Sneaky Interviews Manny the Cat from Trapped and Tested by Sharon Marchisello

~ Debbie ~ 2 Comments

Hello, fellow Cat. What is your name and your author’s name?

My name is Manny, and my author’s name is Sharon Marchisello.

Welcome to my blog. What book(s) have you appeared in? Please list them and their genre.

You and I met last year, just after Trap, Neuter, Die, the first book in Sharon’s “cozy adjacent” cat rescue mystery series was published. I appeared after my former owner had been murdered, and I led DeeLo and Catherine to her strangled body. DeeLo later adopted me, and I’ve vowed to take better care of my humans. Trapped and Tested, the second book in the series, was just released. Of course, I’m in that one, too.

Mice to see you. Tell me about your series.

Sharon has a three-book contract from Level Best Books to write a cat rescue mystery series. And I am the star. (Okay, maybe I’m not the star, but I’m important to the plot.)

The series features thirty-year-old DeeLo Myer, who moved from Los Angeles to Pecan Point, a small Georgia town near Atlanta, after her divorce. In the first book, she was sentenced to community service with the Pecan Point Humane Society in their Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return (TNVR) program to help control the overpopulation of free-roaming cats. Her first night on duty, DeeLo was trapping feral cats behind the bookstore where I used to live until my human was murdered. Later, I helped DeeLo identify and catch the killer.

In Trapped and Tested, DeeLo has finished her court-ordered community service but chooses to continue helping the Pecan Point Humane Society with their TNVR program. When DeeLo first got involved with TNVR, she learned that Pecan County’s animal ordinance contains language that suggests TNVR is not legal. So, DeeLo has made it her mission to lobby the Board of Commissioners and get the law changed. Her efforts didn’t work out in the last book, but she’s trying again, getting involved in local politics to elect a new commissioner with animal-friendly ideas. Unfortunately, she gets sidetracked by another dead body. This victim is the CEO of Neuroscience Laboratories, a medical research facility that performs neurological tests on cats.

Wow, Meow! I don’t like the sound of neurological tests on cats, but the plot sounds interesting.

Are you based on a real cat such as your author’s? If so, please give further details.

My author has been owned by cats all her life, and she’s also a foster mom for the Fayette Humane Society. She says I’m a composite of many cats she’s known over the years.

Debbie also has had cats since she was a child. In her Cobble Cove series, I was slightly based on her Siamese, Oliver, who is now on the Rainbow Bridge. It’s nice that your author is also a foster mom to kitties.

Can you share an excerpt from one of your books that features you in an important scene? If so, please include it.

Here’s a passage from Trapped and Tested, where DeeLo has tasked me with checking out Kwintone, her niece Demi’s newfound half-brother.

Kwintone and I settled on opposite ends of the couch. As we sipped our wine, Manny watched us from his perch.

Kwintone pointed. “Did you know there’s a cat on your bookshelf?”

“Oh, really?” I glanced at Manny, gold eyes glowing, body still as a taxidermy specimen.

“Is it real?” Kwintone flinched as Manny blinked. “Oh, my God, it’s real.”

I shrugged. “Manny was raised in a bookstore. He feels most comfortable sleeping among books.”

“He’s staring at me.”

“He’s checking you out. Manny is an excellent judge of character.” I cupped the cool goblet in my hand.

Kwintone took another sip of wine. “Well, those gold eyes give me the creeps.”

Like a ninja, Manny leaped from the bookshelf and sauntered over to the couch, bushy black tail in the air. He sniffed Kwintone’s athletic shoes and then the leg of his khaki pants.

Kwintone set his glass on a coaster and bent to stroke Manny’s large head. “Hey, buddy.”

Manny sniffed his hand, mouth slightly open, then head-butted it to encourage more petting. No growling, no hissing.

Really, Manny? “I guess he thinks you’re okay.”

Manny crouched, then jumped into Kwintone’s lap. I watched for his reaction—the moment of truth. Was he a cat person? Would he recoil?

Although slightly startled, Kwintone adapted quickly and ran a hand along Manny’s spine. With the other hand, he pointed to Manny’s ear. “Why does your cat have an ear tip? He’s obviously not feral.”

“He was born in a feral colony but got injured as a kitten, so the woman who found him—the bookstore owner—brought him inside to heal. He decided he preferred living indoors.”

“How did you end up with him?”

“His owner died.”

“Aw.” Kwintone scratched the cat’s chin. “Sorry, buddy.”

“She was murdered.” I hadn’t meant to blurt that out. No need to add that I’d found her body on my first night doing community service.

Pawsome! Thanks for sharing.

What do you like most about your role in your authors’ books?

DeeLo has figured out that I’m an excellent judge of character.

Purrfect!

Are you a talking cat in your books or just a silent one like I am who just meows occasionally?

I’m not a talking cat, either, but DeeLo and I communicate in other ways.

Good for you! I only talk to the other pets in my books.

What advice would you give other cat characters?

Be patient with your humans. Sometimes they’re slow learners, but most of them can be trained to take good care of us.

Excellent advice.

Do you have any new books coming out? Please give dates and details.

The third book in the series, Trapped in a Lie, is scheduled for the fall of 2026. DeeLo will continue her quest to get the county animal ordinance changed to support TNVR, but unfortunately, there will be more obstacles. Murder might be one of them.

Concatulations!

Are you and/or your author on social media? If so, please list your links.

My author is on social media. Here are her links:

Website: sharonmarchisello.com (https://smarchisello.wordpress.com/)

Social Media Links:

https://www.facebook.com/SLMarchisello

https://twitter.com/slmarchisello

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4297807.Sharon_Marchisello

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonmarchisello

https://www.instagram.com/slmarchisello/

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sharon-marchisello

I will be sure to share those along with your blog tour below. Thanks for the interview, Manny, and best whiskers to you and your author on your new release and forthcoming book.


Trapped and Tested: A DeeLo Myer Cat Rescue Mystery
by Sharon Marchisello

About Trapped and Tested

trapped and tested cover 3
Trapped and Tested: A DeeLo Myer Cat Rescue Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in the Series
Setting – Georgia
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level Best Books
Publication Date : December 16, 2025
274 Pages
Paperback
ISBN: 979-8-89820-057-2
Digital
ISBN: 979-8-89820-058-9
GoodReads Link – Coming Soon

When DeeLo’s niece, Demi Myer, tries to find her father on an ancestry site, she meets Kwintone, a half-brother with a few secrets. After getting a speeding ticket, Kwintone is assigned to community service in the Pecan Point Humane Society’s Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return program—trapping cats with DeeLo on the new Oakwood Studios lot. The disinterested trainee leaves abruptly on his first night, and later DeeLo finds his car abandoned beside the road, phone on the seat.

Where is Kwintone, and is he connected to the stabbing of the CEO of Neuroscience Laboratories—a medical research facility that tests its products on cats?

DeeLo is still determined to change the county’s animal ordinance to support TNVR, but is the newcomer candidate she backs for the open commissioner slot involved in a murder?

About Sharon Marchisello

Sharon Marchisello

Sharon Marchisello is the author of the DeeLo Myer cat rescue mystery series, which began with Trap, Neuter, Die. She is a long-time volunteer and cat foster for the Fayette Humane Society (FHS) with a Master’s in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California. She also published three mysteries with Sunbury Press—Going Home (2014), Secrets of the Galapagos (2019), and Murder at Leisure Dreams – Galapagos (2025). Sharon has written short stories, a nonfiction book about personal finance, training manuals, screenplays, a blog, and book reviews. She is an active member of Sisters in Crime, the Atlanta Writers Club, and the Hometown Novel Writers Association. Retired from a 27-year career with Delta Air Lines, she now lives in Peachtree City, Georgia, and serves on the board of directors for the Friends of the Peachtree City Library.

Website: sharonmarchisello.com (https://smarchisello.wordpress.com/)

Social Media Links:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SLMarchisello

Twitter/X https://twitter.com/slmarchisello

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4297807.Sharon_Marchisello

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonmarchisello

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/slmarchisello/

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/sharon-marchisello

Purchase Link – https://www.amazon.com/Trapped-Tested-DeeLo-Rescue-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0GHST2FMR

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 12- Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

January 12- Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

January 13 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT

January 14 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 15 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

January 16 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 17 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 17 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 18 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

January 19 – Sarandipity’s – SPOTLIGHT

January 19 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

January 20 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 20 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

January 21 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 22 – The Editing Pen – SPOTLIGHT

January 23 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

January 24 – Reading Is My SuperPower – SPOTLIGHT

January 24 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

January 25 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

Giveaway Link: https://kingsumo.com/g/1j2qe63/trapped-and-tested-a-deelo-myer-cat-rescue-mystery-by-sharon-marchisello

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Sneaky the Library Cat Interviews Sydney, the Siamese from Dug to Death by Gianetta Murray

~ Debbie ~ 1 Comment

Meow, there, Mr. Cat. You look a lot like me. What is your name and your author’s name?

My name is Sydney and Gianetta Murray is my human servant, who mostly quotes me accurately, though she occasionally misses the nuance of feline wordplay.

Mice to meet you both.

What book(s) have you appeared in? Please list them and their genre.

I have appeared in both the Vivien Brandt Mysteries, first in Moved to Murder and more recently in Dug to Death. I am also mentioned in the prequel novella, Ungrateful Dead. I am currently working on solving multiple murders remotely in Shipped to Slaughter, as Vivien has left me at home while gallivanting with her family. I believe these tales are referred to as cozy mysteries, though I rarely get to be cozy in them because I’m busy solving puzzles too complicated for the human mind.

MOL (Meow Out Loud). Good point. I’m a cozy mystery cat, too, and I know exactly what you mean.

Are you in a series? If so, please give information about it.

The Vivien Brandt Mysteries detail the misadventures of Vivien and myself after we move from California to a supposedly quaint village in South Yorkshire, England. I was ripped from the sunny climes of Silicon Valley when Vivien fell “in love” with a Brit, so now it’s all rain all the time as I strive to keep the villagers from murdering each other. Although, I must admit, I do like the British radiators.

Sounds interesting, and I like radiators, also.

Are you based on a real cat such as your author’s? If so, please give further details.

My author has always had multiple cats, and her first one was part Siamese, so I suppose there might be some influence there (although I am, of course, purebred). As she has solved exactly zero murders in real life, I must assume I am also more intelligent than her other cats.

She does have quite a lot pictures of them spread around the house, as well as wooden statues of sleeping cats that I am given to understand contain the ashes of past (passed?) feline companions. Because hey, nothing like living in a graveyard, eh? Honestly, people…

I can relate. Debbie has some cat ashes in her home, too. I’m based on her Siamese who is now one of those ashes, but I keep his memory alive.

Can you share an excerpt from one of your books that features you in an important scene? If so, please include it.

I wish I could, but that fact is, any scene I appear in is important since I am usually providing invaluable clues for crime solving. Well, either that or sleeping.

If I gave away any of these crucial plot points, no one would buy the books and my author would be unable to provide the snacks I so richly deserve.

But trust me when I say without my massive intelligence and lightening-fast reactions, there would be many more dead bodies than there already are.

I understand purrfectly.

What do you like most about your role in your authors’ books?

I enjoy living with a family again, where I can play them off each other by withholding purrs and ankle massages as they all seek to be my favorite. Solving their little human problems isn’t nearly as interesting.

I see.

Are you a talking cat in your books or just a silent one like I am who just meows occasionally?

I’m more on the taciturn side, letting my actions speak volumes (literally). I generally save my Siamese howls for the middle of the night, when they gain me maximum attention.

One of Debbie’s real life cats does that, too.

What advice would you give other cat characters?

Less is more. You can get your full 16 hours of sleep and three meals a day (plus luscious treats) while still popping in at crucial points to save humanity. There’s really no need to be cute and fluffy and bouncy about it, or to engage in frivolous chitchat.

Pawsome advice.

Do you have any new books coming out? Please give dates and details.

As previously mentioned, in the third Vivien Brandt Mystery, Shipped to Slaughter, I’ve been left at home in the care of Inspector Fenton Torksey, who is one of the more decent humans I have met in this cold country. He communicates with Vivien via something called a “Zoom” call, so I’m able to keep up with the tragic events unfolding on her cruise–including the mysterious orange hairs visible on her clothing–while also monitoring a very dodgy situation at home.

I’ve also been promised a short story of my own at some point, but I’m not holding my tuna-laden breath.

Good luck with that.

Are you and/or your author on social media? If so, please list your links.

Gianetta is, and she can be found on Facebook and Instagram as well as BlueSky. I believe she also has some sort of blog on something called Substack.

All her links can be found on her website, https://gianettamurray.com , or at https://linktr.ee/gianettamurray .

Thank you for the cat chat, and best whiskers to you and Gianetta on your new release. I’m sharing your blog tour below.


Dug to Death: A Vivien Brandt Mystery
by Gianetta Murray

About Dug to Death


Dug to Death: A Vivien Brandt Mystery
Cozy Mystery
2nd in the Series
Setting – South Yorkshire, England
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Catmom Press
Publication Date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 294 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1739547330
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1739547332
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1739547325
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DZ3PV2SP
goodreads badge

“Wicked stepmother” wasn’t something Vivien wanted on her resume (or CV!).

But six months after moving from California to join her British husband in a quiet Yorkshire village, Vivien and her cat Sydney are confronted with a volatile 24-year-old stepdaughter and the sparks begin to fly.

It certainly doesn’t help when they join a local protest and a body turns up.

In this sequel to Moved to Murder, Vivien must once again work with her enterprising neighbors to solve a murder and clear her family’s name. Which isn’t easy when you’re dealing with people who “Ear all, see all, and say nowt”!

About Gianetta Murray

Gianetta Murray grew up in California in the heady days of Silicon Valley, but for the last twenty years has lived a slightly more peaceful existence in England with her husband and a minimum of two cats. She enjoys rewatching Hollywood musicals and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, plays guitar and ukulele, and stresses about using all the pears provided by the tree in her back garden. She dreams about one day being spit on by Jonathan Groff.

Author Links

Website Gianetta Murray – Author – Website for mystery and short story author Gianetta Murray, featuring her books, blog, and events.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/p/Gianetta-Murray-Author-100095221600878/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gianettamurray/

GoodReads Gianetta Murray

Substack Gianetta Murray | Substack

Blue Sky Gianetta Murray – Author (@gianettamurray.bsky.social)

Purchase Links – Amazon – B&N – Kobo – More Stores

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

December 8 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

December 9 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

December 9 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

December 10 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

December 10 – Baroness Book Trove– SPOTLIGHT

December 11 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author -SPOTLIGHT

December 12 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 13 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 14 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 15 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

December 16 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 17 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT WITH MUSIC PLAYLIST

December 18 – Sarandipity’s -AUTHOR INTERVIEW

December 18 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

December 19 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

December 20 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

December 21 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
________

Giveaway Link: https://kingsumo.com/g/1wgn40m/dug-to-death-a-vivien-brandt-mystery-by-gianetta-murray

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Sneaky the Library Cat Interviews Nick Charles from Sleuthing Spells Trouble by TC LoTempio

~ Debbie ~ Leave a comment

Meow, Mr. Cat. What is your name and your author’s name?

Nick Charles, and our author’s name is TC LoTempio.

Mice to see you both again. What book(s) have you appeared in? Please list them and their genre.

The Nick and Nora Mysteries, cozy mysteries.

Pawsome! Tell us about that series.

The Nick and Nora mysteries which is about myself and my human, a former true crime reporter. Together we solve mysteries!  Meow if It’s Murder, Claws for Alarm, Crime and Catnip, Hiss H for Homicide, Murder Faux Paws, A Purr Before Dying, Bell, Book and Corpses and our latest, When Sleuthing Spells Trouble! Whew!

Concatulations! They all sound purrfect.

Are you based on a real cat such as your author’s? If so, please give further details.

Yes, I was based on the authors real life tuxedo cat, Rocco. She got the idea when he jumped into her lap when she was watching THE THIN MAN on tv.

Interesting.

What do you like most about your role in your authors’ books?

I enjoy the fact that I am usually the one who provides the clue that solves the mystery!!!!!!

Good job!

Are you a talking cat in your books or just a silent one like I am who just meows occasionally?

I started out as a talking cat but Berkley nixed that, so, alas, I am a silent one, but I get my point across with my favorite toy, Scrabble tiles. I used to play with my former human, Nick Atkins, a PI who’s currently MIA. Maybe.

I’m the opposite. In my Cobble Cove series, I started out not talking and now I talk but only to the other pets in the series (readers can read our conversations in italics).

What advice would you give other cat characters?

Put yourself in your author’s hands and trust them!

So important.

Do you have any new books coming out? Please give dates and details.

Our latest, When Sleuthing Spells Trouble, came out November 18. Nora tries to clear a woman who was convicted of the murder of her husband and who is a friend of Hank Prince’s.

Sounds good.

Are you and/or your author on social media? If so, please list your links.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/toni.lotempio.5

Website:  www.tclotempio.net

Twitter  @RoccoBlogger

Thanks so much for the interview, Nick. I’m sharing your blog tour below. Best whiskers to you and TC.

 

When Sleuthing Spells Trouble (Nick and Nora Mystery)
by T. C. LoTempio

About When Sleuthing Spells Trouble


When Sleuthing Spells Trouble (Nick and Nora Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
8th in Series
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beyond the Page Publishing
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 18, 2025
Paperback
Print length ‏ : ‎ 212 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1966322399
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1966322399
Digital
Print length ‏ : ‎ 281 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1966322382
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FX5HHY92
goodreads badge

When a woman pleads amnesia in the death of her husband, Nick and Nora can forget about playing it safe as they track down the killer . . .

Six years ago, Mariah Blackthorne was found lying on the floor of her home, unconscious, holding the murder weapon that had killed her husband. Swearing she had no memory of the tragic event but insisting she was innocent, she nonetheless agreed to a plea deal and went to prison for the crime. Now, out on parole and desperate to know the truth, she enlists the help of local sleuth Nora Charles to find out what really happened that day—even if it means discovering she was the guilty party after all.

Intrigued by the case and convinced of the woman’s innocence, Nora agrees to investigate. With her trusty sidekick warning her that they were headed for trouble, she unearths no shortage of suspects from the dead man’s past. But as she follows every incriminating clue linking the victim to his fellow doctors and even a long string of mistresses, vicious threats begin piling up telling Nora to back off. Facing down a killer who will kill again to conceal their guilt, she and Nick may end up solving a case they won’t live to remember . . .

Includes mouthwatering recipes!

About T. C. LoTempio

T.C. LoTempio is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of the Nick and Nora Mysteries, the Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries, and the Cat Rescue Mysteries. Born in New York City, she now resides in Phoenix, Arizona, with her two cats, Maxx and Rocco. Rocco prides himself on being the inspiration for her Nick and Nora series! For more information, check out her and her cat Rocco’s blog at www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com and visit her website at www.tclotempio.net

Author Links
Webpage Blog Facebook Twitter/X GoodReads

Purchase Links – Amazon B&N

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 19 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

November 19 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 20 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

November 21 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 22 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW – RECIPE

November 23 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 24 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

November 25 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 25 – Books1987 – SPOTLIGHT

November 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 26 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 27 – THANKSGIVING

November 28 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

November 29 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT – RECIPE

November 30 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

December 1 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST

December 2 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT

December 3 – Bigreadersite – REVIEW
________

Giveaway Link: https://kingsumo.com/g/3ee0vk3/when-sleuthing-spells-trouble-nick-and-nora-mystery-by-t-c-lotempio

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Sneaky the Library Cat Interviews Spike, the cat from Claws for Concern by Lesley A. Diehl

~ Debbie ~ 3 Comments

  1. Meow, Cat. What is your name and your author’s name?

My name is Spike and the person who created the books I appear in is Lesley A. Diehl.

Mice to meet you both.

2. What book(s) have you appeared in? Please list them and their genre.

I’m in all of the Maddie Spark’s mysteries: Spiked Punch, A Basket Case, Claws for Concern. They are cozy mysteries.

Pawsome! I’m a cozy mystery cat, too.

  1.  Are you in a series? If so, please give information about it.

The series, The Maddie Sparks Mysteries, features the woman who finally adopted me, Maddie Sparks, who is over seventy. She’s a cozy mystery writer who, bored with her writing, turns her hand to writing romance spurred on by the man she falls in love with, an ex-county sheriff. But mysteries and murder stalk her life when she discovers a body in the house her son’s business has been hired to manage while the owner is out of town. But the best part is that she also finds me in the house (lucky lady!) and takes me home with her until she can find my owner. As you know, cats do not have owners; they have families. I need one, and she needs me. Although she would say that the ex-county sheriff is her partner in tracking down murderers, I’m always there to lend a paw.

Wow, Meow! Your series sounds great.

  1. Are you based on a real cat such as your author’s? If so, please give further details.

My author informs me that I am somewhat like the rescue cat who currently is part of her family. We’re both shaped the same—short, chubby, smart, annoying when it comes to demanding food and adorable. I am long-haired, orange and white and a guy while the author’s cat is a girl tuxedo who goes by many names including Bandita, Bandi and Lady Bandita Hustlelbutt. Lady Bandita was supposed to be a foster, but she arrived at the author’s home over two years ago and decided to adopt the author and her husband. She seems to like them. Her only complaint is they don’t feed her enough. I can relate. Maddie is also stingy with the food.

My author’s cats would agree with you that they are never fed enough, even though they weigh over sixteen pounds.

  1. Can you share an excerpt from one of your books that features you in an important scene? If so, please include it.

This scene is from the very beginning of the first book where I make my debut appearance. I make my preferences for the humans surrounding me clear: I like the sheriff, and I don’t like the deputy and my reasons are clear as are my reactions.

“I found this guy in the bedroom closet.” Montgomery petted the cat on its head while it purred loudly.

“I’ll take it off to the animal shelter. They can dispose of it.” Deputy Stevens reached for the cat who let go with a hiss and unsheathed claws to the deputy’s hand. “He bit me!”

“Don’t be silly. He scratched you because he heard what you said.” I gave the cat a pat on the head and the animal purred louder and rubbed its head against my hand.

“He’s a cat. He can’t understand what humans say. I like dogs anyway.” The deputy kicked his foot through the grass in disgruntlement.

“Maybe that’s why he doesn’t like you.” The sheriff looked at me, one eyebrow raised in an unspoken question.

I reached out for the cat. “I’ll take him home with me until we can decide what we should do.”

Purrfect excerpt. Thanks for sharing it, Spike.

  1. What do you like most about your role in your authors’ books?

I’m an intelligent, insightful cat and the author allows me to participate in solving the mystery but in catlike ways.

That’s my favorite part, too. I even get to work with the other pets in our books.

  1. Are you a talking cat in your books or just a silent one like I am who just meows occasionally?

I do not speak English, but I seem to understand much of what is said. My first language is felinese. I meow more than occasionally especially when my human roasts a chicken for dinner. I demand food with louds meows and use growls, hisses and sharp claws to signal that I don’t like someone or something. Pet me, feed me or say something complimentary about me and I purr loudly.

I used to be the same, but my author gave me more roles in the books later in the series so that readers could see my thoughts and what I was “saying” to the other pets in italics. It’s so much fun.

  1. What advice would you give other cat characters?

Never let your author ignore you in important scenes such as feeding and petting. Make certain you are included when characters are discussing strategies for identifying a killer. You may not be able to join in the chase, but the information may be valuable to you if a guilty party enters the room and an opportunity for showing your suspicions arises and you can let forth an accusatory yowl. Show humility even when you know the killer wouldn’t have been identified without your keen insight. But don’t get too humble. It’s not becoming in a cat.

Nice advice!

  1. Do you have any new books coming out? Please give dates and details.

Next year the fourth book in the Maddie Sparks mysteries (A Necessary Murder)  will be released (no date yet). Of course I play an important role in this one, too.

Concats!

  1. Are you and/or your author on social media? If so, please list your links.

Thanks so much for the interview, Spike. Best whiskers to you and your author on your new release. I’m sharing your blog tour below.


Claws for Concern (Maddie Sparks Mystery)
by Lesley A. Diehl

About Claws for Concern


Claws for Concern (Maddie Sparks Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Upstate – New York
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Epicenter Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 14, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 246 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1684922704
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1684922703
Digital
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1684922710
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FJP3JP7J
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Maddie Sparks, senior amateur sleuth, sets aside her writing when her son, a defense attorney, is accused of murdering one of his clients, a high school friend and the woman the authorities believe murdered her estranged husband.

Although Maddie knows her son is innocent, she also suspects he is hiding something. Before she can confront him, he disappears during the first snowstorm of the season. When he reappears, he is shocked to discover his house has been torched. He confesses he and the murdered woman had been seeing each other.

Did the client kill her husband to be with Maddie’s son? To make sense of the murders and the arson, Maddie takes a close look at her son’s friends from high school. Do people change over time, or do they carry their past grievances into the present? In getting to know her son’s friends, she finds that teenage passion can sometimes lead to murder. It’s simply a matter of Maddie determining which friend is hiding a killer’s face.

About Lesley A. Diehl

Cows, Lesley learned growing up on a farm, have a twisted sense of humor. They chased her when she herded them in for milking, and one ate the lovely red mitten her grandmother knitted for her. Determining that agriculture wasn’t a good career choice, instead, she uses her country roots and her training as a psychologist to concoct stories designed to make people laugh in the face of murder. Unusual protagonists appear in many of Lesley’s works, including Desdemona, the crime-fighting potbellied pig, a hobo turned county sheriff and Lesley’s zany back-home-on-the-farm relatives (The Killer Wore Cranberry, all six anthologies). She is the author of several cozy mystery series (The Eve Appel Mysteries, Laura Murphy Mysteries, The Big Lake Murder Mysteries and her newest from Camel Press, Maddie Sparks Mysteries, featuring a senior sleuth and her rescue cat). Her cozy mysteries have won several Readers’ Favorite Awards and a short story Sleuthfest Award. Find out more at www.lesleyadiehl.com.

Author Links

Website www.lesleyadiehl.com

Blog www.lesleyadiehl.com/blog

Facebook www.facebook.com/lesley.diehl.1

GoodReads www.goodreads.com/3414925.Lesley_A_Diehl

Amazon www.amazon.com/author/lesleydiehl

GoodReads www.goodreads.com/3414925.Lesley_A_Diehl

Purchase Links
Amazon Barnes and Noble Bookshop

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 3 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

November 3 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 4 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 5 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

November 5 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 6 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 6 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 7 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 7 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

November 8 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – Wine Cellar Library – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 9 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – REVIEW

November 10 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

November 11 – @bibliophile_foodie – REVIEW

November 11 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 12 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 12 – Infinite House of Books – SPOTLIGHT
________________

Giveaway Link: https://kingsumo.com/g/107o2q3/claws-for-concern-maddie-sparks-mystery-by-lesley-a-diehl

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Sneaky the Library Cat Interviews Willow from Without a Shadow of a Doubt by Kathleen Bailey

~ Debbie ~ 3 Comments

  1. Hello, Cat. What is your name and your author’s name?

My name is Willow, and I’m a short-haired cat. My author’s name is Kathleen Bailey, and she’s a long-haired human.

Mice to meet you both.

  1. What book(s) have you appeared in? Please list them and their genre.

I appear in one way or another in Where the Light Shines Through, Silence Says the Most, Under the Cocoon Moon, When the Carnival Came, and Without a Shadow of Doubt. These are cozy mysteries because I simply can’t be a part of any story that involves anything graphic.

I hear you. I feel the same and that’s why I’m a cozy mystery cat, too.

  1.  Are you in a series? If so, please give information about it.

These five books comprise The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. Olivia is an advice columnist who has returned to her hometown of Apple Station, Virginia, which is located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Along the way, she gets involved in solving several mysteries. More importantly, the circumstances are such that I come under her care during the series. She and her father already have a beagle, Buddy, in the house when I come on the scene. I must have missed that clause (or claws?) in my contract.

MOL (Meow Out Loud). There are two dogs in my series, but I get the best roles.

  1. Are you based on a real cat such as your author’s? If so, please give further details.

I’m based on my author’s real cat. My author adopted her cat after the first book in the series came out. As soon as I saw she had a cat of her own, I immediately negotiated for a larger role in the series for myself.

My author already had a Siamese cat when our series started, but he went to Rainbow Bridge during it. He was a senior cat. I’m a young guy, although I’ve aged a bit in the series.

  1. Can you share an excerpt from one of your books that features you in an important scene? If so, please include it.

Here’s a short snippet about how if I look adorable enough, I can get away with anything:

They went up the back porch steps and entered the house through the kitchen door. Willow, June Warner’s cat they’d been caring for since January, was loafing on the table.

“No, Willow, not on the table,” she said. “You’re not even pretending to follow the rules anymore, are you?” She picked up the white cat and set her gently on the floor. “Does she do that when I’m not here?”

“Sometimes,” he replied, taking a seat.

As much as she hated to admit it, the cat’s time in the Penns’ household was likely coming to an end. She’d originally agreed to look after Willow while June visited family in North Carolina for three months at the start of the year. But when June followed up that trip with an Alaskan cruise, they’d been happy to continue caring for the cat since she’d settled in so well. The longer Willow stayed, the harder it was to imagine letting her go. She felt especially bad for their beagle Buddy, who’d grown fond of his playmate. The thought of him losing his friend made her heart ache.

Purrfect excerpt. Thanks for sharing it.

  1.  What do you like most about your role in your authors’ books?

I’m treated very well. I mostly behave myself, notwithstanding the above passage. They just surprised me, that’s all. I get to hang around with Olivia and her father as much as I want, and I even have a playmate. Though he’s a happy-go-lucky beagle whose energy can be a little over-the-top, we get along and have fun.

I’m also treated very well by the Cobble Cove library staff and even go home with Alicia once in a while.

  1. Are you a talking cat in your books or just a silent one like I am who just meows occasionally?

I’m a silent cat who purrs for pets and meows for snacks.

I do the same. However, in our later books, I started “talking” to the other pets in the series as I helped Alicia solve crimes without her knowledge.

  1. What advice would you give other cat characters?

Always try to work yourself into every scene. Wander into the room, weave between your owner’s legs, and look cute. This works especially well if your humans are in the snack room, which I believe they also call the kitchen. Start meowing and slow blink, and then your owner will almost always give you a snack.

Pawsome advice.

  1. Do you have any new books coming out? Please give dates and details.

My latest book, I mean my author’s latest book, Without a Shadow of Doubt was released on November 4, 2025. And, gasp, there’s a second cat involved! I hope my author doesn’t have any surprises in store for me.

Concatulations!

  1. Are you and/or your author on social media? If so, please list your links.

My author can be found on Instagram @cozycrimewriter. She features many, many pictures of her own cat there.

I will have to check that out. In the meantime, thanks for being on my blog and best whiskers to you and your author on your new release. I’m sharing your blog tour below.


Without a Shadow of Doubt: An Olivia Penn Mystery
by Kathleen Bailey

About Without a Shadow of Doubt


Without a Shadow of Doubt: An Olivia Penn Mystery
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Virginia
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rhino Publishing LLC
Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 4, 2025
Print length ‏ : ‎ 344 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1956270174
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FQCNBQNQ
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Find the cat. Crack the case.

The Highland Games have arrived just outside Apple Station, Virginia, bringing bagpipes, kilts, and a tide of tartan-clad tourists to the cozy small town. Advice columnist Olivia Penn is ready for a weekend of fun now that her life has finally settled into a quiet, steady rhythm. But when a local turns up dead in one of the town’s most iconic homes, a cryptic message from a friend draws her into a tangled mystery.

As Olivia investigates, family secrets and surprising motives surface, linking three brooches, an antique cross, and a 17th-century Scottish Bible. Clues connect seven suspects to the crime, and each has something to hide. When her friend can’t be found and the police start asking questions, the mystery hits closer to home and runs deeper than she ever imagined.

After an unlikely witness makes a shocking revelation, Olivia enlists her friends and a heroic search and rescue golden retriever to help her follow the trail before it goes cold. The man she loves is caught in the crosshairs, and to protect him, she’ll have to risk everything. Justice hinges on a missing cat, a chase through the woods, and a stare-down with a mama bear.

Without a Shadow of Doubt is the gripping fifth installment in the award-winning Olivia Penn Mystery Series. This fast-paced, heartwarming cozy mystery features charming characters, small-town intrigue, and a heroine you’ll love to root for. Perfect for fans of amateur sleuths, cozy suspense, and clean, feel-good mysteries with lovable cats and dogs.

About Kathleen Bailey

Kathleen Bailey is the award-winning author of The Olivia Penn Mystery Series. She writes mysteries with heart and humor that keep to the traditional and cozy sides of crime. For over twenty years, she worked as a pediatric physical therapist with children who have special needs, drawing on degrees in English, psychology, and physical therapy. She now writes in Virginia with her feline assistant, who insists on supervising every draft. When she’s not writing, Kathleen can usually be found covered in cat hair, surrounded by far too many sticky notes, and plotting new twists to keep readers guessing. She is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links

Website: https://kathleenbaileyauthor.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cozycrimewriter/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathleen-bailey

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/kathleenbailey

Purchase Links:

Amazon All Retailers

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

November 4 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 5 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

November 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 6 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 7 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

November 8 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 10 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 11 – Christa Nardi Reads and Writes – REVIEW

November 12 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

November 13 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST

November 14 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

November 15 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR GUEST POST

November 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

November 16 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

November 16 – Baroness Book Trove – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

November 17 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

November 17 – Reading Is My SuperPower – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Giveaway Link: https://kingsumo.com/g/3zj82j1/without-a-shadow-of-doubt-an-olivia-penn-mystery-by-kathleen-bailey

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