Cats, Mysteries, and Rain

I was hoping that Hurricane Francine would throw some nice showers into dry Arkansas. I’m not sure about the rest of the state but here in the northwest corner, we got hardly a trace. Not enough to register in my rain gauge. However, did the disappointment from Francine keep me from continuing with Miss Tootsie Cracks the Case? Nay and verily.

The only thing I was missing as I wrote, besides the rain, was a cat to keep me company. Cats go well with mysteries for some reason. Maybe it’s because they seem to be secretive, mysterious animals. Of course, I could borrow one or two of my grandson’s kittens, perhaps. These fluffy bits, however, don’t seem to know yet that they should be sphinx like and inscrutable. They are too much into romping, wrestling, and having fun. (Sigh). I do however, have my trusty Nemo who has no idea of how to be mysterious.

In my two published cozy mystery series, there are two cats who have different ideas about being companions during a rain storm. In the Darcy and Flora series, there is Jethro.

Jethro says: The best things about a thunderstorm are a saucer of cream and a soft cushion in a dark, warm corner.

Penny, Ned’s cat, has a slightly different opinion. (The following quote was spoken from under Ned’s bed.)

Penny: When that huge, loud monster booms through the clouds and rattles the windows, the best place to be is hiding.

And, sure enough, Miss Tootsie shares her home with not only her dog Cocoa, but a furry little waif they named Cleo.

If the weather is rainy or stormy at your place, grab a cozy mystery, find a comfortable chair, and take a trip to a small Oklahoma town to find out what mysteries are there, just waiting to be solved.

Mysteries love to travel. This picture was made in Dublin, from the window of the bus, the morning I left Ireland. As usual, it was raining. And, in case you haven’t guessed, Ireland is a wonderful place to write or read mysteries.