perfect for a costal or other vacation.

I both read and write cozy mysteries, because I’m just plain too burnt out on bad stuff  to enjoy the violence of thrillers, the horror of horrors, or the fatalism of dystopian sci-fi. It’s not exclusive— there are lots of great books out there, and my to-be-read pile holds everything from memoir to Star Trek, but right now I tend to fall back on a gentler story, one that will paint a picture of green countrysides and pretty kitties while offering me a puzzle to solve, the mystery itself. Maybe if the real world becomes an easier place to live in, I’ll begin to long for the exhilaration of a more intense genre, but for now, it’s cozies all the way.

Do you read or write cozy mysteries?

Here are a very few of my favorites:

The Joe Grey series, by Shirley Rousseau Murphy  

Cat in the Stacks Mysteries, by Miranda James  

Bookmobile Cat Mysteries, by Laurie Cass   

The Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mysteries, by Gigi Pandian  

The Kudzu Korners Vampire series, by Isabella Norse  

The Ivy Meadows Mysteries, by Cindy Brown  

Harriet Truman / Loose Threads Mysteries, by Arlene Sachitano  

The Phryne Fisher mysteries, by Kerry Greenwood  

The Hamish Macbeth series, by M.C. Beaton 

The Fethering Mystery series, by Simon Brett   

(I'd better quit, thought there are more!) 

I’m always looking for new cozies to read. Do you have any favorites to add?

Check out my own cozy mystery series, the Crazy Cat Lady cozy mysteries, or read more blogs by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer at:

Mollie Hunt: Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and more

Happy reading!

SCHRÖDINGER’S TRUNK, by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer

Trunk in the Attic, by Valentina Rota

There is a trunk in the attic with my past in it. Not all my past: I moved around a lot when I was young. Still, therein lies a cornucopia of experiences, now so distantly removed from my current life, they seem like those of another person.

There is the first cat story I wrote, in fourth grade, about my tabby Two and a far-off land where everyone lived in houses with diamond walls.

There is a sketchbook from my days in Chicago, pages of dark scribble and slashing lines depicting inner city buildings in the shadow of 1968.

There is a photo album from when I was a hippie living on the farm. In some of them I am naked, innocently swimming in a country lake. In some, I’m ensconced with other bell-bottomed, bead-bedecked flower children. In one, I’m playing pool.

Other things have accumulated in that magic trunk as well. A flotsom of greeting cards, letters, notes with a loved one’s name penned longhand nest at the dusty bottom. Some of those loved ones— too many—have been lost along the way.

There used to be diaries in the trunk, but several years ago I shredded them, consigning my youthful craziness to the ash pile. At the time I felt release— no longer bound by my indiscretions. As a writer, I suppose I should regret the loss, but I don’t. I did keep the poems and drawings; the rest was so much hooey.

I think about the trunk from time to time. I’d like to post the pool player photo on Facebook; I’d like to read a birthday card from my grandmother; I’d like to check out the cat story, see if it’s as great as I remember. It’s probably not, but as long as it stays buried in the trunk, I can pretend.

The trunk remains closed. A decade ago, workers redid the attic beams, and in their effort, stacked my trunk underneath a small mountain of other clutter. Every so often, I look at it, gage the amount of work it would take to dig it out, and go away again. It’s on the list, among other jobs to be done... but not in winter because the attic is too cold and not in summer because it’s stifling hot. I can’t do it alone because some of the items are heavy and awkward, yet I don’t want anyone to do it with me. Besides I have no place to put it once I get it out. The dust makes me sneeze. 

Someday I’ll want the trunk badly enough to overcome the obstacles. Until then, I can remember. Schrödinger’s trunk: its nostalgic contents can be whatever I decide.

Check out more blogs by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer at:

Mollie Hunt: Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and more

Happy reading!

WRITING IS LIKE…, by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer

Google the phrase, “Writing is like…” and you get pages of insights from all across the board.

Writing is like building a bridge while you’re on it. Writing is like giving yourself homework. Writing is like a sport… prostitution… sex.

But what is writing really like to real writers, the ones who have been successful enough for us to know their names?

Today I am passing on the wisdom of others, fellows actually on the writing path.

 “If you are not a reader, don’t even think about writing.”  

~Jean Auel

“There is a certain degree of faith required in writing fiction… You have to take a deep breath, let go of your usual control, and then begin walking in the dark.”   

~Elizabeth Berg

 “Time enough to think and cut and rewrite tomorrow. But today- explode- fly apart- disintegrate. The other six or seven drafts are going to be pure torture. So why not enjoy the first draft in the hope that your joy will seek and find others in the world who, reading your story, will catch fire too?”   

~Ray Bradbury

 “Writing is like being in love. You never get better at it or learn more about it. The day you think you do is the day you lose it.”   

~James Lee Burke

“Two questions form the foundation of all novels: ‘What if?’ and ‘What next?’”   

~Tom Clancy

 “I never started a book that I expected to finish.”   

~Steven King

“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”   

~Jack London

And a special favorite of mine:

“Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart feel others should care about. It is this genuine caring, not your games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style.”   

~Kurt Vonnegut

Do you have any favorite quotes about the writing path?

Check out more blogs by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer at:

Mollie Hunt: Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and more

Happy reading!

FLASH FICTION AND CAT POETRY, by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer

Writing is a constant state of discovery. I’ve recently found two new ways to express the writer part of me: Flash fiction and cat poetry. 

I’ve wanted to learn to write flash fiction from the day I first heard the term and had to look it up on Google to find out what it was. Since it takes me longer to write short fiction than an entire full-length book, I couldn’t imagine the process of conveying any sort of attention-grabbing tale in under 1000 words. 

Flash fiction isn’t a new thing, having roots that go back to pre-history in the form of fables and parables. These extremely short works began reinventing themselves as they regained popularity a few decades ago with names like the “short-short story” and “sudden fiction”.  As flash fiction evolved, it split even further into sub-genres. Flash, itself, got shorter, and dribble (the 50-word story), drabble (the 100-word story), 140-character stories known as twitterature, as well as the impossible-to-imagine six-word-story came about. I’ve read successful examples of all but still had no clue how the writers came up with their work.  

When in doubt, learn from those who know. I took a workshop in flash fiction and this is what I found out: 

FF “implies” a larger story.

FF is about giving the reader hints. 

FF is about characters. 

Describe parts instead of the whole. 

Chose a universal theme. 

Condense the story by picking the right words. 

*FF can be a useful tool in blurb writing and even advertising.

The six-word-story was my nemesis, but apparently it’s all about hint. It’s a picture, a still life. It should evoke the imagination of the reader to fill in the blanks however they see fit. Here are my first attempts:

Anxiety. Short of breath. Not again! 

Sign reads “Lost cat”. Heartbreak. Hope. 

Six words? Give me a break!

What are some of your six-word-stories? I’d love to read them in the comment section. 

And I haven’t forgotten about cat poetry. More on that next time.

Check out more by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer at:

Mollie Hunt: Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and more

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A FATHER’S DAY ALTERNATIVE, by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer

Everyone loves Father’s Day, at least that’s the way it’s supposed to be. All those fathers out there, be they young or old, new or great grandfathers, deserve their day in the sun. So go a little nuts; give the dad in your life something to show your appreciation; take him to a barbeque; take him fishing; take him to see Wonder Woman; whatever he likes best. 

But for some of us, Father’s Day can be a little tough. Maybe we’ve lost our daddies; maybe they have lost us. Maybe it’s just not such a good time for yet another Hallmark-Greeting-Card-Spend-Your-Money-On-A-Senseless-Gift holiday. 

For cat people, here is another alternative: Celebrate a Cat Holiday instead!

There is no cat holiday that falls directly on June 18^th, but this month is filled with cat-centric celebrations. Unfortunately we have missed two great ones: Hug Your Cat Day was June 4^th, and just a few days ago, June 16^th was Lap Day. I can think of several fun and furry ways to enjoy those holidays with my clowder. 

The first full week of June is Animal Rights Awareness Week, a more serious tribute to all animals and not just cats. The pursuit of animal rights is still a work in progress, but I’m happy to report it’s heading in a positive direction, with more laws protecting animals from abuse and neglect, and more advocates who will speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Tomorrow, June 19^th, is one I had never heard of but will not be likely to forget: International Box Day. We all know how much cats of all shapes, sizes, and species love a good box! 

June 19^th is also National Garfield Day for those who follow the comic strip feline. Baking a lasagna would be a fitting way to commemorate the famous orange tabby and all the laughter he has given us over the years. 

You may or may not like June 24 – Wake Up Your Human Day. It will probably be no different than any other morning when kitty rises with the birds, lands on your chest, licks your face, bites your nose, and sings the song of her people to let you know the day has begun.

June 24 is also Take Your Cat to Work Day, though it’s a Saturday so I’m not sure what to make of that. Maybe it was planned that way; maybe my source got the date wrong. Either way, I can just imagine Little napping on my computer while Tyler runs up and down the aisles, breaking everyone’s concentration with his irresistible cuteness.

The entire month of June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month (the ASPCA). I have done my part, adopting Tyler from the Oregon Humane Society on June 1^st.  Hey, maybe that’s something you could do for Father’s Day: Take your dad, granddad, son, brother, or ??? to your local shelter and adopt a cat today!

Check out more by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer at:

MollieHunt: Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and more

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MAZATLAN MEMORIES: THREE FERAL CATS, by Mollie Hunt

I’d been in Mazatlán for over a week and was pining for cats. I checked all the usual places, where I had seen cats in the past: Gus Gus restaurant café, and the parking lot of the Inn, where once a stray kitten was found. The bookstore had moved and presumably so had the bookstore cat. Mazatlán is not a safe place for cats. 

Then, in the lush green lawn of our new resort, I saw one. I couldn’t believe my eyes; a good-sized tabby with dark markings and snow white paws. I neared slowly; the cat waited. I got close, moved slower, held a hand out saying “Gato gato” and “Kitty kitty” which most cats seem to inherently understand. The cat, sleek and well fed, held on just long enough to let me think I could approach, then he fled like a tiny cheetah across the grass.        

I followed, slowly, to where he paused near the edging of palms. Close by lounged a young red cat, and beside him, another tabby. I stood and stared. How beautiful they were in the sun: how luxurious! 

I took a tiny step and the three were gone, vanished like a mirage, in amongst the palm shadows. I walked back to my room, happy with my feline vision.

Check out more blogs by Mollie Hunt at:

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YOU CAN’T GO HOME AGAIN, UNLESS YOU’RE A WRITER. by Mollie Hunt

When I quit my job of 15 years, I vowed to my workplace friends I’d come back to visit. Over a year and I haven’t been back yet. 

My parents spent their final days in a lovely assisted living community where they, and I, made many friends. At their funerals, I promised I would see everyone again. I’ve not fulfilled that promise either. 

It’s not that I don’t mean it– I do. But life goes on. Things change. Time passes, and nothing is ever the same. Though the phrase, “You can’t go home again”, classically refers to one’s childhood, at 64, I have a whole compendium of things to which I can never return. 

Except, I can. 

In words and stories, I have visited those rooms of childhood, run through the spring-lit gardens of youth, dropped in and said hello to history, caressed the sounds and scents of days gone long ago. I have dwelt in dreams, righted wrongs, and even taken my share of revenge. (“Never wrong a writer. They get their revenge in print.”)  

In Placid River Runs Deep, I went back to my childhood summer place, got to visit with my grandmother, and watch the sun set over the hills once more. 

In Broken Roses, I killed the man who abused me. 

In L. E. Catts and the Seven of Swords, I courted a bad-boy old flame. 

In my cat mysteries, I see a better stronger different version of myself.

Through writing, there is no place I cannot go.

Happy Reading!

Be sure to visit my Website, Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and More,  

and my Facebook Writer’s Page at Mollie Hunt, Writer.

Check out Cat's Paw, my latest Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery on Amazon.

Changing the World Through Fiction, by Mollie Hunt

Changing the World Through Fiction: Introducing altruism into your writing without using soapbox rhetoric (or putting your reader to sleep.)

As a fiction writer, I create an engaging and entertaining story; as an animal rescue advocate, I raise awareness of our companion animals and the ways we can help them. By introducing characters and situations involved with animal welfare into my cozy cat mysteries, my readers come away with something more than a pleasant read.

Whether it’s LGBT rights, saving the whales, or the beauty of the state of Alaska, if you are passionate about it, you will – and should – show it in your writing. A cause can give your character a more profound persona. Belief is inherent in all of us, and unless you plumb the depths of your characters’ convictions, they may come off as more two-dimensional than you would like.

The hero of my Crazy Cat Lady series, Lynley Cannon, is, like me, a grateful cat shelter volunteer. Through her, I can enlighten, promote, and advise without getting up on a soap box to do it. That’s the trick. Inserting a long commentary about the immorality of declawing or the evil of animal abuse would make my audience disappear faster than a feral cat. A one-sentence thought or insight through the eyes of Lynley is all that is needed to get the point across.

My readers are cat people and often tell me how much they appreciate the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter. These are stand-alone notes or tips on cat behavior, health, and lore that impart something useful and interesting. In the same vein, a cooking mystery might be prefaced by favorite or nostalgic recipes, and a novel taking place in the wilds of the Yukon might use Robert Service’s poetry as epigraphs . Not all subjects lend themselves to this type of chapter prefacing, but for those that work, it’s a place to reach out to readers about a specific issue.

I like reading fiction books that get me thinking and help me learn something I didn’t know, but I don’t want it to seem like a lecture. Just the mention that your character is a communist, a hospice volunteer, a blood donor; that she marches in the Pride Parade or joins the beach clean-up every year; that he gives anonymously to the March of Dimes or hosts a fundraiser for his favorite independent candidate is enough to give new insight into a personality. 

What do you love? What do you feel strongly about? What do you think would make the world a better place? Don’t be afraid to let a little of your own passion slip over into your fictional world. You may find it brings in a whole new group of readers, ones with similar sympathies to yours.  

"Writing is a bit like lying - the closer you stick to the truth, the less likely you are to slip up."

Check out more blogs by Mollie Hunt at:

Mollie Hunt: Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and more

Happy reading!