Meet the Cat Tales Characters by Eileen O'Finlan

 

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I recently acquired a new skill - creating images using A.I. I know there's a lot of controversy over A.I., but the images I've created likely don't fall into a controversial realm. They are all images of the characters in my Cat Tales series. These characters are all highly anthropomorphized animals. They hold jobs, drive cars, go shopping - all the stuff humans do while retaining most of the characteristics associated with their species. They also have to learn to live in harmony with one another. That's not easy to do when Smokey is designing a cat park that will abut Rodent Way. Not if Jerome J. Rately has anything to say about it. And, he does have plenty to say.

I learned how to create these images a few weeks ago while I was home recovering from COVID. I had noticed that my friend and fellow author, Jane Willan, had been creating images of her characters and using them in her Facebook posts. They looked terrific so I asked her to teach me to do it. In one Zoom call, she showed me how it's done. Then I got to work making my own. It's actually very easy to do. And it's fun. So, here are a few of the characters from the first book in the Cat Tales series, All the Furs and Feathers:

                                                  This is Smokey, one of the main characters.

                                                  She's employed as an architect at Fluffington

                                                  ArCATechture.

                                              This is Autumn Amelia. She's the other main 

                                              character, Smokey's sister, and a baker who works

                                              from home.

                               

    Here we have Greyson. He's cousin                                 Abigail Fluffington is the owner of

    to Smokey and Autumn Amelia. He's                              Fluffington ArCATechture and Smokey's

    the retired CEO of PAWS UNITED.                               boss. She's a very astute businesscat.

                          
    This sweet kitty is Dusty Fluffington.                                Jasmine is a web designer and Smokey's

    She's an amazing designer and seamstress.                        best friend. They're both Russian Blues

    She's also Abigail's sister. They both live                           and are often confused for twins.

    in Abigail's luxury apartment, but poor

    Dusty is terrified to leave the building.

    Until she meets Autumn Amelia, that is.

Not all the characters in the Cat Tales series are cats. There's a wide variety of animals in the series. Here are just a few of the non-cat characters:

                                     

    This is Rufus Tailwagger. He's a PR                                       Jerome J. Ratley is the head of the         

    professional. Rufus is a great guy. Just                                   Rodent Placement Agency. He's also

    stay out of the way of his maniacally                                      an activist for rodent rights. And he's

    wagging tail.                                                                            not at all happy about the idea of the cat

                                                                                                    park Smokey is designing that will abut

                                                                                                    Rodent Way.

                                                 Sally is a sous chef who works for                                            Here are Simon and Sam Squirrel

    Chef Gustav, a snooty world-famous                                        on their tandem bike. They work for

    chef, at Miguel Gato's private club.                                           Autumn's boss, Tabby Furry who owns

    Sally likes Miguel, but she'd rather not                                     Furry Confections. The Squirrel                have to work for Gustav.                                                           brothers are curriers who deliver the                                                                                                           baked goods Autumn makes to be sold

                                                                                                       at the bakery.

These are only some of the images of the characters from All the Furs and Feathers. There are more on my website. You can check them out here. More will be coming in early 2025 when the second book in the Cat Tales series, All in the Furry Family, is released. Meanwhile, here is a sneak peak of a couple of the new characters from the second book:

  

                                          

    Meet Buster Parker. He's a printer,                                               Give a warm welcome to Professor

    but he also owns a boat. I don't want                                            Chewy. He teaches botany at Verdant

    to give anything away, so I'll just say                                           University. He's also Smokey and

    he'll become important to Autumn Amelia.                                  Autumn Amelia's new neighbor.

  
    

The Importance of Author Newsletters by Eileen O'Finlan

 

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I have been sending out a monthly e-newsletter for almost as long as I've been a published author. My subscriber list has grown slowly but steadily over the years. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth the effort of trying to come up with enough to write every month especially when I don't have any upcoming appearances or new releases. But then I remember the reasons for having a newsletter in the first place:

My email list is mine alone and I can always reach the people on it. Other social media sites may change their rules, experience glitches, or disappear. I have no control over that. I do completely control my own email list.

The people who sign up for it want to hear from me. As long as I don't spam them - and I never do - most continue to read it every month.

It's a great way to connect with my readers. They get inside information. They enjoy being the first to know about new releases, book signings, appearances, awards, or any other special news.

During the lulls, it's good practice for me to stretch my imagination and writing skills to come up with interesting information to share. I've found that readers like a peek behind the scenes, so those are the times when I share my historical research information, trips to museums, info about writer's conferences, and the like. I also occasionally invite other authors to write a column introducing themselves and their books to my readers.

Sometimes I ask questions. It's fun when readers write back to me with their answers and a great way to interact with them.

Every month I get to write the recurring column "The Cat's Corner." That's always the most fun section of my newsletter because it's written from the point of view of my cat, Autumn Amelia, who is also one of the main characters in my Cat Tales series. Readers tell me that The Cat's Corner is their favorite part of the newsletter.

Apparently, readers are not alone in enjoying The Cat's Corner. The Cat Writer's Association recently awarded it a Certificate of Excellence in the column/series category. It can now go on to compete for their highest award, the Muse Medallion in October.

Autumn Amelia thinks her name should have been on the certificate, too

So, for all you writers out there, if you don't already have an author newsletter, I recommend you consider starting one. It's a great way to connect with your readers. Create a way for readers to sign up from your website. I always have a sign up sheet at all in-person events as well. It may take a while to grow your subscriber list, but these readers will become your die hard fans. And who knows, you might even win an award for it!

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