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Where Stories Are Made is a new feature here at Book Chick City. It’s where the author takes us on a tour of their writing place, be it an office, coffee shop or park and tells us about their writing day and rituals. My guest today is the wonderful science fiction romance author, Linnea Sinclair…
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My writing office is furry. This seems to be an affliction common with authors as I’m far from the only feline-fueled writer out there: Mary Jo Putney, Gardner Dozois, Susan Grant, and Robin D Owens come to mind as others I know who combine meows with their manuscripts. “Feline Typing Assistants” are also convenient scapegoats (scapecats?) for spelling errors. “I have no idea how that appeared on that page,” I blithely email to my editor at Bantam. “Must have been one of the cats walking over the keyboard…”
My Office
Cats are also invaluable critique partners. “So, James,” I query the resplendently pudgy black-and-white Norwegian Forest Cat sprawled next to my laptop. “Does this sound like an order Admiral Guthrie would issue when faced with certain death at the hands of the enemy?” I read aloud the section in question, watching as James’ yellow eyes narrow. Uh-oh. Not a good sigh. “Okay, I’ll rewrite it.”
Typing assistant, James, ponders plot points
Typing assistant, James, sees double!Hey, at least he didn’t yawn or hack up a hairball which, yes, has happened both on printed manuscript pages and on galley copies which, yes, have to be returned to the copy editing department. Yikes! Here in Florida, cat hack-ups are likely to contain chameleon parts as well as fur. (Note to my editor: that’s what the greenish-yellow stains are.)
Typing assistants Ches and Brady
Cats are soothing presences when the book is going badly, continuing to love me even when I hate my characters, hate the plot, and am wondering if what’s in the kitty litter pan might not be preferable to what’s on the page. They’re encouraging presences, curling in my lap (that’s usually Chessie’s job though on occasion his one-eyed brother, Brady, will pinch-hit) while I read reviews. And they’re on a never-ending quest to cover my book awards with moist nose prints. My netbook even bears teeth marks on the screen’s upper left corner: a sign of approval from the late and much lauded Daq-cat, original cover cat on my Game of Command.
Typing assistant, Miss Doozy
Communicating with my cats helps me with characterization. They respond to the tone, inflection, and pitch of my voice, my words. They answer me in body language. They interact with each other with dozens of verbal and non-verbal means from low rumbles to high trills to forty-seven different tail-twitches. Is there any better template (and, yes, I write science fiction) for an alien species?
Two of my much smudged awards
They help me prioritize: nothing gets done until the cats are fed. “Feed cats” starts off every one of my writing days. And nothing keeps one more humble than scooping the litter pan. No doubt if the tour bus doing the houses of the rich and famous ever goes rolling by, it will inevitably be at the moment when I’m kneeling on the tile floor of the laundry room. “And on your left, ladies and gentlemen, you can see that even award-winning authors do scoop poop!”
Thanks for visiting!
~Linnea, Ches and Brady (Maine Coon brothers), James, and Miss Doozy
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Rebels and Lovers: out now
Hope’s Folly: out now
Shades of Dark: out now
You can find out more about this feature HERE
**Next week on ‘Where Stories Are Made’: J. F. Lewis**
22 Comments
That's a lot of cats.
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We've got just the one cat – Fester. But he seems to get all over my laptop while I'm working. He sits and supervises everything I write. Then he watches the street beadily. Yesterday he stepped quite nonchalantly all over my keyboard and caused a fair bit of damage. But there is something very soothing about having him around while I work.
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Lovely post! Thanks for sharing this with us, Linnea ( and cats!)
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wow! Linnea I had no idea you were so furry. Great pictures. MDP
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It's was wonderful to meet your furry friends. My two are always trying to contribute their opinions, and edits.
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What a cozy, comfortable looking office! We have two cats and they always seem to be around when I'm on the computer!
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She is so funny. Scapecats. I wish we all had that kind of get out of jail free card!
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Thanks for stopping by my office!
@Alex–we had seven felines at one point (or rather, they had us). Of course, we had a much larger home. Four is a good number. Miss Doozy is quite tiny so she only counts for half a cat. But now James and Ches… lotta cat for the money!
@Another – yes, I too suspect that cats are closet editors…
@Cleverly – I can start a rent-a-feline-editor program if you're in need of a scapecat
Someone (I suspect Chessie) is making trilling noises from behind the large stuffed chair as I type this. Investigation may be required (and chameleon rescue!)
~Linnea
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Linnea you have a lovely office which I suspect is like my home full of shed cat hair:-) Thanks for sharing this fun insight and the furballs are lovely additions to enjoy while they "supervise" of course…
jackie b central texas
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What a great post! Pets help to keep things in perspective, God bless their hairy little souls.
Book Chick City….I love this new feature on your blog!
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Hi everyone, thanks for stopping by!
Linnea, thanks so much for the post – love it! And love all your gorgeous cats!
Penelope – so glad you like my new feature, it really is a lot of fun
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She is so funny. I love her cats, they are so cute. I guess a lot of authors have cats, and they share opinions of their books??
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So great you do these off to goodreads to add this books to my wishlist
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I love the cats! They look like they are "paid" well for being scapecats. This post was just too cute and funny.
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Linnea, thank you for sharing where your stories are made. Your post made me laugh out loud, as a fellow cat owner (or should I say that I am owned by a cat?)
Love, love, love your typing assistants. I am sure each one of them takes his or her job very seriously.
Thanks again, BCC, for a terrific feature!
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This was a wonderful post! Love all the cats, though I can't imagine getting anything done with that many around. I only have one dog and she doesn't even like it when I read in her presence.
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Awww the cats are all adorable! My friend has 2 Norwegian Forest Cats & they are sooo cute
)
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What cutie's, Linnea!!
Look like excellent assistants!
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Every author needs a Mews!
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I remember some emails during Folly covered in cat prints!
Admiral Mikey
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Kai – I do it as I know I like a link to Goodreads – so easy then just to add to my shelves
Lori – you're welcome, I'm glad you enjoy them
THANKS TO ALL FOR TAKING TIME TO STOP BY AND COMMENT!!!
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Sorry it took me so long to stop by! Love her cats (of course)!
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