Saturday, July 14, 2012

ParaCozyMysMo - Sofie Kelly - Magical Cats Mysteries

Please welcome Sofie Kelly to The Qwillery as part of ParaCozyMysMo! Sofie writes the Magical Cats Mysteries.




Do You Believe In Magic?

Owen and Hercules are the magical cats in my Magical Cats mystery series. Owen can become invisible whenever it suits him and Hercules can walk through walls and doors—pretty much any solid barrier in his path. Those abilities have helped their owner, librarian Kathleen Paulson, solve more than one mystery in Mayville Heights, Minnesota.

The cats have another special ability that’s part of the story. Kathleen talks to them and most of the time the cats respond—unless there happens to be a particularly tasty batch of sardine crackers around. I don’t mean the cats can actually speak, but clearly they are following the conversation and they’ll do whatever they need to do to get their ideas across to Kathleen. This scene happens early in Copycat Killing:
Hercules suddenly dropped back on to all four feet, looked at the refrigerator door—where I’d stuck the Wisteria Hill feeding schedule—then turned back to me, tipping his head to one side and meowing quizzically. He might have been asking if we had any sardines in the fridge. Or it was possible he was asking if Marcus was okay.
Kathleen’s conversations with Owen and Hercules are based a lot on my conversations with George. George was a big marmalade-colored tomcat and he wasn’t my cat in the sense that I owned him. But he was my cat in the sense that we spent a lot of time together.

George belonged to a man who lived in my neighborhood. When the man died his wife kept George even though she wasn’t a cat person. George left her house every morning and returned late in the afternoon. He spent a big part of his morning with me. He’d sit beside me on the front steps and we’d talk about everything—politics, baseball, why the rosebushes I planted kept dying. He’d tip his head from one side to the other as though he was thinking about whatever I was saying. Sometimes he’d pucker his face or shake his head. Occasionally he’d put a paw over his nose. And he talked. A lot. George meowed and murped and made growly mumbles low in his throat. He had an opinion on everything. He’d get especially animated when we talked about city council.

When George got sick he started spending most afternoons in the sunshine on the steps. His owner’s son would stop on his way from work and drive George home because he’d be too tired to walk. But George still liked to talk. He still had an opinion about city council and the Boston Red Sox.

True story. The morning the first Magical Cats book, Curiosity Thrilled the Cat came out was cold and snowy. I stood looking out my living room window and noticed fresh cat paw prints in the thin layer of snow covering the front steps. There are several cats in my neighborhood, but none of them ever come and sit on the front steps the way George used to, and certainly not before six o’clock in the morning in February. Still it had to have been one of them, I told myself. How else could they have gotten there? Those small paw prints in the snow weren’t a sign or an omen. There was nothing magical about them. Nothing.

Was there?



The Magical Cats Mysteries

Copycat Killing
A Magical Cats Mystery 3
Obsidian, May 1, 2012
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 336 pages

Everyone thinks their cats are special—but Owen and Hercules have powers that go far beyond an adorable look or an irresistible purr. Along with their owner, librarian Kathleen Paulson, they have an uncanny instinct for solving crimes...

It’s been raining cats and dogs in Mayville Heights. The small town’s been deluged, and now the local artists’ co-op is on the verge of flooding. Kathleen has been up all night helping her friends move their creations to the safety of the upstairs studio.

The artwork survives, but when controversial mask maker Jaeger Merrill is found drowned in the co-op basement, Kathleen questions whether the death was accidental. After she discovers the artist was using an assumed name, she realizes she can’t actually assume anything about him. With the help of handsome detective Marcus Gordon—and her cats’ extraordinary powers of detection—it's up to Kathleen to unmask a killer.



Sleight of Paw
A Magical Cats Mystery 2
Obsidian, September 6, 2011
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 336 pages

Small-town librarian Kathleen Paulson never wanted to be the crazy cat lady. But after Owen and Hercules followed her home, she realized her mind wasn’t playing tricks on her—her cats have magical abilities.

When the body of elderly do-gooder Agatha Shepherd is found near Kath’s favorite local cafĂ©, she knows Owen’s talent for turning invisible and Hercules’s ability to walk through walls will give the felines access to clues Kath couldn’t get without arousing suspicion. Someone is hiding some dark secrets—and it will take a bit of furtive investigating to catch the cold-hearted killer.



Curiosity Thrilled the Cat
A Magical Cats Mystery 1
Obsidian, February 1, 2011
Obsidian, May 2012 (Read Humane reissue)
Mass Market Paperback and eBook, 336 pages

When librarian Kathleen Paulson moved to Mayville Heights, Minnesota, she had no idea that two strays would nuzzle their way into her life. Owen is a tabby with a catnip addiction and Hercules is a stocky tuxedo cat who shares Kathleen’s fondness for Barry Manilow. But beyond all the fur and purrs, there’s something more to these felines.

When murder interrupts Mayville’s Music Festival, Kathleen finds herself the prime suspect. More stunning is her realization that Owen and Hercules are magical—and she’s relying on their skills to solve a purr-fect murder.


Cat Trick (A Magical Cats Mystery 4) is coming in February 2013.



About Sofie

Sofie Kelly writes the New York Times best-selling Magical Cats mysteries. The most recent book in the series is Copycat Killing.

Website









The Giveaways

There is a giveaway of Copycat Killing (A Magical Cats Mystery 3) with this guest blog. You can also enter to win the Grand Prize by using the Rafflecopter. The comment you leave to enter to win Copycat Killing may also be used to enter to win the Grand Prize. Both Giveaways are open internationally.



To Enter to Win a Copy of Copycat Killing

What:  One commenter will win a copy of Copycat Killing (A Magical Cats Mystery 3) by Sofie Kelly. The novel is generously provided by Penguin.

How:  Leave a comment. Please remember - if you don't leave a comment your entry will not be counted.  You must also leave a way to contact you. Entries without contact information will not be counted.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Saturday, August 4, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*



To Enter to Win the Grand Prize

How:  Fill out the Rafflecopter

Terms and Conditions

1) There will be one winner of the Grand Prize.

2) The Grand Prize is separate from any giveaway associated with individual author visits during Paranormal Cozy Mystery Month.

3) You must leave a way to contact you with your comment. If you do not leave a way to contact you, your entry will not be counted.

4) The Grand Prize Giveaway is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address.

5) Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

6) Giveaway Terms and Condition are subject to change at any time.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

29 comments:

  1. Love the covers on these! Great artist.

    shelf
    (at)
    BearMountainBooks
    (dot)
    com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Maria, I agree. The cover art is gorgeous and I'm embarrassed to admit I've forgotten the artist's name.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cats solving crimes?!? I'M IN!! :D

    I want to read this and figure out how awesome cat sleuths are. Sherlock Paws?! Awesome! :D

    https://twitter.com/Will_Knight3/status/224180061778096129

    ReplyDelete
  4. This series has a wonderful premise. I can't wait to meet Kathleen, Owen, and Hercules they look like friends I want to know and follow :) Thank you for sharing with us today.
    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the cover art for these books. It get my attention by the cute cats . This is a new series for me and will check it out, I love to read these types of books. Thanks for the giveaway the information about the series it has open up a new world that I can't wait to read.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love this series! It's so funny & Owen & Hercules are a hoot! Please don't enter me in the giveaway as I already have the books.

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  7. I would love to read this series. It sounds very good. Thanks for the giveaway. I am a follower and email subscriber. Tore923@aol.com

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  8. Anything with cats works for me! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  9. I've always loved the use of cats in mysteries to help solve the crime. I think it adds a sense of fun and whimsy to the story.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com
    GFC: Barbara E.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you everyone for the compliments.

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  11. I have never read her books but they look to be right up my street (or alley as may be).

    margueritecore [at] gmail [dot] com

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  12. the cats sound pawfectly cool

    Thanks for the giveaway.

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  13. These books all look absolutely fabulous.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. There books and covers made me lauggh- what a wonderful concept. Canna wait to read them. So awesome sauce. sdylion(at)gmail(dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the cover, it sound like fun and interesting. i wanna reading this series. i am cat lover to, and this series make me curious :)
    Thanks for chance to win.

    filiafantasy at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love cats and the idea of cats solving crimes is just what I like to think my cat would get up too...if she could be bothered to move! Bless her, she's 18 years now so doesn't both a whole lot! :-)

    Mel S
    notanotherbookblog(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk

    ReplyDelete
  17. Magical Cats great idea. As one of the humans for 6 cats, all females, I can't doubt cats have magic. Mine seem to have the ability to get into everything, even when you want to keep them out. Cats solving crimes, maybe, committing crimes certainly.

    http://toobusyreading(dot)blogspot(dot)com/

    ReplyDelete
  18. I like that cats are part of the books. Interesting idea.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love cats, so looking forward to read this :)

    Ren
    sawamura_foxman AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have the first two books in this series and would love to win this one. Thanks for the opportunity!

    justpeachy36@yahoo.com

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  21. I recently read Sleight of Paw and really enjoyed it. I usually try to start with the first book in a series, so I'm not sure why I started with Sleight of Paw.

    acm05atjuno.com

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  22. Love the cover art on her interesting sounding books. WTG on her
    writing skills.
    dayleb at telus dot net

    ReplyDelete
  23. I just love this series!!! Everyone has been such a good read; I'd love a chance at winning the newest, thanks!
    Lethea

    Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

    ReplyDelete
  24. Cats and cozies just go together so perfectly---I must read this series.
    suefarrell.farrell!gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Librarian/books? Check. Cats? Check Check. Mysteries? Check Check CHECK!
    You're checking all my boxes! :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Cozy mysteries with cat. Sounds cute. Cant wait to check it out Thanks

    xzjh04(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Cats with magical powers? I'm in!

    spav05(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete