I have a book reading coming up in a few weeks. Okay, I admit it: it is my first reading. I’ll be reading from both published Crazy Cat Lady mysteries, “Cats’ Eyes” and “Copy Cats”. I haven’t decided which portions to read; that seems to be last on my list, preceded by marketing and promoting, getting out word. I invited everyone on my facebook list, including my dentist. It won’t matter what I read if no one comes.

That’s the fear, isn’t it? That you’ll throw a party and no one will come? But I’ve done that, back in my salad days, and lived. No, my personal fears have evolved from the basic embarrassment factor to something much deeper. What if they don’t like my books?

The short answer is it’s not my problem. I write because there is a story to tell and I am compelled to tell it. I like my books. The cozy cat mystery has become its own genre. I strive to walk in the footsteps of authors such as Lillian Jackson Braun and Shirley Rousseau Murphy who have brought their cats to a whole new level of perception.

Yesterday I was perusing the shelves of a bookstore and someone commented that I had diverse taste in books. I had to think about it because I don’t see myself that way. If it isn’t entertaining, it probably won’t be on my shelf. (The exception is a cat theme: I’ll try just about anything with a cat on the cover.) If it doesn’t have a happy ending or at least dole out justice deserved, it also won’t be on my shelf. If it is written poorly, no matter how great the story, it may be on the shelf but I probably will never finish it. (Please, writers, get a professional editor before you publish.) I like stories that twist but don’t lose me in a maze, that scare but don’t disturb, that have color, scent, sound, and senses on every page. I prefer they move along and not dwell. Bottom line, I am a shallow entertainment junkie.

Reading currently: Phillip Margolin’s “Woman with a Gun”, Shirley Rousseau Murphy’s “The Cat, The Devil, and Lee Fontana”, Daniel H.Wilson’s “Robopocalypse”, Leonard Nimoy’s “I Am Spock”, Jo Barney’s “Uprush”.

On my kindle, David Gerrold’s “Voyage of the Star Wolf”, Miranda James’ “Arsenic & Old Books”, Jeanne Owens’ “Chronicles of Riss”.

In my car (Audio books): Louise Penny’s “Still Life”.

Favorite all-time read: “Titus Groan” by Mervyn Peake, the Gormeghast Trilogy.

Happy reading!