As Rudyard Kipling famously wrote, “Run and find out” is the motto of the mongoose. Once you get to know an animal well enough, you’ll discover its own personal creed.
Rita first had the inspiration for The Cat with the Golden Fang in the mid-80’s, then moved to Seattle in 1989. Almost all of it was written in Wallingford, where she enjoyed the “artistic atmosphere” and where you can find something “magical around the corner and every walk is an adventure”. Marta Petunia was inspired by her own pet cat who, when she moved to Seattle, “was completely disgruntled and ended up jumping out of a second story window and was never seen again”.
Her knowledge, appreciation of and sheer enjoyment of her feline characters shine through in every sentence. She describes it as a “light, funny thriller with a mystery, spies, espionage. But it’s not scary, not violent. And it’s funny!” It also has “spiritual underpinnings” showing that “friendship and love are the saving grace of the world”.
For a kid’s eye perspective, here is my 7-year-old daughter’s 100% unbiased review:
I give it a 9 out of 10. This was a really great book, really mysterious. And it looks like it’s all going to turn out bad, but it all turns out good. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. I recommend it. It’s completely different from most books. And it’s very very mysterious. My favorite part is the surprise ending!
Marta’s family crest states: “Touch not my Tail, Lest You Suffer My Claw”. Post a comment with your pet’s unique motto by Wednesday, May 12th to win a meeting with Rita and an autographed copy! Include any details you like (pet’s name, appearance, brief explanation). Here are some examples from the Wallyhood writers’ own pets:
- 2 cats: “Feed me right this second or I will find someone else with thumbs to do the job for you” and “Just want love, that’s all”
- Dog: “ballwalkcookieSQUIRREL”
- Bees: “Don’t Tread on Me”
- Our personal family cat: “Small, Dark and Sweet as a Strong Turkish Coffee”
You get the idea! We’ll let Rita select the winner and post a photo of you, her, and optionally your pet, on the blog.
The Cat with the Golden Fang can be purchased locally at Not A Number, Kids on 45th and Alphabet Soup Books in addition to Amazon.com. To spread the love, Rita says she will donate 10% of the proceeds to the Boys and Girls Club or the Wallingford Chamber for every book purchased by a Wallingford resident. It’s for the 9 – 15 age range but can be enjoyably read aloud to younger kids and, of course, also enjoyed by the young-at-heart.
I once had a bunny who was a lawyer. His name was Torts. Here was his jingle:
Here comes Tortsie, cotton tail, hoppin’ down the legal trail. Hippity hoppity, stickin’ it to The Man.”
My daughter’s dog’s motto is Semper FIDO!
she’ll be here at Not A Number for a reading/signing with another kids book author, Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata!
we’re working on scheduling for probably the beginning of June…
My frog Lovey’s motto is “You’ll catch more flies with a long tongue than with honey”!
Our goldfish, Copper always says, “Just keep swimming.”
My little canine scruffball’s (Rosie) motto is: “Now that you are paying for pet insurance, you have assured that nothing will happen to me.”
My rottenweiler, Woody’s, motto is “It’s all about me, by the way!”
My dog Jo’s Motto is “Pee not outside, but on the sleek and shiny hardwood floors!”
Rita will be here at Not A Number on Wed. June 2 at 6pm, along with author and cool city councilmember Nick Licata! That’s also Art Walk evening, and Farmer’s Market day, so plenty of fun on the Coolest Block in Wallingford (coolestblock.com)…
* Sasha (cat) – “Give me what I want, or the plant gets it.”
* Kenny (cat) – “Live life full of love and attention. Wisdom is not necessary.”
* Kung Pao (chicken) – “Peck, cluck, strut. Peck, cluck, strut. Peck, cluck, strut. Live life simply.”
My cat’s motto is: “Sleep, sleep~What is enough?”
Ziggy – the giant bernese moutnain dog – motto would have to be “are you done with that doughnut yet?”
My dog Charli Jo’s nickname is Captain Underfoot and her motto has to be, “if you’re not close, you’ll miss out!”
My old corgi’s theme song from his (surprisingly unproduced) Travel Channel show is “Shrimpy! He’s the funny little doggy with the great big dreams!” And my corgi pup, Pokey Jones’s, motto is “When in doubt, lie near your brother’s butt.”
Our cat Molly: “To boldly go everywhere you don’t want me to… repeatedly.”
Our cat Dolce: “All your base are belong to us”
Catkin, a black cat who adores sitting in the front window watching Wallingford pass by, motto is: “Here I am, now stroke me”.
I also have to add a motto for my sister’s beloved Husky, Tanka, who passed away a few weeks ago. Tanka was a very frequent Wallingford visitor and loved taking walks (and smelling) her way through the neighborhood. She also enjoyed all the attention that she would get on walks, along with the treat bowl in front of The Rusty Pelican. In fact, the last walk she went on was here in the ‘hood.
Her motto would have definitely been: “Where the ivy grows, there I shall pee”. (And boy, there’s a lot of ivy in this neighborhood that she peed in over the years!)
Levi the loving labradoodle’s motto is “I chase the ball, therefore I am”
Mimi, the crazy Siamese-calico mix cat’s motto is: Must zoom, must leap, must scratch, must cuddle. Sorry, must sleep!
p.s. What’s up with the absence of the treat bowl at the Rusty Pelican? It was a highlight of my ancient dog, Woody’s, and my walks each week. He thinks the water-bowl-only policy is a drag!
Our dog’s motto is: I have not a tail, therefore, I wag my body!
Dexter, my rat terrier mix’ motto is: “Neeeeeeeeeexxxxxxxxxxxt?”
My family of Australian Shepherds motto over the years has been simply “Let’s go!”
My 8 lb Yorkie Banjo’s motto is, “Come on! I might be 8 lbs., but I can take you! Arf, arf!”
Twin sister long haired black cats…
Fat Cassie (Casseopia) who lives to eat…”I vant to be alone!”
Little Annie (Andromeda) who eats enough to live…”Staff! Tend to my needs and you know exactly which one it is at this moment!”