calicolovestorm

Typing With Wet Paws: Well That Was a Week Edition

annabowling Leave a comment

Hi, Storm Troopers! I figured it was about time for my fans to have their own name. I am a very popular girl around here. Housekeeping loves me, and I love going in my adventure cave. Some humans call it a carrier, but it is my adventure cave, and I love it. The soft lining is super comfy and smells like my people. I can see out of the door and little windows in the sides, so there is always something to see, unless we are in the car and whoever is holding my adventure cave holds it too low. Then, I tell them in no uncertain terms that my view sucks, and that must be remedied immediately. I want to see everything.

This week, we changed motels and then changed back. We did not like the other one, and are settled back in our for-now home. Aunt Anna has her computer set up again, and I have my towel next to it, so I can sleep…I mean supervise…while she works. This past week, and the weekend, have been for adulting, so Aunt Anna wants to buckle down and make this week a big return to writing.

buriedunderromance.com

Part of that is her weekly Saturday Discussion post on Buried Under Romance. Last week, she talked about where the site is going, and where it’s been. Click the link above to go read about that, and feel free to add your comments if you would like in on the discussion. It is never too late to talk about great books.

Speaking of which (smooth segue, right?) let’s take another look at Aunt Anna’s Goodreads challenge. It is, in fact, the dreaded ten books behind, with seventy-one books read out of ninety-five, but Aunt Anna is determined, and she is digging in to get this done on time, which will also go a long way to filling her creative tank, because there is a lot of writing yet to be done.

That’s along with that adulting stuff, of course, and taking care of me. Did you know I made some milestones this week? Well, I did. I first did something I have wanted pretty much since getting here, and that is getting out of the room and into the hallway. Aunt Linda was onto me, though, and Aunt Anna was on her way back in, so I followed her, and have not been allowed near the door by myself since. The other thing is that I can open drawers now. I taught myself. Aunt Anna was writing at the time, and she tried to stop me, but I come from a long line of determined women. My mom, Aunt Anna, Aunt Linda, that’s a long line, right? Anyway, yeah, I can open drawers now. Well, at least these drawers. I like grabbing a quick snooze in Uncle Rheuben’s drawer. His clothes are soft and he smells like food. Probably goes into why Aunt Anna picked him.

I will, of course, be on hand to provide cuddles and purrs while Aunt Anna does both the reading and writing things, and we are not supposed to go on many more adventures anytime soon, until we get new apartment. Wherever it is, it better get ready. There’s a Storm coming.

Headbonks,

Typing With Wet Paws: Post-Book-Launch Edition

annabowling Leave a comment

Hi, everybody, and happy November! I’m Storm, and I am not a big expert on Novembers, because this is probably only my second one, but that should make it very easy for me to have the best November yet, right? I know some cats have writers who are doing NaNoWriMo this month. It sounds very exciting. All of thst lap time, and all those warm keyboards has to be an incredible experience. I will be having some of that, as Aunt Anna and Aunt Melva are committed to getting Drama King to the end of draft one this month, and Aunt Anna wants to get a few other things under control at the same time. Maybe that’s what all those planners are for? I, of course, will be on Mews duty, to make sure she gets it all done, including taking copious breaks to pet and play with me.

mews on deck

Buried Under Romance

Aunt Anna would like to apologize for the absence of posts at Buried Under Romance this past week, but exciting new things are coming, very soon. For a while now, she has half-joked about what she would like to do if anyone ever dropped a romance magazine in her lap, and that is very close to what is going on there. There is a platform, there are some very talented reviewers and other people to make it all work, and what better time to truly kick into gear than the holiday season?

Readvember

I don’t know if Readvember is really a thing, but maybe it is, now. Aunt Anna flatly refuses to look at how far behind she is in her Goodreads challenge until she finishes reading at least one book. She would rather look at the books she is supposed to be reading instead, and maybe find a way to track reading progress that will keep her motivated. Do you know of any reading challenges that are fun? Leave as link in the comments, and Aunt Anna will give them a look.

Life After Launch

Please note that is “launch,” not “lunch.” Lunch has not happened yet as I write this, and I am more of a breakfast and dinner girl, anyway. Aunt Melva is sending Aunt Anna some more pictures from the book launch, to share with everybody The pictures look like everybody had a really fun time, and Aunt Anna says they did. Now, all of the reception leftovers are gone, except for the memories, and it is back to business on all things reading, writing, and blogging related, not necessarily in that order.

So far, Aunt Anna is planning to show what planners she is using to keep her writing stuff in line, at least for the time being, at the start of next week. I suspect she will move a lot of things around before then, but as long as she settles on something that makes sense, that is all that matters.

There has also been talk of getting a real cat bed for me, to keep next to the glowy box. Anything is a “real” cat bed, as long as there is a real cat sleeping on it, but I have heard that the motel will want their towel back when we move into our real apartment, and so it’s probably best to get something in place now, so I can know it is mine when we do pick up sticks and set down roots in a different place.

That’s about it for this week’s post. Not that much to report, it’s true, but it’s a brand new month, beginning today, and Thanksgiving month, at that. For those who are curious, yes, I will get a special dinner on Thanksgiving day, but it will be chicken, not turkey, because my mom told Aunt Anna that turkey and my tummy are Not Friends. We won’t go into how my mom found out that bit of information.

Wait. There is one other development this week, which I think needs to be included. I have a new Thing that I do. Sometimes, the humans don’t immediately stop what they are doing (including sleeping) when I ask them to play, so now, to show them I am Really Serious, I bring them my Mousie toy. I also have crinkly foil balls, which are fun, but I only ever bring them Mousie. When a cat brings you a slimy stuffed mouse, trailing a long string, it is an expression of love. There is a lot of love around here.

Okay, that’s really it. Headbonks!

short-haired calico cat, eating out of a pink bowl. Handwriting font reada "love, Storm"

Typing With Wet Paws: Mid-October Edition

annabowling Leave a comment

Hi! How is everybody? I’m Storm, and I’m good. I am learning my job as Aunt Anna’s new mews. So far, a lot of that has been sitting behind her and complaining that I don’t have a good enough view. Aunt Anna says I am her Velcro kitty, because I always want to be near her. She says she is probably going to have to make a space for me to sit next to her computer when we are settled in our new home. Right now, I have a folded towel and/or t-shirt. Sometimes I sit there.

The big development here is that the apartment the humans thought would be a good match, really was not, so they are on the search once more. Aunt Anna says that they are only looking at cat-positive places, which is good because I am a very positive cat. Actually, I will probably get two seats, on two desks, because Aunt Anna likes to have her computer desk and her handwriting desk be two different desks. While we are in the motel, she has her computer set up on the only desk, and then she writes longhand on the bed, with me. Her pens make great toys.

Okay, on to the usual information. There is the usual Buried Under Romance update, and a bonus one as well.

Purr-sonally, I think the answer is pretty obvious, but you can read Aunt Anna’s take on the issue on her latest Saturday Discussion post.

Since I did mention a bonus, here is what that is. This week, Buried Under Romance has had excerpts from more than ten (that’s as high as I can count right now, but I am learning) Regency Christmas novellas in the Winter Wishes anthology. The authors have some interesting things to say, and they will be giving away books to two lucky commenters, so get your comments in on the first link above, to get your chance.

this book falls under “high time”

On the reading front, Aunt Anna is not very happy about being six books behind in her Goodreads challenge, but she is determined to get current and maybe even exceed her goal. There are still more than two months left in the year, and she has me to supervise her reading, so I think odds are good. Her current reads include Blue Heaven, Black Night, by Heather Graham, originally published under her Shannon Drake name. It is a big, medieval historical romance, that Aunt Anna started reading many many years ago, but wandered off. She figures it is now high time to move that to the “read” list.

On the writing front, it has been pretty real-life-y this week, but Aunt Anna did send a chapter to Aunt Melva, and they were both interviewed by a journalist in advance of their author event on the 26th. So far, Aunt Anna is feeling pretty good about that, but still thinking she may need to go buy red shoes (if you have read Chasing Prince Charming, you will probably know why) because the ones she wanted to wear are still packed. I am glad I only have to deal with paws.

I think that’s probably the important stuff for this week. Aunt Anna says she will have a good sized planner post to make up for the last couple of months, especially since the holidays and new year are around the corner. I, of course, will be on hand (or paw) to assist as I deem necessary. She has some idea of creating a writing planner. That should be interesting, or at the very least, a good cat bed.

Headbonks!

Writing With a Velcro Cat (and book launch information)

annabowling Leave a comment

Cats and writers are a natural combination. In the year and change since Skye went to Rainbow Bridge, I have sorely missed having feline supervision while I write. Now that Storm has joined the family, that need is most assuredly filled, though I am taking some time to learn her particular management style. For one thing, please refer to the photo below:

she has a top to her head, I promise

Yes, Storm does have a top to her head. I took this picture last night, after she herded me to bed, which is a thing she does now. Herds me to bed, and then sits on me. Sits. On. Me. I have to be on my back, she has to be in full cat loaf position, feets tucked under, and we blink at each other for a while, until she moves between me and Real Life Romance Hero, signaling that it is truly sleepy times now. If I do not comply in a timely manner, then there will be chirps and walks across my person until I do, at which point Storm settles on my other side, with loud rumble purrs.

That’s bedtime sorted. Writing time, well, we are still working on that. One of the reasons our family made a good match with Storm is that she has some separation anxiety, and I work at home. Even before we have an actual home, this means that Storm is going to have a hooman with her most of the time. Ideally, I will be within her sight. This means that bathroom doors need to be open at least a crack. For writing, we have a few issues.

Right now, we’re trying a mini-bed on the desk, next to my monitor, toys at the ready when she really really really needs some attention. There may be treats available, possibly for both of us (not the same treats; human treats and kitty treats do not intersect. Except for organic peanut butter.) So far, this seems to be working, as Storm can see my face and my screen, she’s comfy, and I can give her pets and we can both take care of important business. Photos to follow if this works out.

Also to follow are…books. Melva and I are on track to a rough draft of Drama King before the holiday season takes over, and I am planning on getting Her Last First Kiss to the end of the second draft as soon as possible, because this whole having a book out thing is kind of cool, and the only way I can get there is to write more books. I have three historicals to shop around, and Melva and I are working on more contemporaries. Anything beyond that? Sure, when the right ideas presents themselves. Always romance, though, or at least a strong romantic element.

Melva and I are now two weeks out from our first in-person book launch, for Chasing Prince Charming. If you are in the Western MA area, or can get there, you can meet Melva and me, live and in person. Storm will be staying home with Real Life Romance Hero, but Sebastian might tag along, if he doesn’t have more pressing matters on his agenda. The press release is as follows:

We’re celebrating the publication of Chasing Prince Charming
by Melva Michaelian and Anna Bowling, a romance novel on the sophisticated side of sexy!

We’re excited about another success in Anna’s and Melva’s writing careers and the release of this first of three books in the Love by the Book series, published by Wild Rose Press.

Please join us for a reading, book signing, and discussion about their collaborative writing, which was a long-distance effort (Melva is a local writer, and Anna, originally from Enfield, CT, now lives in New York). A small quantity of books will be available for purchase at the event, but we recommend you purchase a copy in advance on Amazon.

Wearing red shoes, sneakers, boots, or other footwear is suggested (but not required).

This event is free and open to the public. No reservations are needed.

Learn more about Anna’s and Melva’s collaborative efforts at www.melvaandanna.com

Sound like fun? I’ll be there. Also, I am technically originally from Hampton, Virginia, then NYC, then Westchester, then CT, then VT, then CA, CT again and back to NY. Yeah, I got around. Roots are down now, or will be as soon as we are moved into the next location of Stately Bowling Manor.

Update: there is a new peril to writing with a Velcro cat. That is when said Velcro cat claims the keyboard as hers by rubbing against it, and inadvertently cranking the speaker volume way up high. I think I can get used to that.

Working on a new sign off picture…

Typing With Wet Paws: Perfect Storm Edition

annabowling 4 Comments

Hi! I’m Storm. What are your names? I am new here. My mom is on a top secret mission (I think she is a super hero) to help some very important people, so I am going to stay with these guys. So far, I am calling them aunts and uncle, but we will see how things develop. If you have been following Aunt Anna on Facebook or Instagram, then you have probably seen pictures of me. If you want to make sure you don’t miss any of those pictures, follow the hashtag #calicolovestorm on Instagram. There are only a few pictures up there now, but I have only been here for about a week. Give everybody some time.

The search for a new location for Stately Bowling Manor is, hopefully, drawing to a close. Aunt Anna will have more information on that later, but for now, let’s focus on me. I am a beautiful calico girl, about two years old, but I might still have some growing to do. My legs are super long. When we had to be in the car for a while, I rode in Uncle’s lap, in my carrier, and I yelled a lot. The humans got very concerned, until they realized I wasn’t scared. I was mad. The view stunk. I wanted to be held up so I could see out the window.

Anyway, we are all still getting acquainted. Sebastian said something about me taking over the Friday blogs. Then he rolled over and snored. I guess this is what he means. Aunt Anna still has some numbers to crunch before she can update her Goodreads challenge, and she has been busy with moving things for the last couple of weeks, but there is a lot of fun stuff coming very soon at Buried Under Romance.

On the writing front, I will be assuming mews duties. So far, this largely consists of me batting the pen out of Aunt Anna’s hand when she writes longhand. I am also super good at lying next to her and purring (I have a loud, rumbly motor under all this sleekness) when she needs to think about stories, or read stories somebody else already wrote. I can also help her watch TV shows on her tablet, but with fair warning. My mom showed me a computer game where I can smack a virtual mouse, so I kind of do that when there are other things on the screen, too, hoping the mouse will appear. Aunt Linda was not too thrilled when I did that yesterday, when she was playing a game that did not have any mice in it. Sorry not sorry.

Since things are headed n a back to normal direction these days, I will leave it to Aunt Anna to mention the chance to meet her and Aunt Melva in person. All I will say for now is that if you are in or near Western MA on the morning of October 26th, and like it when authors talk about books, there will be something super special coming your way. Aunt Anna is looking forward to putting down roots and getting back into the normal swing of things. I, of course, will be su-purr-vising (cat pun, couldn’t resist) it all. I’m a mews now. That’s what I do.

Headbonks,!