IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CAT . . .

Here's an early bit of fun.  Early because it has elements of a "Throw Back Thursday" to it, and this is being posted on a Wednesday.  Also early because even as I type, Rick Geary is working on sketches and final art for The Blackberry & Other Tales That Creep.  (I am so excited!!!)

Not to let the cat out of the bag either literally or metaphorically: it is no secret that I am among the "cat-owned" and have been for most of the last 30 years.  Elements of each of the unique feline personalities I have had the pleasure of sharing my life with are in my 2013 collection A Trio of Cat Tales.

In The Blackberry & Other Tales That Creep three of the four stories have cats in them: "Sprinkles" from The Blackberry; "Miss Kitty" from Her Own Words; and "Spot" in Gorak the Gobbler.  That last one is a tribute to Commander Data's "Spot" from Star Trek Next Generation. My cat friend at the time used to love Spot. She would always come up to the TV when Spot was in an episode and pat the screen.

The character of "Sprinkles" from The Blackberry is definitely taken from Miss Sadie, my current cat-panion.  This is not the first time Rick has drawn Sadie (though he has no idea of this cat-nection).  Back in 2002, when Miss Sadie was the resident cat at Tacoma Little Theatre, we commissioned an image of her as she had become the mascot of one of our Education programs.  So here is the Sadie art from 2002, the sketch of Sprinkles, and Miss Sadie in her current capacity as resident art and literature critic.

Sadie as depicted by Rick Geary for Tacoma Little Theatre in 2002 (I own the original!)

Rick's sketch of "Sprinkles" from "The Blackberry"

Miss Sadie, in all her "felinious" glory: cat-panion extraordinaire

Also, check out this great video of Rick talking about his art and process. I think it is way cool that he loves his pencils as much as I do, and still uses Rapidograph Pens. Mine are still around here somewhere, and probably need a good soaking.

STILL TIME TO BECOME A PART OF The Blackberry & Other Tales That Creep.  15 days to go and even though we have made goal, more money means more books in libraries, wider distribution, and just possibly more art!

TRIO TALES UPDATE ~ Everyone has an opinion. What's yours? Take Our Poll!

Okay, let's face it ...I am not J.K. Rowling.  Who the heck is?  But I have come to believe that the audience for short stories, short subjects, microfiction in general is growing.  You can read it on a commute, while waiting, when you just need a break.

Short Stories help me learn as a writer, and refine my craft as I work towards longer compositions.  I am in love with the form, and I cannot imagine not writing short stories. Some of the stories already published could yet emerge as longer works. Maybe even "proper books."  Which are your favorites?  Take the WHICH ARE YOUR FAVORITES? poll in the right margin, and share your thoughts!

There were some great responses after last weekends TRIO TALES Promotion ... here's the most recent:

"Each one of these three stories contains a learning lesson. Two of them were military in nature so I felt more at home with both of those. 

"... I was trying to pick my favorite but am unable as all of them resonated with me.

"Highly recommended."      ~ Amazon Reader Review, FIVE Stars

"A TRIO OF CAT TALES could actually have been written by a cat!
 
"Judy has such a way of telling these sweet stories from the feline point of view that the reader could almost believe that "S" had taken the keyboard and written them herself. "S" tells her tale as she goes through different life situations with her owner "She". As the reigning Cat of the House "S" sizes up each of the scenarios she is dealt and handles them with kitty-cat grace and aplomb. Well...except for in "Travels with S", which is tale #2. Here we do witness a good bit of yowling and more than a few tears, but don't worry. Everything ends okay. As a cat-owned human who has moved several times with felines in tow I got a big kick out of "Travels with S"!
 
"Those humans who have a cat reigning in their household will especially enjoy this book."      ~ Amazon Reader Review, FIVE Stars

"... Judy’s characters are strong and very real. The dialog rings true, and fellow Irish-Americans will enjoy (and perhaps recognize) the familial banter in the second tale, The Shadow by the Gate. Liam, its young protagonist, reminds me a little of me as a teen.

"A TRIO OF IRISH TALES is not a thriller, but it does keep you turning pages. Judy does with pooka, the man of the mists, and dancing fairies what others do with bullets and mayhem. The book’s charming mysticism grabs with plenty of character and just a pinch of suspense. The writing is conversational, and Judy’s voice is as friendly and open in her book as it is at her readings. The pace, flow, and tone precisely complements the stories.

Although they are fresh from Judy’s mind and two of three stories take place in today’s world, all read like traditional tales. In the first tale, entitled “In the Mist” a girl’s dream of romance is shattered, and her passion draws her from safety into the hidden dangers of the mist. In the Shadow by the Gate, Liam, a jaded teenaged technophile is thrust into a startlingly real world of traditional mysticism. The book finishes with The Oak, a story of one woman’s life as the river of time flows past her, her home, and her family.
 
A TRIO OF IRISH TALES is a great read. It’s both pleasant and engaging and should appeal to all readers, not just those of us of Irish descent. I recommend it. 
~ Amazon Reader Review, FIVE Stars

FREE KINDLE PROMOTIONS ~ Friday and Saturday!

Coming This Weekend -  Free Promotions of TRIO TALES:

Saturday, September 7th ~
A Trio of My Father's Tales will continue to be available free on Amazon for Kindle. CLICK HERE
A Trio of Irish Tales will be available for ONE DAY ONLY free on Amazon for Kindle. With refreshed text! CLICK HERE

To read about A Trio of My Father's Tales and listen to audio selections - CLICK HERE
To read about A Trio of Irish Tales and listen to audio selections - CLICK HERE

NEW TO ME AND MY WORK?  Learn more about in this great interview by fellow author Stephanie Mesler on her site A POET'S PROGRESS (Click here)


Coming Later this Month ...

The Island cultures of the Pacific are deeply rooted in spirituality.  It does not matter whether it is christian or indigenous beliefs. Living in tropical splendor their lives are infused with faith, and a belief in the real power of miracles.

Miracles: A Trio of Island Tales whisks the reader to the Island Kingdom of Tonga in the late 19th Century.  It is a time when European and American colonialism are at their height, and many Island Nations find they must choose sides.  Through three miracles: one each of earth, water, and fire, we get a glimpse into the rich and unique Tongan culture, and begin to see how they have remained strongly independent and a sovereign nation.

HAPPY U.S. INDEPENDENCE DAY!

I have several personal traditions around July 4th, and these are among them.

Abigail Adams is a remarkable woman whom I greatly admire.  Her writings show a quick, incisive intelligence that does not lack humor or circumspection.  The correspondence between her and her husband, Statesman and President John Adams, is an inspiring look inside the lives and minds of unique couple at an important moment in history.  Surely, these two souls, who were "one", were meant for each other, and meant to be exactly where they were in history.

So many amazing women to admire,but if I had to make a list of those whom I would love to sit down to a long afternoon of tea and conversation with, Abigail Adams is the list topper - No Contest!

As with all the audio downloads on this blog, these are offered freely. I am an artist and fledgling indie author.  I only ask if you enjoy the files, you consider leaving something in the tip jar on the right hand margin.  Even $1 helps keep the stories coming!  

Selections from the Letters of Abigail Adams - March 31, 1776 ... Click Here

"… I long to hear that you have declared an independency -- and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors." 

Selections from the Letters of Abigail Adams - May 27, 1776 #1 ... Click Here
"We ought never to despair of what has been once accomplished. How many things have the Idea of impossible been annexed to, that have become easy to those who knew how to take advantage of Time, opportunity, lucky Moments, the Faults of others, different dispositions and an infinite Number of other circumstances." 

Selections from the Letters of Abigail Adams - May 27, 1776 #2 ... Click Here
"And in saying this I make a Sacrifice which those only can judge of whose Hearts are one."

BONUS!

A Selection from the Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1776 ... Click Here
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

LAST DAY for A Trio of Cat Tales free for Kindle from Amazon!  See previous posts for reviews and samples.  Click on the tab at the top of the page to go to the Amazon page and download YOUR copy!

FREE PROMOTION! A Trio of Cat Tales!

Starting July 1st, A TRIO OF CAT TALES will be on a Free Kindle Download Promotion through July 4th on Amazon, Amazon UK and other Amazon outlets world wide.

Meet "S" ... a cat of intelligence and character who shares her feline insights and adventures through three delightful short stories . . .

What delighted readers are saying about A TRIO OF CAT TALES
 
"Ms. Cullen's writing is lyrical and touching, the rhythms and characters stick in your mind like a really good tune. I have the feeling she could write about tin cans and readers would come away with a sense of satisfaction and wonder ... Ms. Cullen's level of insight into the feline mind is almost scarey. I can't wait for Cullen's next trio."  ~ Mikey Mac, Amazon Reader


"...In some ways the art of the short story is becoming lost as people have so many more distractions put upon their time. It is wonderful to see an author putting out new stories that can be shared with young and old alike. This small volume can be read quickly and then passed to friends and family for years to come. I defy anyone with any experience with cats to read this and not smile and nod knowingly."  ~ Eric Wilt, Amazon Reader

"All the stories do that thing of both looking at all the things about cats that we find delightful and infuriating in equal measures, but looked at from a cat's eye view, so you get a skewed look at 'normal' life. A great sense of humour and I will definitely be reading that extra story to the children at Christmas."  ~ C.A.S. Blackfeather, Amazon UK Reader 

Check out these free audio samples . . .
 CLICK to listen to a selection from Chapter 1: The Story of S
 CLICK to listen to a selection from Chapter 3: S and the Cable Guy 

AMIDST WRITING, PAINTING, & PROMOTING ... Inspiration!

I have author friend Stephanie Mesler to thank/blame for turning me on to haiku as a way to warm up my writing brain.  Seriously, it has been since fifth grade!  Combinations of some tough decision making, and self reflection that has been going on for several years now (welcome to middle age!) resulted in this six haiku cycle today:

MORE THAN
(c) 2013 by Judith Cullen

more than just typing

more than a sum of the tweets

more than just some post

counting characters

words to catch your interest

is this all I am?

an artist, writer,

more even than these - woman

not just tweets or posts

want to know “the more”?

not hype of type – the surface

beyond "seems to be”?

to know takes some time

more will require your patience

more is so much more

more than mere words read

more than art and artifice

take the time – see more

Great new reader review of A TRIO OF CAT TALES on Amazon ~ Click Here !

Preview of A TRIO OF MY FATHER'S TALES coming next week!

FIVE STAR REVIEW for "A Trio of Cat Tales"!

It was a real pleasure to read this review this morning.  Writing small short story collections and publishing them in "fiction monographs" was/is a big risk.  It is great to hear that someone not only loves the stories, but appreciates the format.  Pass on the love! Share them!

"A perfect primer for any cat owned people out there and fair warning for anyone considering going into feline servitude. As you read these stories from the cat's perspective you come to realize that everything a cat does is perfectly reasonable from their point of view no matter how confounding they are to us. In some ways the art of the short story is becoming lost as people have so many more distractions put upon their time. It is wonderful to see an author putting out new stories that can be shared with young and old alike. This small volume can be read quickly and then passed to friends and family for years to come. I defy anyone with any experience with cats to read this and not smile and nod knowingly." 
~ Amazon Reader Review

A TRIO OF CAT TALES is available in kindle and paperback - makes a great gift!  Click Here!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! A New Short Story!

My Mom as a child

I am paying tribute to the two Moms in my life (pictured here) and to all Mothers everywhere today with this special Audio Clip of my recent short story Walking to the Music. In this story, a toddler is inspired to take his first steps by the sounds of his Mom playing a Grand Piano.

Click Here to enjoy Walking to the Music
by Judith Cullen (c)2013

My sister : the other  "Mom" in the family

As with all the audio downloads on this blog, this one is offered freely. I am an artist and fledgling indie author.  I only ask if you enjoy the files and decide to keep them, you consider leaving something in the tip jar on the right hand margin.  Even $1 helps keep the stories coming!   

Many Thanks and Happy Mother's Day!

Coming Soon!

The release of A Trio of My Father's Tales in Kindle and Paperback.     

Carroll D. Cullen circa 1898

Does this seven year old boy look happy?  He wasn't.  It was 1898 in the immigrant neighborhoods of Chicago, where a little boy lived with his Irish-born parents who dreamed of a bigger and better life for their only son.  Find out the lengths he went to in order to shed the various effects of that scratchy, itchy, hot, embarrassing costume in "The Little Lord Fauntleroy Suit."

A Trio of My Father's Tales is my tribute to Fathers - three of  the many family tales we begged my Dad to repeat over and over again around the kitchen table: "The Little Lord Fauntleroy Suit", "Flying Down to Cour D'Alene", and "The Skunk War."

See the tabs above for other titles currently available:
Reflections from the Golden Wheel, A Trio of Irish Tales, and last week's purrrfectly delightful release:  A Trio of Cat Tales 

IT'S MAY! IT'S MAY! ~ Time for New Things and to Hug Your Mom!

It's May!  The bees are buzzing, the birds are chirping, and life is returning in abundance.  It is a great time to be alive, and an even greater time to celebrate family: those on two and four feet!

With May comes lots of great things: Sunshine, Mother's Day! Our plan is to contribute to the joys of spring triumphant, and hopefully we can help you do so as well!

NOW LIVE AT AMAZON.COM:

A Trio of Cat Tales in Kindle from Amazon
And also in Paperback from Amazon 
(Costs a few pennies more but if you are a Prime member, you save a bundle on shipping)

Also available in Paperback through Createspace 

Meet "S" - a cat in the prime of her lives.  From her superior feline perch, S shares adventures in traveling, her favorite cat games, as well as lessons in art and respect.  

A Trio of Cat Tales is a “feliniously” philosophical journey with plenty of insights and exploits for cat lovers and the “cat owned.”

 CLICK to listen to a selection from Chapter 1: The Story of S
 CLICK to listen to a selection from Chapter 3: S and the Cable Guy 

 DON'T FORGET MOTHER'S DAY! 

UPDATE BULLETIN:  There will be a special audio short story posted for Mother's Day - FREE (tips accepted) . . . so be sure and come back on Sunday for "Walking to the Music." 
Short Stories are a great way to say "I Love You", especially if Mom loves Celtic Tales, or appreciates the middle of life.  A Trio of Irish Tales and Reflections from The Golden Wheel are incrediblt portable and make great gifts.  Both are available in Kindle and Paperback ~ See the tabs at the top of the page! You can also check out my Author Page at Amazon's Author Central


 CLICK to listen to a selection from Chapter 10: Reflections from The Golden Wheel

 CLICK to listen to a selection from Chapter 1: A Trio of Irish Tales - "In the Mist"

Both of these titles coming soon as Audiobooks! 

LATER THIS MONTH:

The release of A Trio of My Father's Tales in Kindle and Paperback.     

"A great storyteller" was not the first thought people had about my father.  But he was an Irishman, so it was in his blood.  There were stories he used to tell that we, as children, asked him to repeat over and over again at family meals.  

Here is a tribute to my father with three of those stories: "The Little Lord Fauntleroy Suit", "Flying Down to Cour D'Alene", and "The Skunk War."

COMING IN MAY: A Trio of Cat Tales

Great New Cover Art by Micki McIntyre!

Coming in May, the second collection in the Trio Tales series of short stories/ microfictions.

From the Preface:
"In his books, author and animal rights activist Cleveland Amory’s coined the phrase: “cat-owned.”  It is the perfect phrase.  It is one that the veteran “owned” recognize for its truth.  Without going into egregious detail or odious comparisons, there is that about even the most common place cat which humans will never entirely understand.  There is an air of mystery about them, an aura of hyper-intelligence or wisdom.  If this is all a sham of nature, it is still the best fake-out job in creation."

 CLICK to listen to a selection from Chapter 1: The Story of S

 Soon to be available on Kindle and in Paperback through Amazon  ... just in time for Mother's Day and the cat-loving Mom in your life!  

I will also be reading selections in Second Life (c) as Caledonia Skytower next Monday at 7pm Pacific.  See the JUDY'S STORIES tab for more readings and reading info:

Judy's Stories
Proctor Art Gallery
Sunday, May 5th at 1pm
3811 North 26th Street 
in Tacoma's Proctor District

Come along! Enjoy Patty Franklin's luminous Musical Instrument Mosaics and other beautiful works of Art at the Gallery while listening to stories read live.  Special compositions written just for this event include Walking to the Music and Mute Impact.