It always amazes me when I write a book how many details come into play. To create a full story, I draw on my own experiences as well as do research on things beyond my personal realm. Here are a few things of note in my upcoming Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery, Cat Conundrum:

1. What is a conundrum? The word conundrum refers to complex, difficult problems or, more informally, a mystery or puzzle. The word conundrum consistently ranks among the top ten most frequently search terms on the Merriam-Webster’s website.

2. Who’s that cat? Seaview, the feline hero of Cat Conundrum, is of the Maine Coon breed. Known for huge size, luxurious furs, and trilling chirps, Maine Coons are often utilized in films. The most recent additions to the Maine Coon actors’ league are brothers, Leeu and Durban who play Grudge on Star Trek: Discovery.

3. Cat Con: The Cat Summit featured in Cat Conundrum may be fictional, but cat-themed events are very real. Besides the classic cat show, cons such as Jackson Galaxy’s Cat Camp and Pop Cats bring cat people together for fun and shopping. Conferences like the Winn Feline Foundation FIP Symposium focus on cat health, research, and learning.

4. Got Clams? Digging for razor clams is a popular local sport on the Long Beach Peninsula where Cat Conundrum takes place. My husband and I went clamming last week and got our limits in record time.

5. Police Procedure: Lynley ends up fostering a cat who is involved in a police investigation. Did you know that in these cases, the animal itself can be considered evidence and therefore must abide by strict rules?

6. The Infamous Locked Room: Locked-room murders have fascinated mystery authors and their readers since the beginning of time. Edgar Allan Poe, G. K. Chesterton (Father Brown Mysteries), Ellery Queen, and of course, Agatha Christie are just a few who have challenged themselves with writing a locked-room mystery.

7. Celebration of Life: At the Cat Summit, Lynley and Frannie discover a remembrance project where cat cohabitors decorate small flags to commemorate their cats who have passed. This flag project is based on a real venture I found at a CWA Conference, though that one wasn’t limited to angel cats.

8. Cats at work. Many stores and businesses have a resident cat, one who either lives in the premises or comes when the employees are at work. Besides bookstores like the one in Cat Conundrum, cats may be seen at libraries, markets, dressmakers, print shops, boutiques, and restaurants.

9. Cat Writer: Ursula K. Le Guin was an American author best known for her works of speculative fiction and science fiction, but she also wrote cat stories. The Catwings series is an illustrated joy for cat lovers of all ages.

10. More to come! Cat Conundrum is not the last Lynley Cannon cozy mystery. Look for Adventure Cat, coming next fall.

Still Time to Enter the Contest!

This week I’m offering a cute iSuperb Pack of 4 Canvas Coin Purse Wallets. The purses are lightweight and durable, perfect to hold your little belongings, coins, cash, credit card, USB charger, cable headset, keys, lipstick, cat treat, or ???

For a chance to win, email me at molliehuntcatwriter@gmail.com and put Contest, Coin Purse in the subject line. Tyler the cat will choose the winner at random from the entries received. Sorry, U.S. addresses only. Drawing Sunday, October 25, 2020.