Being always surrounded by all kinds of pets and working in many veterinary clinics didn’t help me to find definition that fits the cats. One thing I did learn was that they have their own way and there is no such bribe that could make them to meow and paw to something different.
It is my pleasure to host this Sunday author Anne Petzer on my blog and to let her share her knowledge about cats and how they inspired
her to write.
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Anne is a South African currently living in
Prague. She lives with her two cats, Zvonek who
inspired the series and Metaxa, a feisty young lady
who rules the household! She works as an English
teacher in a private language school in the city.
Cats, all cats, have always inspired me. I love
their totally unaffected attitude towards life and how uncompromising
they are. For example did you know: cats have evolved the least because
they refused to change their diet and habits? Now am not sure how true
this it but it just fits, doesn't it? The most precious observation I
had recently was at the zoo in Prague. I was watching the tiger clean
himself and realized the Zvonek and Metaxa use exactly the same method. Truly the cat was created so we can pat tigers :).
Your favorite book/author?
That is an interesting question because my favorite book isn't written
by my favorite author. My favorite book of all time is My Traitor's
Heart - it's written by Riaan Milan. He is the nephew of a former
President in apartheid South Africa. He writes about a dark and
confusing time in South Africa. Not all white South Africans were
racists but many us grew up in families where we were exposed to it. One
grew up with constant guilt. You felt guilty because did things that
were expected of you or you felt guilty having non-white friends or not
agreeing with the regime. He captures the white story really well and it is also a time that I grew up in.
My fave author on the other hand is Ken Follett. I adore his books and have everyone of them between my home here in Prague and back home in South Africa. The first book of his I read was Code Zero and was immediately hooked.
My fave author on the other hand is Ken Follett. I adore his books and have everyone of them between my home here in Prague and back home in South Africa. The first book of his I read was Code Zero and was immediately hooked.
If you were to write in a different genre, what it would be?
Hmmmm a different genre. I am not sure. Possibly some futuristic sci-fi.
Or a medical thriller. But this would take loads of research on my part
as it is completely out of my depth. who knows maybe in the future :).
For now though I am happy with my cats.
Do you have current work in progress?
As you know I am currently writing a series of short stories with the
same characters - all cats - set in Prague. I have finished the first
two book and currently working on the third one. I have also been making
notes for a future novel but its a long way off.
Here are sneak peaks at some of Author Petzer's works:
Cat Among the Pigeons:
Life
was great on the streets of Strašnice until Zvonek is accused of
mercilessly killing pigeons and leaving their ripped bodies strewn all
over the street. But it’s part of a cat’s nature you might say. FI
operatives have a code to live by and someone is breaking it, leaving
Zvonek to take the blame.
Zvonek stretched out on the big comfortable bed with the thick soft duvet, and closed his eyes. Life was good again; at least for a few days; hopefully weeks, now that the mission was finished. He loved Strašnice, it had been his home for a year now and already he had so many good memories. Bad ones too, but they didn’t count when you had so much to be grateful for. Ahhh…with only one life gone, he could still enjoy himself.
The evening had ended on a good note, although it had not started that way. Zvonek had not called for back-up, leaving him and Honza in a very vulnerable position. Vladimir, his boss, known to them as V, was not happy with them. He felt Zvonek not only compromised the mission, but put their lives in unnecessary danger. However, the job had been done, he and Honza had escaped unscathed, and after a few days, V would see that.
So in true cat fashion, Zvonek stretched out and closed his eyes once more. Remembering all the good things, he slowly drifted off into a daydream of salmon truffles and low fat milk, served by pretty feline waitresses at a luxury resort paid for by Feline Intelligence (FI). This kitty agent was certainly due for some down time. He was, after all Zvonek 08.
Zvonek stretched out on the big comfortable bed with the thick soft duvet, and closed his eyes. Life was good again; at least for a few days; hopefully weeks, now that the mission was finished. He loved Strašnice, it had been his home for a year now and already he had so many good memories. Bad ones too, but they didn’t count when you had so much to be grateful for. Ahhh…with only one life gone, he could still enjoy himself.
The evening had ended on a good note, although it had not started that way. Zvonek had not called for back-up, leaving him and Honza in a very vulnerable position. Vladimir, his boss, known to them as V, was not happy with them. He felt Zvonek not only compromised the mission, but put their lives in unnecessary danger. However, the job had been done, he and Honza had escaped unscathed, and after a few days, V would see that.
So in true cat fashion, Zvonek stretched out and closed his eyes once more. Remembering all the good things, he slowly drifted off into a daydream of salmon truffles and low fat milk, served by pretty feline waitresses at a luxury resort paid for by Feline Intelligence (FI). This kitty agent was certainly due for some down time. He was, after all Zvonek 08.
Return of the Rats:
A local enemy re-surfaces in Strašnice. The on going struggle for dominance between cat and rat. The rats have the upper hand this time when they snatch one of FI dearest. Will the operatives be able to rescue their own? It’s a maze in the rodents’ tunnels under Prague, foreign territory for the the felines.
The Miracle of the Carp:
Christmas is dawning and preparations for cats and humans are under-way. Disaster strikes. The centre of the Czech Christmas dinner is in danger. Stray felines? Or is it more sinister? FI aims to find out to save the strays and Christmas.
Places where we can find Author Petzer's and her cats' latest achievements:
www.annehpetzer.cz
http://annehpetzer.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zvonek-08-Feline-Intelligence-Czech-Republic/227751560589059
All
of Anne Petzer's books are available through Gypsy Shadow
Publishing, Amazon.com, Smashwords, OmniLit, AllRomanceebooks.com.
Barnes & Noble and many other fine sellers of e-books.
