Transcript: Clea Simon Women and Cats February 1, 2009 PHAbymom: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us at Cathobbyist.com, I'm very pleased to welcome Clea Simon to our Eleventh Annual Chat Month. PHAbymom: Clea Simon is a mystery author of such wonderful titles as "Probable Claws", "Cattery Row" and "Mew is for Murder" as well as the Non Fiction "Feline Mystique: The Mysterious Connection between Women and Cats" PHAbymom: Clea is joining us tonight to discuss what she learned writing the "Feline Mystique" and how women and cats connect. She can also share stories about how she integrated cats into her work with her fictions as well. I'm quite sure her co-author Musetta will be sitting at her side during our chat giving her all the correct answers as cats are prone to do. PHAbymom: Clea, would you like to make an opening remark about your life with your cats and how the mystique has been a part of your life? Clea_Simon: Hi everyone! Clea_Simon: I''m really grateful to be here! I'm happy to talk about my books or, realy, anything! Clea_Simon: Sure, AbyMom! I think I probably share a lot with all of you. I currently cohabit with one cat, my black and white Musetta, and she really is the comfort and inspiration of mylife. She's teh star of my cat mysteries, too. And her predecessors were really the companions who got me through some hard times. Clea_Simon: I'd also like to add that although I write about women and cats - and I've really enjoyed focusing on how women and cats have been linked through the ages, in history, mythology and the arts, I know for a fact that many men can love cats, too. NYC_NYIfan: One of my cats was adopted from a shelter after 4 years with his first family. He seems to be more on-edge when handled by males. He came with some physical and behavioral issues. He has a lower-than-normal overstimulation threshhold generally but it really seems to be worse around males. Do you see that a lot? Clea_Simon: I have seen that, and I can't explain that. Bad early kittenhood experience? Though I have to add right now that I love cats and I write about cats -- and about the human-cat bond -- but I'm not a behaviorist. GA NYC_NYIfan: yes, he suffered a broken pelvis before his first adoption, so his kitten life was also not good Clea_Simon: Poor kitty! Maybe with time you can win him around to kind men? THough, again, I'm not a behaviorist. GA ashnzade: I love cat mysteries! before we get started on the women and cat connections, can you tell us how many cat mysteries you have written? What got you started writing these, and I am assumagng I can find them all at Amazon, or some such place? ga ashnzade: oops assuming.... Clea_Simon: Thanks, Ash! I love them, too, which is why I write them. It's so much fun to create a world in which cats are important! I have three books out in my Theda Krakow series, starting with Mew is for Murder, then Cattery Row and Cries and Whiskers. The fourth, "Probable Claws," comes out in April. In each of them, there are lots of cats and cat issues -- such as the issues shelters face, feral cat rescue, etc. The heroine's sidekick runs a shelter and my heroine, Theda, confides in her kitty, Musetta, constantly. Oh and I have a second series starting this summer, with "Shades of Grey," which features a ghost cat -- cause really don't we all feel like we still are in touch with the cats that have gone beyond? Clea_Simon: You can read excerpts of all my books at my home site, http://www.cleasimon.com Clea_Simon: Oh I forgot the second half of your question -- I guess I just srarted writing them because I love reading them! Midask9: I have enjoyed your mysteries, and am wondering where you find inspiration? GA Clea_Simon: Hi Midas - I found the inspriation for my first mystery, "Mew is for Murder," while researching "The Feline Mystique." I was reading a lot about cat hoarders, you know, "crazy cat ladies," and I went to visit one (she wasn't too bad, but well, it was a little odd... but the cats were all healthy). Anyway, she was telling me about how so many of her neighbors hated her and since I read mysteries, I started thinking "hmm... is a cat lady were murdered, there would be a lot of suspects...and who would take care of her cats?" Clea_Simon: That's sort of the basis for "Mew is for Murder." Then once you start writing them, more ideas follow! "Probable Claws" deals with cat food poisoning. Who would poison cat food? GA ashnzade: I have 3 cats - 2 males and 1 female. I find that I am more intuitive with my female than I am with my 2 males ashnzade: Is it more commont to have a woman on female connection rather than woman to male cat? ashnzade: Or is there any difference that you have found Clea_Simon: I don't know about that. The first real cat love of my life was Cyrus, my grey male. He's the inspiration for Mr. Grey in my upcoming "Shades of Grey" mystery. GA ashnzade: must just be based on individual cases... my little female is extremely smart Clea_Simon: I do sometimes think females are smarter and more aggressive :) GA freemanlisa445: how do i keep my female from wanting to go outside.she is a young cat . Clea_Simon: Again, I'm not a behaviorist, Lisa. But I do know that cats have short attention spans (they're hunters) so you can try playing with your kitty for about 15 minutes at a time two or three times a day. That'll be all the excercise she needs. Just watch whenyou open the door! GA freemanlisa445: thank you i will try that PHAbymom: I am intrigued by the relationship of women in cats, from witches and familiars to crazy cat ladies.... please give us some insight. PHAbymom: excuse the type... women and cats Clea_Simon: Let me see if I can boil down an entire book! Hmm... well, to start with, women and cats have been linked since pre-historic times. There's probably a connection because cats seem to give birth easily and so women wanted to be like cats and men wanted women to get some of the cats power. ALso, because cats see so well in the dark and are so flexible when they fall, cats were seen as able to go back and forth between life and death -- so women, who gave birth and were the healers, were associated with cats. There's a neolithic sculpture from the area that is now turkey that shows a woman or goddess giving birth supported by two leopards. And then you you have goddess like Bast in Egypt, who was in charge of writing, beer making, and general fertility/creativiyt isues.. it all follows Clea_Simon: But basically at some point (early Christian era), men started to fear our power and we were demonized. So goddesses like Fricka became nasty witches. That still exists today -- Batman is a good guy. But Catwoman, who is sexy and powerful, is bad... Clea_Simon: So, that's a very VERY short answer! freemanlisa445: do you think cats are more in tune to men or women. Clea_Simon: Well, I did write a book called "The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection between WOMEN and Cats." So, I guess I do feel like we have more of a conneciton. But that said, I know some men who truly love their cats. Maybe those men are more in touch with their feminine sides. They're not afraid to be sexy or vulnerable... freemanlisa445: i agree thank you Clea_Simon: Please excuse all my typos, by the way, I'm typing quickly! GA Midask9: I am wondering if you have any tips for someone to get started in writing cat mysteries? Clea_Simon: Hi Midas! Yes, I do - the same advice I give my writing students. First, read all you can. Of course, I recommend my books, but read everything you can get your hands on. And then, the second part, WRITE. I cannot tell you how mahny people tell me they want to write... well, the only way to do it is to put your butt in the seat and start doing it. Thats' really basic, but it's true. GA Clea_Simon: Hey, I'll throw out a question: Because my new series ("Shades of Grey") features a young woman who gets advice from her late, great cat, I'm curious. Do any of you feel like you are still connected to a pet who has gone over teh rainbow bridge? GA PHFaust: Most definately. My first cat. :) PHTessie: Yes! PHKitkat: Absolutely..........all of them PHAbymom: Yes, I've been visited by several. PHFaust: she was with me from my first to my 19th year... Wiscats: I'm always distressed to hear about hoarders who seem to be usually women with cats. Do you have any insights into why that may be? Clea_Simon: Ah, hoarders... there's been a lot of research into this phenomenon and I did research it some (there are links to my stories on my website - look under "other writing"). It seems to be a form of obsessive compulsive disorder. It's really very sad, these people don't realize that they're hurting the animals. GA Clea_Simon: Oh Wiscats - it's odd, but it seems like women hoard cats. Men, when they hoard, hoard other animals. Very odd. GA freemanlisa445: which do you find more interesting the female or male cat Clea_Simon: Unfair question! Cyrus was the love of my life, my one stable relationship for many of my single years. I didn't think I'd ever bond with another cat as strongly. But now I have Musetta and her personality is so different -- she's my little riot grrrl, all feisty and fun and I love her! GA freemanlisa445: i have 3 girls and each is so diffrent Midask9: I love reading books where the cat has his/her own persona - will Shades of Grey feature a speaking/thinking ghost cat? Clea_Simon: Yes, although usually I don't have talking cats (in the Theda Krakowmysteries) in the Dulcie Schwartz mysteries ("Shades of Grey" and the sequel that I am writing now), the ghost cats talks. But of course he talks in riddles, like a real cat! GA PHritters: is it possible that women connect with cats more as they dont need the physical show of affect that men seem to have? Clea_Simon: they - women or theycats don't need the shows of affection? GA PHritters: women dont need the physical show PHritters: with my clan, some of them are NOT lap cats and that's just fine with me, they know i love them and they love me Clea_Simon: I do think that women are usually more attuned to subtle behaviors. It's teh way we're raised. And cats are subtle creatures! I know my husband, who loves Museta, likes to "rough house" with her. Luckily, she likes that, but it's very un-cat-like. GA Clea_Simon: Musetta isn't a lap cat, either. She's an "I'll sit next to you or in the same room" cat. GA ashnzade: Back to your question if any of us have ever felt we had a connection with a cat from beyond - Definitely - My little bridge Aby, Whirly, passed and I was literally distraught. Grieving for days, etc. One night I swore Whirly jumped up on the bed with me, cuddled up for a minute and then danced off like she used to do. I awoke and thought I'd been dreaming -- but I could smell her. She had a distinctive lovely musky smell to her skin. I instantly knew she was okay and happy - I no longer grieved - I missed her terribly - but I no longer grieved. She was an amazing cat Clea_Simon: I'm so glad to hear that! That's what has happened with me and Cyrus, and that's what I have happening with my new heroine Dulcie and her Mr. Grey. She feels a thud on the foot of the bed as if he's there... and then she hears his voice. GA ashnzade: Cool! I do believe - I wouldn't have before that experience but it was so specific, there could be no doubt. ga Clea_Simon: When "Mew is for Murder" opens, that heroine Theda Krakow has just lost a cat and she's horribly distraught... but she finds a new love. GA freemanlisa445: can a husband and wife have diffrent connections with the cats we have Clea_Simon: I think they can, Lisa. I think I live with proof ot that! GA Midask9: Your comment about rough housing is interesting, my husband is also the one to "rough house" with the cats. For affection, they look to me moreso. ga Clea_Simon: Oh I should add, I have aphoto of my husband Jon and Musetta kissing - I think it's on my bio page at my site http://www.cleasimon.com Clea_Simon: I think some men think that cats are really dogs. But they mean well! GA ashnzade: My husband plays rough with our cats, but they LOVE it! ashnzade: They each have their own individual games, and they all egg him on to play with him Clea_Simon: Some cats do! Musetta does, but I worry that he's teaching her that it's ok to bite. She gets a little bitey. GA freemanlisa445: so does mine and they love him for the rough play PHAbymom: Make him always use toys.. not his hands ashnzade: oh no - ours are not allowed to bite or scratch with claws out - the game stops if they do that -- they have learned Clea_Simon: Oh I would like to mention that if anyone here would like to get on my email list, for news about new books, contests and the like, they should email me (you can reach me through my web site). I don't email that often and I don't give names and addresses away. GA Clea_Simon: Ash - that's good! Sometimes Musetta gets a ittle carried away. GA freemanlisa445: but when the little one whats to play fecth the mouse it is me that she bring the toy mouse to Clea_Simon: sweet! Wiscats: I do both--play a bit rough house when I think some cats want to, and cuddle with those who prefer that. And again, those who have gone to the Rainbow Bridge: My cat Louis passed about 8 years ago, and yet I frequently"see" a black cat lurking in the shadows... Clea_Simon: I think some of this gender-linkd behavior makes sense when you think of lions. The males lounge around, the females do the hunting! GA Clea_Simon: I know what you mean, Wiscats! GA Clea_Simon: When Dulcie "sees" Mr. Grey she worries that she's losing her mind. GA NYC_NYIfan: I sometimes feel that a cat is walking on the bed I sleep on, but neither of my current cats are in the room. So I always thought it was one of my Bridge cats coming to check in on things Clea_Simon: NYC, I think something lingers. Some spirit... Clea_Simon: She's not! GA Clea_Simon: Oops - sorry, the "she's not" was finishing my thought about how my heroind thinks she's losing her mind. Midask9: I love the artwork and photos on your books as well as the content - how do you go about choosing a cover image?? So much rides on that first glance. GA Clea_Simon: Actually, I don't have much say in the covers. The publisher assigns an illustrator and he'll ask me for ideas, then comes up with one or two desgins. I've been luck. GA Midask9: Are there any authors in the pet mystery genre that inspired you to start writing? Clea_Simon: Yes, indeed! I used to read all the "Cat Who" books, Lillian Jackson Braun, though I found that I sort of got tired of them. Same with Rita Mae brown. But I recently discovered Blaize Clement and I love her books. Also, I've had the pleasure of meeting Shirley Rousseau Murphy and she's a lovely woman. She was very encouraging toward me when i started.GA Clea_Simon: I should add, there are many other great writers, but those are the ones who spring to mind. GA Midask9: (I love Shirley's books!) PHTessie: me too PHTessie: and brauns Clea_Simon: She's a really nice lady!GA Wiscats: Just wanted to say that I'm jumping back and forth between the room here and your web site. I look forward to exploring it. Clea_Simon: I'll throw out a qeustion! How many of you read series? I try to make all my books stand alone, but they do follow one after another because I like to have one long continuing story... Clea_Simon: GA Midask9: <<< ashnzade: I love series!
ashnzade: I feel I get to know both the author and the characters better that way
PHTessie: always look forward to the next adventure
PHAbymom: I have read some mystery series, including the Cat Who books... or at least some of them
Clea_Simon: This is good to hear! They're fun to write because you don't have to say goodbye to the characters. GA
Wiscats: I read series...mysteries especially. And for rip-roaring fun, the Evanovich "numbers" (which have nothing to do with cats, alas)
ashnzade: me too! -- I am a big Sue Grafton fan
PHKitkat: I have read most of the Cat Who series
Wiscats: me too
Midask9: enjoy the characters developing, and getting to know them more
PHKitkat: I love Sue Grafton too
PHritters: i've played around with writing short story items (for purrsonal use) and have found that I tend to go off on tangents, do you have this problem, if so how do you work your way back to the main theme?
Clea_Simon: Great question, Ritters. I'm not an outliner, per se, though I do tend to jot down ideas for important scenes that I know I'll want to happen. I htink it is very difficult to stay focused. I think it helps to think "why am I writing this scene?" "how does it advance the story?" When I write something that is off teh point, I try to make myself cut it out. I put it in another file -- maybe that will be the next book, or the next series. But whenever yous tart a scene, think "what's the point? what happens here and how will it advance mys tory?" GA
PHAbymom: On behalf of Jeff Barringer and all of us here at all the Cathobbyist.com, we want to thank you for taking your time to chat with us. Transcripts will be posted with in a few days. Once again, Thank you Clea.
Please visit Clea's website at www.cleasimon.com
The chat room is now open for chatting. For more listings of our guests visit our main page at http://www.pethobbyist.com/ChatMonth11.html
Clea_Simon: Sometimes you just have to write it all out, in a first draft, b ut when you're re-reading and revising, cut it all out! GA
ashnzade: Thank you so much Clea
ashnzade: Really an enjoyable chat and I will be reading your books!
Clea_Simon: Whoops! I guess we're out of time. Thank you so much for having me here tonight! It's been a pleasure to chat with all of you. I hope to hear from you all soon! GA
Midask9: thank you Clea!!!
PHritters: thank you Clea, most informative
PHCatitude: Thank you Clea!
PHTessie: Thank you Clea, looking forward to your ghost cats story
PHKitkat: Thanks Cllea!
Midask9: perhaps you can come back again and visit :)
PHTessie: nite everyone
Clea_Simon: Thank you all! Good night!
Clea_Simon: GA
SnowtaMom: thank you, clea
Wiscats: thank you Clea
Clea_Simon: my pleasure!
gaylek: Thanks, Clea. Can't wait until April for the new one
Clea_Simon: thank you!
PHritters: very nice chat Clea, enjoyed it so much
Pyewacket: Thank you Clea!
Clea_Simon: Thank you and good night!
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